European demand shows ‘remarkable strength’ in 2026 — GBTA

 

European business travel spending is expected to grow by 7 per cent year on year in 2026 to reach €404 billion as the sector shows “remarkable strength” in the wake of geopolitical turmoil, according to the latest research from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).

BCD Travel and Mobilexpense deepen European travel and expense alliance

 

UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS – BCD Travel and Mobilexpense are deepening their strategic alliance to connect travel and expense management across Europe.

Corporate travel buyers flag airfare costs for 2027

 

Rising airfares, supplier value and policy compliance top corporate travel buyers’ concerns for 2027, according to new research from Business Travel Show America. The event opens at New York’s Javits Center and runs through October 15.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE Generate 80% of MENA Business Trips as Autumn Season Returns

 

Tumodo, the UAE-based online business travel platform, reports on corporate travel demand, pricing and destination trends for Q3 2026. The region had a difficult beginning of 2026, but forecasters expect a recovery. International travel in MENA and South Asia will grow 17% in 2027, more than twice the global rate of 8%.

GBTA forecasts 7.2% rise in 2026 business travel spending

 The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) forecasts that worldwide business travel spending will increase by 7.2% year on year to approximately US$1.71 trillion in 2026, supported by economic growth, corporate investment and continued demand for face-to-face meetings.

KAYAK for Business rolls out AI-powered corporate travel assistant Agent KAYAK for Business rolls out AI-powered corporate travel assistant

 

KAYAK for Business is bringing artificial intelligence deeper into managed travel with the launch of three new AI-powered tools designed to simplify trip planning, booking and support for corporate travelers.

BCD Travel and Emburse expand travel and expense partnership

 

UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS – BCD Travel and Emburse have expanded their strategic partnership to develop a more connected approach to business travel and expense management.

GBTA forecasts elevated business travel prices through 2026

 

ALEXANDRIA, VΑ – Global business travel prices are expected to remain elevated through the remainder of 2026 before beginning to moderate in 2027, according to a new forecast from the Global Business Travel Association and ALTOUR.

BizAway acquires Uniglobe Alliance Travel to strengthen position in the Netherlands

 

Business travel platform BizAway has expanded its European footprint with the acquisition of Dutch travel management company (TMC) Uniglobe Alliance Travel, strengthening its presence in the Benelux region.

The deal, effective since July 1, 2026, marks another step in BizAway’s strategy to build a leading pan-European business travel company through a combination of local expertise, proprietary technology and personalized customer support.

Asia – U.S. routes rank highest for jet lag recovery

 Business travel jet lag is most severe on direct routes from Asia to the United States, according to research compiled by Booking.com for Business. The analysis estimates that travellers on the highest-ranked routes may require up to 11 days to recover.

Navan index reveals ‘strong’ business travel growth in first half of 2026

 Navan reported a 13.5 per cent year-on-year increase in business travel volumes during the first half of 2026, based on the TMC’s Business Travel Benchmark index.

BCD Travel launches AI-powered data platform

 

UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS – BCD Travel has launched Tripsource Insights, an Artificial Intelligence and natural language processing-powered analytics platform for corporate travel and finance managers. The platform provides a unified, real-time view of travel programme, payment and risk data.

News and Insights from Omega World Travel

Business travel in 2026 has moved beyond recovery and into a steadier, more predictable rhythm. SAP Concur's latest survey finds, however, that while travelers are eager to hit the road, they face anxiety about geopolitical instability.

France leads growth in inbound business travel

 

France recorded the largest year-on-year increase in inbound business travelers, according to a new analysis by Booking.com for Business based on UN Tourism Statistics. The country attracted an additional 11.6 million corporate visitors over the past year, the highest increase among global markets.

myRiva and Groups360 integrate travel and meetings management

 

myRiva, the AI-driven business travel marketplace, has announced a partnership with Groups360 aimed at addressing the long-standing separation between corporate travel bookings and meeting space reservations.

Long Lake's Transformation Plan for Amex GBT Will Take Years

 

Once Long Lake's $6.3 billion acquisition of  American Express Global Business Travel is complete, which is expected in the second half of 2026, it may only take a couple of weeks for the business to begin to feel the margin lift that comes from its initial integration with Long Lake's Nexus AI platform, Long Lake co-founder and CEO Alex Taubman recently said on a podcast.

eDreams ODIGEO exceeds Prime subscriber growth target

 

BARCELONA – eDreams ODIGEO reported that it exceeded its annual growth target for Prime subscribers for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2026, achieving 630,000 net additions, 5% above its initial guidance.

US business travel patterns shift by demographics and industry

 

Business travel in the United States continues to evolve, with demographic factors such as gender, seniority and age shaping travel frequency and expectations, according to analysis based on GBTA and Amex data.

Study finds 67% of corporate ground travel remains untracked

 

ACCRINGTON, UK – New independent research from CMAC Group indicates that 67% of corporate ground transport activity remains untracked by travel managers, increasing exposure to both financial risk and traveller safety concerns.

Business aviation sales in Europe shaped by regional dynamics

 

The business aviation sector in Europe continues to expand, with the market currently valued at 57.11 billion euros and expected to grow by approximately 10% annually over the next five years. Although it accounts for around 9% of total air traffic, it plays a key role in regional connectivity, investment, and trade.