Geopolitics, soaring costs and rising duty of care pressures are increasing. New data from Business Travel Show Europe reveals the biggest challenges facing European travel managers in 2026. EAs and PAs need to be aware of the key factors behind todays’ business travel landscape…
At a time when European airline carriers are cancelling hundreds of flights due to the soaring price of fuel caused by conflict in the Middle East, it’s no surprise that ‘geopolitical tensions’ has topped the list of concerns among corporate travel professionals in the region.
New industry insight from 192** corporate travel professionals released ahead of Business Travel Show Europe reveals a sector under intense pressure from geopolitical instability, cost inflation and rapidly evolving duty‑of‑care expectations, with technology disruption and border uncertainty adding further complexity.
Business Travel Show Europe is the longest-established and largest business travel event in Europe, attracting over 700 corporate travel buyers. The 32nd edition takes place 24-25 June 2026 at Excel London and free registration is now open.
With survey respondents invited to choose up to three options and more than 360 data points analysed, a clear picture emerges: external volatility is now the dominant force shaping corporate travel strategy following years of ‘cost cutting’ topping the annual poll.
What do EAs and PAs need to know about business travel in 2026:
Geopolitical tensions top the list of concerns
Nearly half – 47% – of respondents cite geopolitical instability as their biggest challenge for 2026 – the strongest single signal in the dataset. Travel managers report dealing with unstable borders, sudden route changes, regional conflict, unpredictable government policies and supply‑chain disruption.
“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,” said Louis Magliaro, Executive VP of The BTN Group, organiser of the Business Travel Show series of global events.
Cost escalation is squeezing travel programmes from all sides
Cost pressures dominate the next tier of challenges. Key concerns include:
- Rising air, accommodation and ground transport rates (36%)
- Balancing travel demand with shrinking budgets (25%)
- General budget pressures (21%)
- Rising daily costs in key destinations (12%)
Duty of care and compliance pressures intensify
With 20% citing risk volatility and 16% highlighting compliance challenges, duty of care has firmly shifted from a procedural requirement to a strategic priority: a trend that’s also amplified by the conflict in the Middle East.
Technology: a source of opportunity and confusion
A cluster of mid‑tier challenges reveals widespread uncertainty around technology adoption:
- Airline content and distribution changes (13%)
- Applying AI to travel management (12%)
- Dynamic pricing models (11%)
- Finding the right tech stack (9%)
- Uneven NDC rollout (6%)
“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,” added Magliaro.
A surprising blind spot: cyber and data‑privacy risk
Two challenges received no responses – cyber attacks and cross‑border data privacy – a potentially striking omission given the rise in ransomware, data breaches and digital‑risk exposure across global travel ecosystems. The findings suggest travel managers may be underestimating digital risk or assuming it sits solely with IT and security teams.
EAs and PAs will find vital learning and solutions at Business Travel Show Europe
“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,” added Magliaro.
Solutions to all the challenges facing buyers can be found at Business Travel Show Europe taking place in London this June. The event will bring together over 1,000 travel buyers, suppliers and industry leaders to explore solutions to the sector’s most pressing challenges, from geopolitical risk and cost control to AI adoption, NDC readiness, next generation duty of care and much more. Together with over 200 world-class suppliers, the event will provide a much-needed shortcut to corporate travel innovation for thousands of organisations across Europe.
More about the Business Travel Show Europe’s survey
**192 people responded to the Business Travel Show Europe survey in April 2026.
- 60% corporate travel buyer, manager, booker
- 19% procurement professional with responsibility for corporate travel
- 6% Meetings and / or events manager
- 3% EA / PA who books corporate travel
- 31% from the UK
- 42% from the mainland Europe
- 27% from outside Europe
The three biggest business travel challenges in 2026 were:
| 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 disruption | 2.3% |
| Evolving expectations of Gen Z business travellers | 2.3% |
| Data privacy & cross-border data rules | 0% |
| Cyber attacks | 0% |
Business Travel Shows now cover three continents
Business Travel Show Europe: 24-25 June, Excel London. Register for free now.
Business Travel Show Europe is the longest-established and largest business travel event in Europe attracting over 700 corporate travel buyers. The event returns on 24-25 June 2026 at Excel, London.
Business Travel Show America is the only hosted corporate travel buyer event in North America attracting travel buyers with a T&E spend of over $50 billion. 74% of 2025 attendees did not attend GBTA. This year, the event takes place at the Javits Center, New York from 14-15 October drawing over 500 business travel managers. Registration is open now at www.businesstravelshowamerica.com.
Business Travel Show APAC returns to Singapore 21-22 April 2027 at Marina Bay Sands following a successful launch in 2025. Organised by the BTN Group, the show connects buyers and suppliers from Asia Pacific, the US, UK, and Europe. With expertly crafted content developed by the BTN Group’s 40+ years of industry expertise, the event features insightful sessions, cutting-edge innovations, and dynamic networking formats. Co-located with The Meetings Show Asia Pacific, it’s a must-attend for travel and meetings professionals. Visit www.businesstravelshowapac.com for details.
