BCD Travel has released its next Travel Market Report dedicated to a 2026 Outlook on key risks and solutions, updates on the state of air travel pricing, hotel room rates and car rentals, and a summary of important sustainability trends. Key highlights from the report for corporate travel programs to consider include:
Risks and mitigation strategies
In 2026, as the global effects of tariffs continue to unfold, Oxford Economics believes the world may face its weakest economic growth since 2009 (excluding 2020), hovering at 2.6%. Inflation is expected to ease only slowly, averaging above 3%. In addition to this economic fragility, a broad range of risks may further compound the efforts of organizations to keep their business travelers safe and operations flowing smoothly.
The primary six risks to consider are extreme weather, regional tensions and ongoing conflicts, changing border policies, the rise of cyberattacks and misinformation arising from the use of AI, the continuing threat of illnesses and disease, and limited options for accommodations and ground transportation during large scale events.
To help mitigate these risks, BCD encourages organizations to proactively get ahead of disruptions by leveraging our innovative travel risk intelligence solutions, and creating contingency plans for high impact events, seeking the counsel of trusted visa sources and immigration specialists from the BCD Marketplace Visa & Passport Services, and providing preventative medical & security services of the BCD Marketplace Travel Risk Management.
In today’s travel landscape, organizations face unprecedented challenges. But travel managers don’t have to face these alone. Through our innovation and expert guidance, we help clients strengthen their travel risk management programs with our Traveler Security Program Assessment. Our real-time incident and destination intelligence and traveler response capabilities help clients stay ahead of these disruptions by providing proactive strategies and advanced travel risk technologies. Our goal is to ensure business travelers remain safe and operations run smoothly, even in times of uncertainty. Jorge Mesa, senior director of Travel Risk Management at BCD
Airfares
Overall, global airfares should see only limited inflation, primarily stimulated by the intercontinental air travel market as opposed to regional travel.
Globally, average ticket prices (ATPs) should rise by only 1.1% in 2026 reflecting weak airfares inflation in the Americas, and in North America especially. ATP increases in other regions should be above the global average, with the strongest inflation likely in Africa and Asia, at 2.5% and 2.0%, respectively.
In addition to airfare changes, the Global Air Practice at BCD’s Advito consultancy has identified five trends for travel buyers to keep in mind. These include a reduction in value of airline corporate contracts, cost avoidance, rising airline fuel surcharges, blanket NDC offerings, and continued travel program leakage.
When it comes to maintaining a competitive air program, it’s crucial to have access to the right data. Our Air Practice’s robust suite of advanced analytics tools, including the Airfare Predictor and Dynamic Performance Management dashboards, help travel managers stay ahead of the airlines’ everchanging pricing and inventory management strategies. These also maximize the value of corporate airline contracts, reduce leakage, reduce carbon emissions and spot opportunities to drive savings and influence traveler behavior. Olivier Benoit, senior vice president of BCD’s consulting division, Advito
Hotel rates
Global hotel rates are forecasted to increase by 4.9% in average daily rates (ADRs). There are many variables behind the variation in rates in different regions, from rising staffing and labor costs in Turkey to robust leisure demand in Japan. Aggregate figures for rate inflation in Africa, Asia and Europe should all lie within a narrow 4-6% range; the strongest rate inflation is expected across the Middle East at 8%. Hotels in Latin America are expected to average 6.4% in 2026. Rate inflation is likely to be weakest in the Southwest Pacific and North America, at 2.6% and 2.2%, respectively.
With global hotel rates projected to rise nearly 5%, travel managers and buyers need proactive measures to control costs. BCD’s holistic, technology-driven hotel solution – Stay by BCD Travel – is designed to drive value across our clients’ hotel programs. From sourcing and data-driven program optimization, to Hotel Price Assurance for automated reshopping, we help offset these increases and deliver measurable savings for travel programs, ensuring travelers always have access to the best available rates. Miriam Moscovici, vice president of Product Planning and Intelligence at BCD
Car rental
Car rental rates will generally continue to rise for corporate customers. A mix of aspects are contributing to this increase, including car rental companies’ acquisition and repair costs, city surcharges and higher parking rates. Corporate travelers are being forced to consider alternative options such as ride-hailing and taxis. In general, BCD expects rate increases in 2026 to be slightly lower than in 2025, sitting in a 2-4% range.
Sustainability
In 2026, sustainability will no longer be just a moral obligation. It’s becoming a strategic business priority and a source of competitive advantage. Accountability will dominate the agenda as companies move from pledges to measurable action. According to GBTA’s latest benchmark, overall maturity remains low at 1.4 out of 5, with only 9% of companies applying carbon fees and 15% investing in sustainable aviation fuel. BCD’s Sustainability Solution helps organizations close this gap by simplifying complexity with an end-to-end ecosystem that enables credible emissions reporting, traveler engagement, and investment in decarbonization, all without disrupting operations.
“The GBTA findings show that while companies are committed to sustainable travel, progress in critical areas is lagging,” said Olivia Ruggles-Brise, vice president of Sustainability at BCD and GBTA Climate Leader. “Closing this gap requires practical solutions that make sustainability achievable without disrupting business. That’s exactly what BCD delivers.”
For more information and region-specific forecasts from the 2026 Outlook, download the full Travel Market Report.
