The findings are based on responses from 192 corporate travel professionals and reflect growing pressure across the sector amid conflict-related disruptions, inflation and operational uncertainty.
According to the survey, geopolitical tensions were identified as the leading concern for 47% of respondents, making it the most significant challenge recorded in the dataset.
Travel managers reported ongoing difficulties linked to unstable borders, sudden route changes, regional conflicts, unpredictable government policies and supply-chain disruption.
Louis Magliaro, Executive Vice President of The BTN Group, organiser of the Business Travel Show series, said: “This data aligns with wider industry sentiment that global instability is no longer a background risk but a daily operational variable. The conflict in the Middle East alone has triggered emergency repatriations, widespread fare inflation, cancellations, rerouting, travel bans and heightened traveller anxiety – it’s a daily changing minefield that’s keeping travel managers on their toes.”
What are the biggest challenges facing you in 2026? Please choose up to 3:
Geopolitical tensions | 46.5% |
Rising air, accommodation and ground transportation rates | 36.4% |
Balancing travel demand with budget constraints | 24.8% |
Budget pressures | 20.9% |
Risk and duty-of-care volatility - Increased duty of care requirements/expectations | 20.9% |
Delivering a satisfying traveller experience within policy | 18.6% |
Compliance | 16.3% |
Navigating airline content and distribution changes | 13.2% |
Rising daily costs in key locations | 12.4% |
Application of AI to travel management | 12.4% |
Dynamic pricing models | 10.9% |
Weaker negotiating position with suppliers | 8.5% |
Visa and border policy changes | 8.5% |
Finding a travel tech stack that’s bespoke to your needs | 8.5% |
Airline capacity and route availability | 7.0% |
Distribution – uneven adoption of NDC across airlines | 6.2% |
Potential additional costs associated with making more sustainable choices | 5.4% |
Mandatory emissions reporting | 3.1% |
Macroeconomic volatility | 3.1% |
Extreme weather and climate‑related | 2.3% |
Evolving expectations of Gen Z business travellers | 2.3% |
Data privacy & cross-border data rules | 0% |
Cyber attacks | 0% |
- Cost pressures were also identified as a major issue across corporate travel programmes.
- Among the main concerns cited by respondents were rising airfares, accommodation and ground transport costs, identified by 36% of participants.
- In addition, 25% highlighted the challenge of balancing travel demand against shrinking budgets, while 21% pointed to broader budget pressures. A further 12% identified rising daily costs in key destinations as a growing concern.
- The survey also indicated increasing pressure related to traveller safety, risk management and compliance.
- Twenty percent of respondents identified risk volatility as a key challenge, while 16% highlighted compliance requirements, reflecting the growing strategic importance of duty-of-care responsibilities within corporate travel programmes.
- Technology-related issues also featured prominently in the findings.
- Thirteen percent of respondents cited airline content and distribution changes as a challenge, while 12% pointed to uncertainty around the application of artificial intelligence in travel management.
- Dynamic pricing models were identified by 11% of respondents, while 9% reported difficulties in selecting appropriate technology platforms and 6% highlighted concerns around uneven NDC rollout across the industry.
Louis Magliaro added: “The message from travel buyers here is very clear: while AI and modern distribution promise transformation, many organisations are struggling to navigate fragmented content, inconsistent standards and legacy tech systems that don’t integrate.”
The report also identified what organisers described as a notable gap in responses related to cyber attacks and cross-border data privacy, with neither issue receiving any responses despite increasing concerns globally regarding ransomware attacks and data breaches.
According to the organisers, the findings may indicate that corporate travel managers continue to view digital security primarily as a responsibility of IT and security departments.
Louis Magliaro said: “The data from our annual buyer report makes one thing clear: 2026 is a pivotal year for corporate travel. External volatility is reshaping strategy, cost inflation is redefining budgets, and traveller expectations are rising fast making it tricky for travel programmes to adapt to demand.”
The 32nd edition of Business Travel Show Europe will take place on 24-25 June 2026 at Excel London.
According to the organisers, the event is expected to bring together more than 1,000 travel buyers, suppliers and industry representatives, alongside over 200 suppliers, to discuss solutions related to geopolitical risk, cost management, artificial intelligence, NDC implementation and traveller safety.
Tags: European corporate travel Business Travel Show Louis Magliaro, The BTN Group,
