The corporate travel sector is facing a serious talent challenge, one that’s reshaping how TMCs operate and serve clients. While much of the focus has been on airlines and hotels struggling to rehire after the pandemic, the pain cuts deeper. The very agencies that keep corporate travel running are under strain.
In the US, TMCs are facing the pressures of booming post-pandemic demand and shrinking talent pools, leading to slower response times and tighter margins.
A 2023 study found that 35% of agencies lost staff during the pandemic, and over half still haven’t replaced those roles. Fast-forward to 2025, and a poll from the Global Business Travel Association suggests this is an ongoing challenge in the industry. Only 16% of travel-buying programmes plan to expand staff this year, while 41% of suppliers and TMCs say they want to hire but face barriers related to salary, skills and remote work. Meanwhile, the advisor workforce is ageing fast too: two-thirds are over 50, and just 6% are under 35.
It’s clear, now’s the time for TMCs to refocus on what makes them tick – their people.
Why are TMCs struggling to hire?
Several underlying issues are making it harder for agencies to rebuild their teams:
- Legacy systems deter new talent. Many agency systems still rely on text-heavy and code-based interfaces. For younger professionals raised on intuitive, app-style tools, those “green-screen” workflows can feel outdated and intimidating.
- Training takes time. Even when agencies attract new hires, it can take months before they’re fully productive. Manual booking, fulfilment, and ticketing processes create steep learning curves that slow recovery.
- Service gaps are growing. Some agencies simply don’t have enough hands on deck. Missed calls, unreturned chats and incomplete fulfilment are common. According to a BTN Intelligence report, many TMCs still struggle to meet service expectations, particularly in fulfilment and account management.
How will corporate travel evolve in 2026?
The staffing shortfall won’t be filled overnight. Business travel demand continues to recover steadily, but workforce participation, particularly among younger generations, remains below pre-pandemic levels.
We’re likely to see a two-tier market to emerge:
- TMCs embracing automation will boost efficiency and resilience without needing headcount to match growth.
- TMCs clinging to manual workflows will struggle to keep up – both operationally and commercially.
Forward-thinking agencies aren’t waiting for the labour pool to bounce back. They’re re-engineering how they work, helping every consultant do more with less through smarter technology.
Automating the travel desk – is it the answer?
Technology will never replace the value of human expertise, but it can make that expertise go further. Modern travel platforms like Atriis are helping TMCs remove friction from everyday workflows.
By unifying multi-source content from GDS, NDC, and direct supplier channels – across air, hotel, car, and rail – while seamlessly embedding corporate policies, traveler preferences, office locations, and real-time traveler context, Atriis delivers a simple, intuitive agent interface that mirrors the Atriis corporate booking platform.
This enables agencies to automate high-volume, traditionally manual workflows, including:
- Multi-source fare searches
- Multi-product itinerary creation
- Automated ticket exchanges, refunds, and voids
- Policy-based approval flows
- and more
With automation taking care of routine tasks, consultants can focus on what they do best: serving clients, building relationships that last, and solving complex travel needs.
How modern tech is attracting the next generation
For many young professionals, user experience matters. Outdated systems are a dealbreaker – but modern, intuitive tools are a reason to join.
Platforms that feel familiar and easy to use reduce onboarding time, open the door to new talent and make travel consultancy accessible again. This isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about creating a workplace that feels modern, flexible, and rewarding.
Closing the TMC talent gap
The path forward is clear:
- Digitise the desk: Automate repetitive workflows to free consultants for higher-value service.
- Rethink training: Replace code-heavy systems with intuitive tools that speed up onboarding and learning.
- Enable hybrid work: Cloud-native platforms make it easy to work from anywhere, a must-have for attracting and keeping great people.
As the labour crunch continues into 2026, the agencies that modernise will be the ones that soar, delivering better experiences for clients and a more fulfilling workplace for their teams.
Want deeper insights into how TMCs can thrive despite staffing shortages?
