Open booking refers to a travel policy where employees book their own flights, hotels, and transportation outside of the company’s preferred travel system, while still adhering to budget and compliance guidelines. Instead of requiring travelers to use a designated travel agency or booking platform, open booking allows for flexibility, enabling employees to choose preferred airlines, loyalty programs, or accommodation options that best suit their needs.

While open booking provides travellers with more autonomy, it also creates challenges for companies in tracking expenses, enforcing travel policies, and ensuring duty of care. Many corporate travel programs implement hybrid models that allow some level of open booking while integrating expense reporting tools and centralized travel data to maintain visibility over travel spend.