If planning travel for one person is a headache, organizing a group trip can feel like juggling fire.
You’re managing dozens of travelers each with different flight schedules, room preferences, and company policies. Add in budget tracking, last-minute changes, and keeping everyone on the same page? It’s a lot.
That’s why group travel management is becoming a dedicated function in fast-growing companies, event teams, and travel platforms.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to simplify group bookings, what tools to use, and how to make it work whether you’re sending 10 people or 100.
Why Group Travel Gets Complicated Fast
Let’s say you’re organizing an offsite. Here’s what you’ll likely deal with:
- Different employees flying in from different cities
- A tight window for arrivals
- Hotel blocks to reserve ideally on one invoice
- Some travelers who want to stay longer for personal time (“bleisure”)
- Constant questions: “Can I change my flight?” “Do we have airport transport?”
- Multiple last-minute changes and you’re the one fixing it
It’s no surprise that even experienced admins get overwhelmed. But there’s good news: you don’t have to manage it manually anymore.
How Travel Teams Are Solving It in 2025
Modern travel teams aren’t relying on spreadsheets and email chains. They’re turning to group booking software and platforms designed for large group coordination.
According to Smartsheet, 60% of professionals say automation saves them 6+ hours a week on admin tasks. And when you apply that to travel planning? It’s a game-changer.
Here’s what these tools can do:
- Let travelers choose from pre-approved flight/hotel options
- Automate booking approvals
- Show real-time itineraries on mobile
- Track spending per traveler or department
- Handle changes without 25 back-and-forth emails
What Does a Group Travel Platform Actually Look Like?
You can think of it like a command center for your trip. Platforms like TravelPerk, Moonstride, or WeTravel allow you to:
- Upload your event or offsite details
- Invite participants via email
- Let them book their travel from pre-set options
- Track who’s booked, who hasn’t, and what it all costs
- Send real-time updates if anything changes
This kind of online travel system is a huge upgrade from relying on a travel agency especially if your team is spread across regions or time zones.
Who Actually Needs Group Travel Management?
It’s not just Fortune 500s. Here’s where group travel management is becoming essential:
| Type of Travel | Use Case |
|---|---|
| Corporate | Leadership retreats, conferences, MICE travel |
| Education | Student exchange trips, academic events |
| Leisure | Weddings, family reunions, faith-based travel |
| NGOs | Volunteer trips, humanitarian response teams |
| Tour Operators | Pre-packaged group tours, niche travel verticals |
If your business involves organizing travel for 10+ people, having a system in place isn’t a nice-to-have it’s critical.
Real Example: How One Company Did It
Midstay, a company that supports remote teams in Asia, needed to get 80 employees to Vietnam for a company summit.
Instead of juggling separate bookings, they used a group travel platform that:
- Suggested flights and rooms based on employee location
- Sent out Slack updates with trip changes
- Centralized expense tracking for finance
- Let people extend their trips with personal travel add-ons
The result? Everyone arrived on time, budgets stayed on track, and no one was confused about where to go.
Bonus: Handling “Bleisure” Without Breaking Your Workflow
More employees are mixing business and leisure. Good platforms let you offer pre-set flexibility like:
- Arriving early or staying late
- Upgrading to a preferred hotel
- Booking family travel separately while keeping the invoice clean
This adds personalization without adding chaos
Final Thoughts: Group Travel Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful
The companies that handle group travel best in 2025 aren’t bigger. They’re just smarter. They use the right tools, set up systems in advance, and give travelers clear options.
If you’re planning more than one team trip this year or expanding into group sales as a tour operator it’s time to treat group travel management as its own process.
And with the right software in place, you’ll wonder how you ever did it the old way.
