Hilton and Navan are developing a direct hotel–travel management company (TMC) connection designed to modernize corporate hotel distribution through API-based integration, creating a new model that enables real-time booking, richer hotel content, and streamlined payment capabilities for managed travel programs.
The initiative was announced by Hilton and Navan, with the companies revealing plans to co-create what they describe as the industry's first direct connection between a hotel company and a travel management company. The integration will make Navan the first TMC to connect directly with Hilton's Central Reservation System (CRS) and content services, providing corporate customers with direct access to hotel inventory, rates, and property information.
The collaboration combines Hilton's next-generation distribution framework with Navan's AI-powered travel technology, marketplace, and booking platform. By replacing elements of traditional hotel distribution with direct connectivity, the companies aim to improve how managed corporate travel is searched, booked, and serviced.
The integration is centered on two Hilton-developed application programming interfaces (APIs) that will be implemented and optimized through Navan's travel marketplace platform.
The Booking API will provide Navan with direct, real-time connectivity to Hilton's Central Reservation System, enabling immediate access to hotel availability, room rates, and booking functionality. The Content API will supply hotel property information and room content directly from Hilton, allowing Navan to become the first travel management company to operationalize this capability within a modern booking experience.
Through these APIs, corporate travel buyers and managed travel programs will gain access to information sourced directly from Hilton rather than through intermediary distribution channels. The companies said the approach is intended to improve the quality and consistency of hotel information while supporting real-time booking capabilities.
The partnership reflects a different approach to hotel distribution by creating direct connectivity between the hotel company and a travel management platform. According to the announcement, the model is designed to better support the way corporate customers search, book, manage, and experience business travel.
Frank Passanante, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Sales & HRCC at Hilton, said the company is focused on innovation that addresses customer needs through technology and commercial collaboration.
He said Hilton's partnership with Navan and the company's investment in technology are intended to evolve the hotel distribution model while delivering direct connectivity that supports how corporate customers book, manage, and experience travel.
For Navan, the integration extends its managed travel platform by connecting directly with Hilton's reservation infrastructure rather than relying solely on traditional hotel distribution methods.
Dane Molter, Senior Vice President of Group Travel Marketplace at Navan, said the collaboration will enable the company to improve the user experience throughout the corporate hotel booking journey, from hotel search and booking to checkout.
The companies outlined several business capabilities expected from the direct integration, all of which focus on strengthening corporate hotel distribution and improving operational efficiency.
One of the primary capabilities is greater access to Hilton's hotel portfolio. Through the direct connection, Navan customers will gain a new level of access to Hilton properties, with the companies stating that the integration is designed to unlock greater value and savings for corporate customers.
Another capability involves the delivery of hotel content directly from Hilton. Property descriptions, room information, and related content will be supplied directly by Hilton, allowing Navan to display authoritative hotel information for joint corporate customers. The companies said this approach is intended to improve traveler confidence while reducing discrepancies between hotel information and booking content.
The partnership also introduces streamlined virtual payment capabilities. Hilton and Navan said they are jointly enabling more consistent virtual payment acceptance across Hilton's global portfolio. The companies stated that this is intended to reduce friction for both business travelers and corporate travel managers during the payment process.
Beyond the initial launch, the collaboration is also intended to serve as a foundation for additional technology development. Hilton and Navan said the direct connection establishes a platform that can support future enhancements, including deeper automation and expanded post-booking integrations as both companies continue developing their technology platforms.
From a hotel revenue perspective, the initiative centers on direct distribution and the exchange of real-time booking information between Hilton and a travel management company. By connecting Navan directly to Hilton's Central Reservation System and content services, the companies are introducing a distribution framework that provides immediate access to room availability, pricing, and booking functionality for managed corporate travel.
The direct connection also enables Hilton to distribute authoritative hotel content through Navan's marketplace without relying on indirect content delivery. This includes property information and room content sourced directly from Hilton for corporate customers using the platform.
The companies said the integration moves beyond legacy hotel distribution models by combining Hilton's distribution technology with Navan's travel marketplace. The result is intended to create a more direct booking process covering hotel search, reservation, payment, and the overall stay experience for corporate travelers.
The announcement positions the initiative as an evolution of hotel distribution through technology rather than a conventional commercial partnership. By integrating Hilton's reservation infrastructure with Navan's travel platform, the companies are creating direct connectivity that supports managed travel while introducing new capabilities for booking, content delivery, payments, and future automation.
Hilton currently operates a portfolio of 28 brands comprising more than 9,200 properties and over 1.3 million rooms across 144 countries and territories. Navan operates a global AI-powered business travel and expense platform that supports travel booking, expense management, and travel services for corporate customers. Together, the companies are developing a direct hotel–TMC connection that combines Hilton's distribution infrastructure with Navan's travel marketplace to modernize corporate hotel booking and distribution.
The initiative was announced by Hilton and Navan, with the companies revealing plans to co-create what they describe as the industry's first direct connection between a hotel company and a travel management company. The integration will make Navan the first TMC to connect directly with Hilton's Central Reservation System (CRS) and content services, providing corporate customers with direct access to hotel inventory, rates, and property information.
The collaboration combines Hilton's next-generation distribution framework with Navan's AI-powered travel technology, marketplace, and booking platform. By replacing elements of traditional hotel distribution with direct connectivity, the companies aim to improve how managed corporate travel is searched, booked, and serviced.
The integration is centered on two Hilton-developed application programming interfaces (APIs) that will be implemented and optimized through Navan's travel marketplace platform.
The Booking API will provide Navan with direct, real-time connectivity to Hilton's Central Reservation System, enabling immediate access to hotel availability, room rates, and booking functionality. The Content API will supply hotel property information and room content directly from Hilton, allowing Navan to become the first travel management company to operationalize this capability within a modern booking experience.
Through these APIs, corporate travel buyers and managed travel programs will gain access to information sourced directly from Hilton rather than through intermediary distribution channels. The companies said the approach is intended to improve the quality and consistency of hotel information while supporting real-time booking capabilities.
The partnership reflects a different approach to hotel distribution by creating direct connectivity between the hotel company and a travel management platform. According to the announcement, the model is designed to better support the way corporate customers search, book, manage, and experience business travel.
Frank Passanante, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Sales & HRCC at Hilton, said the company is focused on innovation that addresses customer needs through technology and commercial collaboration.
He said Hilton's partnership with Navan and the company's investment in technology are intended to evolve the hotel distribution model while delivering direct connectivity that supports how corporate customers book, manage, and experience travel.
For Navan, the integration extends its managed travel platform by connecting directly with Hilton's reservation infrastructure rather than relying solely on traditional hotel distribution methods.
Dane Molter, Senior Vice President of Group Travel Marketplace at Navan, said the collaboration will enable the company to improve the user experience throughout the corporate hotel booking journey, from hotel search and booking to checkout.
The companies outlined several business capabilities expected from the direct integration, all of which focus on strengthening corporate hotel distribution and improving operational efficiency.
One of the primary capabilities is greater access to Hilton's hotel portfolio. Through the direct connection, Navan customers will gain a new level of access to Hilton properties, with the companies stating that the integration is designed to unlock greater value and savings for corporate customers.
Another capability involves the delivery of hotel content directly from Hilton. Property descriptions, room information, and related content will be supplied directly by Hilton, allowing Navan to display authoritative hotel information for joint corporate customers. The companies said this approach is intended to improve traveler confidence while reducing discrepancies between hotel information and booking content.
The partnership also introduces streamlined virtual payment capabilities. Hilton and Navan said they are jointly enabling more consistent virtual payment acceptance across Hilton's global portfolio. The companies stated that this is intended to reduce friction for both business travelers and corporate travel managers during the payment process.
Beyond the initial launch, the collaboration is also intended to serve as a foundation for additional technology development. Hilton and Navan said the direct connection establishes a platform that can support future enhancements, including deeper automation and expanded post-booking integrations as both companies continue developing their technology platforms.
From a hotel revenue perspective, the initiative centers on direct distribution and the exchange of real-time booking information between Hilton and a travel management company. By connecting Navan directly to Hilton's Central Reservation System and content services, the companies are introducing a distribution framework that provides immediate access to room availability, pricing, and booking functionality for managed corporate travel.
The direct connection also enables Hilton to distribute authoritative hotel content through Navan's marketplace without relying on indirect content delivery. This includes property information and room content sourced directly from Hilton for corporate customers using the platform.
The companies said the integration moves beyond legacy hotel distribution models by combining Hilton's distribution technology with Navan's travel marketplace. The result is intended to create a more direct booking process covering hotel search, reservation, payment, and the overall stay experience for corporate travelers.
The announcement positions the initiative as an evolution of hotel distribution through technology rather than a conventional commercial partnership. By integrating Hilton's reservation infrastructure with Navan's travel platform, the companies are creating direct connectivity that supports managed travel while introducing new capabilities for booking, content delivery, payments, and future automation.
Hilton currently operates a portfolio of 28 brands comprising more than 9,200 properties and over 1.3 million rooms across 144 countries and territories. Navan operates a global AI-powered business travel and expense platform that supports travel booking, expense management, and travel services for corporate customers. Together, the companies are developing a direct hotel–TMC connection that combines Hilton's distribution infrastructure with Navan's travel marketplace to modernize corporate hotel booking and distribution.
