Global corporate travel management company, Direct Travel, has released its top predictions for 2026, highlighting how the next phase of business travel moves beyond transactions toward people-centred experiences.
Built on the company’s mission to blend human ingenuity with breakthrough technology, these insights explore how data, AI, and service excellence are converging to create travel that is effortless, personal, and rewarding.
“By 2026, travel won’t just be about getting from A to B – it will be about understanding why you’re going, who you’re engaging, and how the journey itself adds meaning,” said Christal Bemont, CEO of Direct Travel.
“The organisations that lead will be those that combine intelligence with empathy – where every trip is as intentional as it is efficient.”
“After a decade of digital transformation, we’re finally seeing the ‘heart’ and the ‘science’ of travel converge,” said Bemont. “Technology is no longer just a tool—it’s a bridge that connects people and purpose. Through AI, data, and open architecture, travel can once again feel personal, intuitive, and meaningful.
“The winners in 2026 will be those who use technology not to replace the human touch, but to elevate it.”
Sarah Kuberry Martino, Chief Product Officer, added: “Agentic AI will evolve rapidly moving from support assistant to strategic co-pilot.”
“But as we embrace these new capabilities, responsible data use will become a defining factor. Companies that build on trusted, clean, and transparent data models will strengthen traveller confidence, while those that rush ahead risk eroding it. In 2026, trust will be the new competitive advantage.”
“We’ll see AI move from reactive to truly predictive,” noted Martin Tuncaydin, EVP of Data, AI, and Engineering. “Voice-enabled travel assistants will become an invisible layer of the traveller journey-resolving disruptions, predict needs, and surface insights before travellers even ask. The magic happens when data and conversation merge, creating an ecosystem that learns from every interaction and makes each journey smarter than the last.”
“AI will make service faster – but speed isn’t the same as care,” said Dave Breslin, EVP, Customer Experience. “In 2026, the paradox will be clear: automation will handle the routine, but travelers will crave deeper human connection when it matters most. The role of the travel expert will become even more valuable—empowered by AI insights to deliver higher-impact service with greater empathy and precision.”
“Loyalty programs are on the verge of reinvention,” said Rene Scheeberger, SVP, Leisure Supplier Relations. “As financial models tighten, many programs will quietly devalue points or shift redemption structures—but that opens the door for innovation. We’ll see a new era of loyalty built on flexibility and relevance, connecting travelers to experiences that align with their personal and professional lives, not just their spend.”
According to Direct Travel, 2026 will mark a defining shift for business travel, from a world of transactions to one of transformation. With AI and data removing friction, and human expertise guiding every journey, travel will become more personal, contextual, and secure than ever before.
