2026 will reward the ready

In 2026, journey leaders ought to brace for an surroundings the place some managed journey program fundamentals – danger, value, coverage and sustainability – might shift quicker than anticipated. BCD Travel’s Travel Market Report: 2026 Outlook forecasts that the yr forward shall be outlined by knowledge transparency, proactive planning and smarter provider technique.

Takeaways from the Travel Market Report: 2026 Outlook

1. Six dangers to observe in 2026

Interconnected dangers received’t simply complicate enterprise journey in 2026 – they’ll increase the general danger panorama firms should navigate to maintain enterprise vacationers protected and operations resilient.

• Weather disruptions
• Geopolitical instability
• The visa and border-policy “whiplash”
• AI-accelerated misinformation crises
• Unpredictable sickness patterns
• Congestion and availability constraints throughout mega-events

Organizations ought to increase disaster playbooks to account for a number of simultaneous disruptions – a functionality highlighted within the Outlook. Traveler Security Program Assessments and real-time incident monitoring are among the many instruments applications ought to prioritize to strengthen resilience.

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2. Airfare: Modest development nonetheless calls for strategic intervention

Global airfares are projected to rise a mean of 1.1%, with regional variations shaping complexity. Africa and Asia’s greater inflation – mixed with strain from NDC-driven fare packaging – will make 2026 pricing fashions tougher than they seem.

Key considerations recognized within the Outlook embrace declining contract worth, gas surcharges and program leakage – all requiring stronger sourcing methods.

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3. Hotel charge development is monitoring upward – and a few markets might speed up

Global resort charges are forecast to rise 4.9%, with variation pushed by labor prices, tourism surges and tax shifts. Markets akin to Japan, Turkey and the Middle East are anticipated to see the steepest will increase.

Travel applications ought to take into account earlier negotiation cycles to safe stock and mitigate Advanced Daily Rate (ADR) escalation.

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4. Car rental price pressures are broadening

Repair delays, acquisition prices and metropolis surcharges proceed to push costs upward throughout the 2–4% forecast vary. Programs ought to consider break-even factors between rental, rideshare and taxi in high-cost markets – comparative modeling is really useful within the Outlook.

5. Sustainability is operational – not aspirational

The maturity hole highlighted within the report stays vital: solely 9% of firms apply carbon charges and 15% put money into SAF. Expect sustainability to maneuver deeper into operational planning, with higher emphasis on audit-ready knowledge and credible reporting frameworks.