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18 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JUNE 1, 2026 Talent Wars Even in hybrid era, Danbury's Cartus bets companies will still pay to move top executives Tebbe said traditional relocations dropped sharply during the pandemic as companies froze hiring and expan- sion plans, before rebounding in 2022 as delayed moves resumed. Since mid-2023, however, overall move volumes have softened again, he said. But companies haven't stopped moving employees altogether. Instead, many have become more selective, reserving the most generous reloca- tion support for senior leadership and other critical hires. "The senior-most executives, for the most part, seem to be immune from that," Tebbe said, referring to the broader pullback in relocation activity. According to Cartus' survey, 61% of companies said they offer dedi- cated relocation advisors or VIP service teams for executives, while 52% provide customized relocation packages. More than a third offer premium housing support, and 28% help with school searches or education allowances. Part of that demand is being driven by employers who want senior leaders By Michael Juliano mjuliano@hartfordbusiness.com F or all the disruption remote work brought to corporate America, companies are still willing to spend to relocate top executives. Danbury-based Cartus Corp. is betting that remains true. The corporate relocation company, which handles domestic and international employee transfers, recently launched Cartus Concierge, a premium service aimed at execu- tives and other high-level employees whose relocations may involve far more than a moving truck and a temporary apartment. That can mean coordinating the sale of a multimillion-dollar home, helping families identify schools, providing immigration support and cross-cultural coaching, arranging specialized pet transport, or handling valuable belongings like artwork or wine collections. Behind the scenes, Cartus acts as the central coordinator, managing outside vendors ranging from specialty movers to destination service providers. Cartus assigns a consultant to serve as the employee's main point of contact throughout the move. Cartus President and CEO Matt Tebbe said the company launched the service in response to corporations' continued efforts to attract and retain top executives. "There is a broader war for talent right now," he said in a recent interview. "Everybody's trying to differentiate themselves, so this is an area where a company can really make sure that they're treating their employees at the highest level." A different era The new product launch comes as corporate relocation patterns continue to evolve post-pandemic. Cartus' 2026 global mobility survey found companies are divided on whether relocation activity is growing or shrinking. Thirty-five percent of respondents said mobility volume increased over the past two years, while 34% reported declines and 31% said activity was stable. Rising costs remain a top challenge, even as 57% of respondents reported return-to-office mandates. BY THE NUMBERS Executive relocations in the hybrid era 35% Companies reporting relocation volume increased over the past two years 34% Companies reporting relocation volume declined 31% Companies reporting relocation activity stayed flat Source: Cartus' 2026 Global Talent Mobility Survey Matt Tebbe, president and CEO of Cartus Corp., says companies still see relocation as a strategic tool for attracting and retaining top executives. Contributed Photo