For Banks, Corporate Travel is the Next Value Chain to Own

In Business Travel News' Payment Innovation 2026 report, "For Finance Cos., Travel is More than a Bankable Business," Chloe Carver, Head of Corporate Travel at Acquis, explained why banks are a natural next entrant into the travel value chain. "Many travel suppliers are looking to own more of the value chain. Banks, with their existing commercial card relationships and capital to acquire capability, are a natural next entrant," she said. Carver noted that layering a booking tool onto an existing corporate card relationship doesn't necessarily require a formal procurement process, which creates a clear opening in the small and midsize segment that managed programs have struggled to serve.

Chloe was also direct about the limits. Competing for enterprise buyers means delivering full operational infrastructure, from policy enforcement and duty of care to supplier negotiations and integrations with HR and finance systems. "For banks to compete seriously in this space, they'll need to demonstrate they can deliver that full operational infrastructure, provide a better user interface and experience, as well as build the kind of travel expertise that enterprise procurement teams will scrutinize closely," she said.

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