The business travel industry is evolving fast. From AI-driven personalisation and cost consolidation to flex-first living and duty of care, corporate travel is no longer just about moving people from A to B.
To understand what 2026 really looks like on the ground, we asked our client-facing teams what they’re hearing directly from travel managers and hospitality partners in their day-to-day conversations.
Here are the biggest trends shaping corporate travel and accommodation in 2026:
Corporate travel faces industry disruption
The corporate travel landscape is undergoing significant disruption as mergers, partnerships, and acquisitions reshape the industry.
“The merger of two of the biggest TMCs, Amex GBT and CWT, and their partnership with Concur is going to put further pressure on smaller TMCs. I think we'll see more acquisitions occur in the travel landscape to solidify offerings and other TMCs' value.”– Alex de Vaux, SVP of Client Partnerships - Americas
Geopolitical volatility, traveller risk & duty of care
Geopolitical uncertainty is increasingly shaping corporate travel strategies, making risk management and traveller safety top priorities.
“The geopolitical climate is likely to cause operational disruption this year. Corporates will need to be more diligent with risk and duty of care, as well as strategic scenario planning, as we see visa and border restrictions impact travel and potential increased avoidance of high-risk areas.” – Alex de Vaux, SVP of Client Partnerships - Americas
In response, companies are placing a sharper focus on proactive safety measures to ensure employees are safe and secure throughout every trip.
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“One of the biggest themes I’m hearing from clients is a heightened focus on traveller safety and duty of care. Companies want to be confident that employees not only travel smoothly, but feel secure and supported from departure through arrival.”– Kerri Amman, Client Development Manager
AI-powered personalisation
Operational disruption, shifting border policies, and economic uncertainty are pushing companies to rethink how they plan and manage travel programmes. One key focus is leveraging AI to enhance personalisation, improve efficiency, and support smarter decision-making.
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“We’re seeing AI increasingly used to drive personalisation, based on guest information. We’re also seeing travel managers and bookers use data to make more informed choices when it comes to corporate accommodation management.” – Beverly King, VP of Client Partnerships
“We’re seeing increased deployment from TMCs of AI and digital tools to support travel planning and the traveller journey among corporates, in the hope of bringing more automation to bookings, disruption support and personalisation to travel experiences.” – Alex de Vaux, SVP of Client Partnerships - Americas
Hospitality partners are also adapting, using AI to transform the stay experience.
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“Hospitality partners seem to be adapting by deploying agentic AI to handle hyper-personalised, non-linear booking journeys and using data-driven 'attribute-based selling' to let guests customise specific room features like high-speed connectivity setups or wellness kits. To stay competitive, those who haven't yet adapted must bridge the gap between automation and the 'human touch' by reinvesting in local community curation and flexible inventory management that allows for seamless transitions between short-term and extended stays.” – Emma Schweder, Hospitality Growth Manager
Cost control and the rise of serviced apartments
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“Overall, business travel budgets are expected to rise, as the value of meeting and working face-to-face continues to outweigh the impact of virtual meetings.” – Beverly King, VP of Client Partnerships
Cost optimisation remains a core priority, especially as economic uncertainty and travel costs continue to climb.
“Cost optimisation has always been a critical component of business travel, but with rising costs and economic uncertainty, it is even more important to maintain visibility, strong supplier contracts, and control over travel programme costs to strike the right balance between cost and ROI.” – Alex de Vaux, SVP of Client Partnerships - Americas
These financial pressures are driving a clear shift in accommodation patterns.
“Alternative lodging and serviced apartments will continue to gain share. As corporates focus on cost optimisation, we’re seeing more room nights in serviced apartments, corporate housing, and extended-stay suites, which offer both cost efficiency and improved traveller comfort for longer trips.” – Alex de Vaux, SVP of Client Partnerships - Americas
The shift is also being driven by longer-term stays and “flex-first” policies.
“The corporate accommodation landscape in the Americas seems to have shifted toward a ‘flex-first’ model, driven by a surge in mid-term stays (30–90 days) as employees navigate high housing costs and work-from-anywhere policies.” – Emma Schweder, Hospitality Growth Manager
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“Corporate accommodation is moving away from traditional hotels toward high-quality serviced apartments and longer-stay options. At AltoVita, we’re seeing strong demand for flexible, fully self-contained spaces that provide consistency, comfort, and a ‘home-like’ experience.” – Andraž Šereš, Sourcing Manager - EMEA
The trend is evident in APAC as well.
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“Trends are changing. People previously preferred hotels, but are now switching to serviced or hotel apartments. Hospitality partners are quickly adapting to meet evolving guest needs.” – Saurabh Arora, Senior Hospitality Growth Manager - APAC
Shifting travel corridors and emerging destinations
Cost optimisation and strategic project planning are driving a noticeable shift in corporate travel patterns.
“There will be more of a shift away from traditional hubs as corporates seek cheaper real estate, talent, and locations for meetings and events in secondary or emerging cities. This will change travel patterns and destinations.” – Alex de Vaux, SVP of Client Partnerships - Americas
“We’re seeing a continued increase in demand for non-standard locations, ‘out of town’ or less common cities where work, projects, and meetings require a presence. Emerging markets include Riyadh, Dubai, Barcelona/Madrid, Johannesburg, Seoul, and Luxembourg.” – Beverly King, VP of Client Partnerships
Sustainability & wellbeing take centre stage
Alongside this geographic diversification, sustainability and wellbeing are becoming central priorities for corporate travel.
“Demand is shifting from traditional urban centers to high-growth secondary hubs, with a focus on ‘trophy’ serviced apartments that combine professional-grade workstations with eco-certified sustainability. Successful partners are prioritising regenerative hospitality, employee wellbeing, and carbon-neutral operations.” – Emma Schweder, Hospitality Growth Manager
Corporate travellers themselves are advocating for greener choices and companies are responding accordingly.
“Travellers are actively pushing this agenda, seeking greener choices without sacrificing comfort, while corporates are reviewing policies and practices to support sustainable travel.” – Beverly King, VP of Client Partnerships
Wellbeing is also a growing focus in 2026, with companies recognising its impact on productivity and employee experience while on the move. Concepts like “quietcation” or “hushpitality” are gaining attention, providing safe, quiet spaces for travellers to recharge amid busy schedules.
“We’re seeing an increased focus on traveller wellbeing, from creating calm, restorative environments to supporting bleisure opportunities, where business travellers add leisure elements to their trips to balance work and life.” – Beverly King, VP of Client Partnerships
Flexibility, Choice, and Evolving Corporate Accommodation
Corporate travel programmes are increasingly focusing on flexibility, choice, and accommodation strategy. We’re seeing more RFPs as companies consolidate spend across travel and mobility, while prioritising cost, compliance, duty of care, and employee experience.
“We’re seeing an increased focus by companies on consolidating business travel, global mobility and other accommodation spend, like interns, projects etc.. More companies are expected to review their commercials and offerings based on cost, compliance, employee experience, duty of care and accommodation diversification.” – Beverly King, VP of Client Partnerships
Alongside consolidation, there is a clear shift toward flexible policies that allow employees choice while maintaining programme oversight.
“There’s a clear shift toward more managed lump-sum and core-flex policies. Some clients are recognising that one-size-fits-all doesn’t work anymore, and they’re building programmes that give employees more flexibility and choice based on their individual needs while still maintaining structure, oversight, and cost control.” – Kerri Amman, Client Development Manager
Hospitality partners are adapting by professionalising services and aligning offerings with corporate priorities.
“Hospitality partners are adapting by professionalising their offering, improving digital onboarding, standardising quality and aligning more closely with corporate expectations around flexibility, security and service. Partners who haven't adapted yet need to think beyond leisure travel and design their product specifically for corporate use.” – Andraž Šereš, Sourcing Manager - EMEA
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