BCD Travel has expanded its AI-powered Tripsource platform through a deeper partnership with expense management provider Emburse and a new direct connection with United Airlines, as it broadens its Open by Design strategy.
The expanded partnership with Emburse will integrate travel booking and expense management into a connected workflow, allowing travel and expense data to flow from booking through reimbursement. The companies said the integration will automate expense processes, embed policy controls and provide real-time financial insights for travel managers, finance teams and travellers.
BCD said the partnership combines Tripsource with Emburse’s AI-powered travel and expense capabilities to simplify compliance, improve visibility and reduce manual administration. Customer availability and future enhancements will be announced in the coming months.
Separately, BCD has expanded travel content available through Tripsource, enabling clients to access content from direct connections, global distribution systems, aggregators and other sources through a single platform.
As part of this strategy, the company has established a direct connection with United Airlines, giving clients access to the carrier’s content through both online and offline booking channels while maintaining policy compliance, traveller safety and duty of care capabilities.
BCD said it now supports direct connections across air, rail and hotel providers, with 22 airlines available through its New Distribution Capability (NDC) ecosystem. More than 65 per cent of eligible itineraries are booked through NDC, while some clients have achieved adoption rates of up to 80 per cent.
Mike Janssen, global chief commercial officer of BCD, said the deeper integration with Emburse would simplify the travel experience while improving compliance and operational efficiency.
BCD’s vice president of supplier management and delivery, James Celani-Smith, described the company’s strategy as building a flexible travel ecosystem that gives clients access to content through the channels they prefer, rather than relying on a single booking source.
