Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy Helps SMEs Better Serve Business Travelers with Modern Tech, Richer Content and Corporate Savings
Small and midsize businesses have been one of the fastest growing travel segments in recent years. Rebounding faster and stronger than many larger companies from pandemic slowdown, small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) are continuing to grow business travel – to new regions and countries or to involve more employees. In surveys this year, SMEs have shown resilience in travel spending and volume, despite economic and geopolitical concerns.
In an investment report earlier this year, American Express Global Business Travel said the unmanaged SME business travel segment is worth $834 billion globally. Of the total, Amex estimates that only $209 billion is managed today, meaning the vast majority of SME business travel is fending for itself. For those trying to manage spend, travelers and company executives often complain about the outdated technology, clumsy processes or lack of controls to help travelers.
With such potential, travel management companies, new entrant startups and increasingly suppliers have intensified efforts to win over SMEs.
Enhanced technology and “loyalty programs are enabling these companies to provide more personalized services, which in turn creates more ‘stickiness’ from the end user,” according to a BTN article that cited Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy.
“It is a very easy interface to use and makes booking travel a lot easier. We can book all types of travel in one portal.”
Poerio Inc. about Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy
Self-Service Empowerment: What Buyers Want and Need
By appealing to millions of travelers who often are enrolled in various loyalty programs, suppliers embracing new technologies are trying to gain even deeper relationships with these travelers and now their companies too. Offering technology that promises a better user experience for travelers, simplified processes and savings to travelers, along with policy controls, reporting and discounts to corporations, the new options are garnering attention.
Business travelers have complained about tools they were using to book travel. In a global survey of more than 1,500 business travelers at SMEs conducted in 2024 by Wakefield Research for Marriott Bonvoy:
“The platform’s streamlined booking process and transparent, upfront pricing have been beneficial.”
Ruston Therapy about Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy
Built with cutting-edge technology, platforms allow travelers to book their own travel and compare costs. They also can gain access to airfares or other content that may not be available through other sources.
For new employees or travelers, such platforms offer a more guided, seamless experience to book all aspects of travel for a business trip – from flights, rail and ground transportation to hotels. Access to the latest technology that they don’t have to pay for or manage may be a welcome relief to some SMEs. In BTN’s 2025 SME Report, 57% of SME travel buyers said they source their online booking tool through their TMC. As “fewer SME travel managers have the bandwidth to source much of their technology stack directly with third-party providers.”
Such platforms also allow companies to use the end-to-end tools to support self-service travel policy parameters and spending limits, broader flight, rail and car rental booking and changes, interactive traveler location maps and disruption monitoring, as well as the option to use a built-in expense management module. Expense integration is a welcome addition for travelers and company expense administrators.
“It’s great to have all business travel in one place.”
CheckIt Labs, Inc. about Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy
Concierge Feel: Even better for younger travelers or those who yearn for “concierge” or upgraded services, such offerings recognize a travelers’ loyalty program status and may provide that upgrade, enhanced rooms or services along the way. Marriott Bonvoy members also receive free in room Wi-Fi and can earn points toward free nights. Changes and updates can be made online; as every business traveler knows, changes happen.
Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy allows companies to sign up for an account free of charge and invite business travelers to use the custom, multilingual site and register for Marriott Bonvoy if not already a member. A base level of travel policies can be quickly set by an administrator with more advanced policy settings as an option. Company administrators or travelers can also add payment options and even configure expense reporting or integrations to external expense tools to make the process for travelers even faster as a one-stop shop. Travelers can also set their travel preferences—and their loyalty program numbers—in the tool to speed future bookings for air, hotel, car rental and rail.
Target audience: The program is specifically designed to address the needs of small and midsize companies, which are defined as having fewer than 1,000 employees and 1,000–4,999 employees, respectively.
Traveler and Company Benefits
The SME discount and points program included in Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy offers a number of traditional benefits. Member companies are eligible for discounts at hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio and simultaneously earn points for future stays, room upgrades, etc. Upon reaching companywide usage thresholds, members earn Elite status awards that they may transfer to individual travelers within their company.
“My travelers are very excited to earn their own rewards.”
Global Assets Integrated LLC about Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy
At the company level, benefits include not only the travel policy setting but live travel data for duty of care often missing for SME companies. Travel spending and trending analytics include charts and graphs and a level of detail that may be elusive to SMEs. Sustainability reporting for air and rail travel, virtual credit card payment options and connections to expense management platforms are also among the options. Optional expense reporting tools are also available.
Perhaps most importantly for SMEs is the opportunity for savings, identified as the top challenge in 2025, according to BTN’s annual SME survey.
“Even with budget increases, they are looking for ways to optimize and deliver value through their travel programs.”
“We like the reporting features and having the ability to book air and hotel in one place without gong to other portals.”
Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company about Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy
Enhancements Coming Soon
Since introducing the SME booking platform in 2024, Marriott Bonvoy quickly added new clients and users, and carefully listened to feedback on enhancement wish lists. In the works are new developments to allow companies that have locally negotiated rates to book those within the platform. Customers have also requested even easier onboarding processes and booking experiences.
“We recognize the significant value small businesses provide to the hotel industry, which is why we’re excited to combine the benefits of our award-winning travel program with a comprehensive suite of tools in Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy. Whether small to medium-sized businesses are looking for convenient online booking capabilities for their employees or better expense management solutions, the all-in-one platform, merged with our portfolio of hotel brands around the world, provides everything they need to manage their business travel needs.”
With a seamless experience at every step, SMEs can now take their travel to the next level with benefits at every step.