Gen Z is driving demand for online content and more efficient online booking tools, while economic growth and corporate demand is rising in the East, according to findings from SilverDoor.
The world’s leading provider of serviced accommodation for business travel recently released its first Quarterly Market Update report for 2025, revealing there is also demand for larger, more complex group bookings.
Predicted to make up almost a third (30 percent) of the workforce over the next five years, Gen Z has an appetite for content which is extending to corporate travel, says Silverdoor.
“The focus across the supply chain is on building content and access to corporate online booking tools that mirror the personalised consumer experience they expect and, critically, appeal to this demographic.
“More specifically, corporate client demand for, and adoption of, accommodation programs that can be easily accessed via online booking platforms to further drive compliance, efficiencies and cost savings will see a marked rise.”
A shift in corporate travel policy will go hand-in-hand with the demand for corporate online booking platforms and apps, while policies will need to be updated to reduce data leakage, improve compliance and provide accurate data for reporting and budgeting.
Revealing itself at the end of 2024 and flowing into 2025, a new trend emerged, presenting an increase in demand for larger scale, events-based bookings that are particularly prominent across the sport and entertainment sectors.
Demand for serviced apartments appears to be on the horizon as budgets expand, while flexible booking and cancellation policies will be expected as apartment-based accommodation becomes increasingly popular, says SilverDoor.
Across the East, APAC and EMEA are home to some of the strongest emerging destinations, with demand expected to increase as 2025 progresses.
Within APAC, India is proving popular – particularly in key locations such as Mumbai, Bangalore (Bengaluru) and New Delhi – due to rapid economic development and investment in the region, while Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are proving to be the locations to watch within the Middle East.
SilverDoor reports growth in website traffic to browse accommodation is up 491 percent and 120 percent YOY respectively for both, with a number of factors driving corporate interest such as significant infrastructure investment, high healthcare & safety standards and lower tax rates.
Cost effective Eastern European countries – such as Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria and Croatia – are all tipped for strong growth in the year ahead by SilverDoor, with reports of all destinations seeing a 29 percent increase in enquiries YOY.
Martin Klima, Chief Customer Officer at SilverDoor, said as many new governments are getting down to business following the hosting of worldwide elections last year, corporates are putting their travel priorities for the year ahead into action – from the locations they are focusing investment and relocation efforts on, to how they are planning to assign budgets and manage and meet traveller expectations.
“At a macro-senior level focus remains on emerging destinations and where opportunities for growth lie. At a more micro level, travel managers and travellers are prioritising how to effectively keep pace with new technology and supplier offers to realise policy, compliance and cost ambitions,” he said.
“For now, the good news is rates have declined, which is reassuring news for travel managers and business owners alike who are planning for growth in business and corporate travel plans.”
Closer to home, Sophie Brinsley, Executive Vice President APAC at SilverDoor, commented on the trends directly affecting APAC.
“In our region, Australia, Japan and India continue to be very busy with demand outstripping supply. In India, domestic movement is the dominant type of travel, with repatriation also common – but whilst enquiries are high here from international bookers, conversion can still sometimes be challenging due to the lack of high-quality supply.”
