If you haven’t thought about it yet, you need to think about it now. We’re talking about travel strategy planning 2026.
Ideally, companies will begin planning out their travel programs a year in advance. However, operations aren’t always ideal in the real world. As such, if you haven’t begun thinking about travel strategy planning 2026 just yet, don’t waste your Q4. You can get a jumpstart on your planning now. Make the best use of what may be a slow period for your team around the holidays.
Key Takeaways
- Travel spend will likely increase in 2026.
- Travel costs are expected to rise in 2026.
- To be fully prepared for your team’s travel in 2026, use Q4 2025 to review your travel needs and goals; make changes to goals, policies and budgets accordingly; and then communicate any changes to the impacted parties.
What to Expect for Travel in 2026
Already, major business travel organizations and publications are predicting what we can expect for travel in 2026. These are all facts that you’ll need to keep in mind as you go about your travel strategy planning for 2026 as well.
In late July, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) released its annual business travel index outlook. It stated that 2025 global business travel spending is expected to end the year at a “new historical high” of $1.57 trillion. This shows a 6.6% year-over-year growth rate. For 2026, the organization expects the growth rate to increase from there, hitting 8.1%. GBTA calls these rates “moderate.” It noted that growth rates were slowed due to a range of worries, including global trade tensions.
Still, when surveying thousands of international business Travelers, the same report found that business travel remains valuable for teams. Top reasons for business travel included training and conferences.
A separate forecast from the GBTA predicted moderately rising business travel expenses in 2026, including a 0.4% increase in airfare; a 1.8% increase in hotel room rates; a 2.8% increase in car rental rates; and a 2.4% increase in per-attendee costs at meetings and events. However, the forecast was clear that, in the case of a global recession, business travel expenses such as these may actually decline rather than increase.
Otherwise, the forecast named a few specific trends that will drive business travel costs in 2026. They included continued economic uncertainty, inflationary pressure, softening leisure demand and geopolitical tensions.
Tips for Travel Strategy Planning 2026
Keeping in mind that travel spending and travel expenses are both expected to increase in 2026, even if just by a moderate degree, how should you go about properly preparing for your teams’ travel, now? Here’s what you can do in Q4 to set yourself up for success in the quickly approaching new year.
1. Take stock of your current travel needs and goals.
Before looking at the year ahead, look backward. In 2025,
- How did your teams’ travel needs and goals shift?
- How well were those needs met?
- Did your teams achieve their goals when it came to their travel? Maybe there were some nuances. Teams stayed within travel budgets, but travel wasn’t always necessary or productive.
Gather your data, look at the facts and speak with your stakeholders. Make an honest and accurate assessment of the last three quarters.
2. Adjust travel goals, guidelines and budgets accordingly.
When you have all the facts at hand, you can then adjust your travel goals, guidelines and budgets as needed.
For example, goals may have shifted significantly. Perhaps budget wasn’t quite a concern in 2025. But now, particularly as travel costs are predicted to increase, you’re taking a greater look at how you can cut costs. If you are, you’re certainly not alone, according to the U.S. Travel Association, which predicts that corporate cost-cutting measures are still a threat to business travel, more than five years after the start of the pandemic, reducing travel and increasing reliance on virtual meetings and events.
As your goals shift, you may need to change your travel policy and guidelines, as well as your budget, in order to meet those goals. For instance, as Business Travel News reported in July, some organizations are canceling U.S.-hosted events or meetings in accordance with shifting U.S. politics. For Duty of Care reasons, you might likewise consider where and how travel is permitted under your current policy. Then, make any necessary changes.
3. Communicate new goals, guidelines and budgets thoroughly.
For any new goals, guidelines and/or budgets that you decide to implement for 2026, be sure that those changes are thoroughly and comprehensively communicated to all stakeholders and traveling teams. This is not only necessary for ensuring Traveler policy compliance. It’s also for garnering feedback from impacted parties that you may then use to further adjust your approach to 2026 travel.
4. Take travel trends with a grain of salt and remain agile.
Lastly, keep an eye on travel trends, such as AI usage in the travel industry, sustainability demand from both governments and Travelers, etc. At the same time, don’t rush to overhaul your entire travel program right away. Instead, take small, calculated movements that keep your teams current and compliant.
The key is to remain flexible and agile as you approach a somewhat uncertain travel landscape in 2026. Could geopolitical tensions rise? Could a global recession impact travel spend and costs? Both are certainly a possibility, but if you remain flexible, you can weather whatever reality awaits the business travel industry in the year ahead.
Need Help with Travel Strategy Planning 2026?
JTB Business Travel can assist with the entirety of your team’s travel needs, from travel planning to Duty of Care, travel policy compliance, to lowering your corporate travel carbon footprint. Explore our wealth of offerings today and get in touch to see how we can help you meet your travel goals in 2026.
