12 Things We’re Thankful for This Holiday Season

As the year draws to a close, we at TravelBank want to pause and reflect on the many reasons we’re grateful. From groundbreaking advancements in our platform to the incredible people and partners who support our mission, 2025 has been a year of remarkable progress. Here are the 12 things we are most thankful for:

1. Visionary Leadership

Since 2015, Duke Chung, Founder and CEO of TravelBank, has provided strategic direction to enable the company’s continued progression. Under his leadership, TravelBank evolved from an emerging startup to a recognized enterprise, accomplishing milestones such as its acquisition by U.S. Bank and significant growth of its customer base. In 2025, Duke oversaw the introduction of Group Travel capabilities and the integration of advanced AI technologies, further reinforcing a culture focused on innovation and growth.

A group of thirteen people and three dogs stand outside together, posing for a photo on a sunny day. — *_{^{TravelBank launch in October 2016}}*

2. Connecting with Our Client Advisory Board (CAB)

Our CAB members play a crucial role in our evolution. Meeting face to face with these distinguished clients in October provided us with invaluable feedback, helping us ensure new features truly reflect user needs. By engaging closely with these key stakeholders, our team acquires essential information that not only supports the validation of our product roadmap but also informs future platform enhancements and ensures that our strategic choices are anchored in authentic user experiences. This collaborative approach enables the company to adapt swiftly to market dynamics, reinforces customer loyalty by visibly integrating client feedback into ongoing innovation, and fosters the development of products that are deeply aligned with market requirements. The thoughtful input from CAB members empowers TravelBank to deliver effective solutions tailored to its diverse client base.

3. A Memorable Altitude 2025 Conference

Stylized triangle above the text "Altitude 2025" with a colorful gradient background.

Hosting our third annual Altitude event was a highlight. This October, we brought together clients, partners, and industry leaders for an engaging user conference where connections were made, insights were shared, and attendees learned how to optimize their travel and expense programs. The energy and collaboration we experience at Altitude fuels our commitment to continuous improvement.

4. Group Travel Feature Takes Off

Our product design and engineering teams dedicated significant collaborative effort over the past year to developing TravelBank’s innovative Group Travel capability, culminating in the Beta launch announced at October’s Altitude 2025 conference which sparked enthusiastic interest and positive feedback from attendees eager to streamline their organization’s travel planning. The Group Travel feature empowers users to efficiently coordinate travel for multiple team members at once, simplifying complex itineraries and improving visibility across group bookings. Key benefits include centralized management of bookings, automated expense tracking for groups, and improved communication among travelers, all designed to reduce administrative burdens and enhance the travel experience for organizations of any size.

5. Timely Thought Leadership

A man in a gray blazer and jeans sits on a yellow chair, gesturing with his hands while speaking against a pink and purple background. — *_{^{Photo Credit: Skift}}*

We were honored for the opportunity that Tory Passons, Senior Vice President and Head of TravelBank Product and Corporate Payment Partnerships for U.S. Bank, recently had to speak at Skift. Tory shared insights on key changes in corporate travel, including the adoption of unified, AI-driven policy management platforms. He emphasized that while technology and AI are transforming the industry, travel remains a personal experience, and innovation is strongest when AI supports human agents to deliver seamless, personalized service. Tory’s perspective highlights our commitment to using AI as a collaborative tool that enhances compliance, savings, and supplier relationships, while always prioritizing an outstanding user experience.

6. Growth of Our Team

Three people push a large upward-pointing arrow on a graph, symbolizing teamwork and growth or progress.

TravelBank’s growth is driven by our talented team, which has expanded significantly over the past year. Our increased headcount reflects a deep commitment to cross-functional collaboration, empowering teams across revenue, marketing, operations, customer success, and implementation to work seamlessly together. This collaborative approach enables us to rapidly launch new features, enhance customer support, and pursue innovative opportunities, ultimately positioning TravelBank to deliver even greater value to our clients and partners in a dynamic market.

7. Expansion of Card Management Tools

This year, we rapidly expanded our card management suite to provide users with greater flexibility, control, and transparency over their financial operations. With the ability to seamlessly add new payment methods, organizations can easily adapt to changing business needs and ensure uninterrupted expense processing across teams. The introduction of our intuitive payment scheduler allows users to plan and automate payments, enhancing cash flow management, and reducing the risk of missed deadlines. Additionally, our enhanced card statements offer clearer, more detailed transaction insights, making it easier for finance teams to track spending, reconcile accounts, and identify opportunities for savings. Together, these enhancements empower clients to streamline their payment workflows, boost efficiency, and make more informed financial decisions.

8. Comprehensive Car Booking Travel Policies

Screenshot of a car policy settings page showing booking rules, budget options, and preferred car rental companies, with toggle switches and input fields visible.

The development of Car Booking Travel Policies marks a significant step in TravelBank’s commitment to providing comprehensive, user-centric travel and expense (T&E) solutions. Currently available in Beta release, the policy enhancement ensures organizations can seamlessly manage car rental bookings within the broader scope of their T&E programs. The new policies offer granular controls and clear guidelines for employees, helping to streamline approval processes, enforce compliance, and optimize cost savings. TravelBank empowers both administrators and travelers with a transparent, efficient, and policy-driven approach to managing ground transportation. This further improves the travel experience while supporting organizational objectives..

9. A Growing Customer Base

In 2025, we are especially thankful for remarkable client growth that reflects our company’s dynamic momentum and industry leadership. Since partnering with U.S. Bank, TravelBank has seen a thirteenfold increase in its customer base. We are honored to support the evolving needs of our expanding client community and remain committed to delivering exceptional value as we grow together.

10. Customer Shout-Outs and G2 Reviews

Feedback from our users is a key source of inspiration. TravelBank consistently maintains a 4.5-star average rating, supported by numerous five-star reviews praising its innovation, user-friendliness, and exceptional service. We appreciate the industry recognition, which reinforces the trust placed in our solutions. TravelBank built on its 2024 recognitions, earning Capterra’s Best Ease of Use Award, G2’s High Performer Award, and Software Advice’s Front Runners Award in 2025, among others. These accolades underscore our commitment to delivering high-quality value while surpassing client expectations. By prioritizing user feedback and ongoing improvement, we are honored to continue setting the standard for excellence in travel and expense management.

Four award badges from Capterra, GetApp, G2, and Software Advice, recognizing achievements in ease of use and performance for the years 2025 and 2026.

11. Investment in AI

A smiling robot waves while emerging from a laptop screen in a simple, cartoon-style illustration.

TravelBank is making strong strides in AI, most recently with the launch of AI-powered category suggestions and ongoing work to enhance future features. Our focus on AI aims to reshape travel and expense management, making processes more efficient and tailored for organizations. As Tory Passons, SVP at U.S. Bank, shared: “AI’s ability to learn from corporate travelers’ booking behaviors and preferences streamlines the process, from making reservations to securing approvals by generating cost estimates based on past activity.” With these efforts, TravelBank is raising the bar for efficiency and personalization in the industry.

12. Valued Partnerships

We deeply appreciate our valued partners, whose collaboration and support are essential in advancing TravelBank’s mission and delivering outstanding value to our clients. Their commitment and shared vision empower us to continuously innovate and better serve our growing community.