Rethinking Business Travel: Reflections from the BTA Autumn Conference

When you picture “travelling for work,” it’s easy to default to the stereotype: men in suits flying to important meetings overseas. But the reality is very different. In the UK, the majority of business travel is far closer to home, with cars and trains making up the biggest share of journeys. From daily commutes to regional site visits, “travelling for work” takes many forms.

This perspective framed this year’s BTA Autumn Conference, which brought together leaders from across the business travel community to explore how our industry must continue to evolve. For Lokulus, it was a valuable opportunity to both listen and contribute, with our CEO Alister Harris and Head of Product David Seed in attendance.

Sessions that stood out

Several sessions resonated strongly with us, each highlighting different facets of how diverse and complex “work travel” can be:

From Rock Stars to Change Makers
Louis Davies (TAG), David Bishop (Gray Dawes) and Saas Hammond (Key Travel) discussed the unique challenges of moving entertainers, sports teams, and their equipment around the world — scenarios where human adaptability is critical. What really struck us was hearing how Key Travel supports humanitarian workers heading into disaster zones, navigating urgent red tape and emergency conditions to make travel possible when it matters most.

Deep End: A Marine Professional’s Real Take on Work Travel
Stuart Clow (International Association of Drilling Contractors) challenged the very definition of “business travel,” explaining that he doesn’t consider himself a business traveller at all. His story underlined how essential strong partnerships with TMCs, such as Munros Travel, become when managing the complexities of shift changes and crew rotations.

Technology & AI Workshops
Workshops on Technology as an Enabler for Smarter Work Travel and Harnessing AI for Next-Generation Work Travelexplored how digital solutions can transform the traveller experience. The key theme was clear: technology is a force for good, but progress is rarely linear. Given the complexity of travel ecosystems, true orchestration across multiple systems is critical to achieving the promised benefits.

The AI Revolution panel

Lokulus’ CEO Alister Harris also took part in the panel discussion “AI Revolution – From Reactive to Predictive Travel Management.”
The session examined how TMCs need to evolve from transaction-driven models to service-driven ones, with AI and technology playing a central role.

A core takeaway was the idea that AI should be seen as an assistant, not a replacement. Ticketing is the easy part; the real value lies in enabling human teams to deliver exceptional service. At the same time, organisations must not underestimate the human capital required to successfully adopt these new operating models.

Looking ahead

The BTA Autumn Conference was a timely forum for the industry — a chance to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and strengthen connections across the business travel ecosystem. For Alister and David, the discussions reinforced both the urgency and the opportunity ahead: to rethink what “travelling for work” really means, and how technology and human service together can redefine the experience.

We left inspired by the discussions and energised by the people we met. A big thank you to the BTA for hosting such a thought-provoking event — we’re already looking forward to next year.