Geopolitical instability has emerged as the single biggest challenge facing corporate travel managers in Europe in 2026, with nearly half of professionals surveyed citing it as their primary concern, according to new research released ahead of Business Travel Show Europe.
The findings, drawn from 192 corporate travel professionals surveyed in April 2026, show a sector under pressure from cost inflation, evolving duty-of-care requirements, and uncertainty around technology adoption. The 32nd edition of Business Travel Show Europe takes place 24 to 25 June 2026 at ExCeL London.
47% of respondents identified geopolitical tensions as their top challenge for the year, the strongest single signal in the dataset. Travel managers reported 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,” said Louis Magliaro, Executive VP of The BTN Group, organiser of the Business Travel Show series. “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.”
Cost pressures from all sides
Cost-related challenges dominate the next tier of concerns. Rising air, accommodation, and ground transport rates were cited by 36% of respondents, while 25% highlighted the difficulty of balancing travel demand against shrinking budgets. A further 21% pointed to general budget pressures and 12% flagged rising daily costs in key destinations.
The survey, in which respondents could select up to three options from a list, produced more than 360 data points. Respondents included corporate travel buyers, procurement professionals, meetings and events managers, and executive assistants who book travel.
Duty of care becomes a strategic priority
Risk and duty-of-care volatility was cited by 20% of respondents, with compliance challenges flagged by 16%. The findings indicate that duty of care has shifted from a procedural requirement to a central element of travel strategy, a trend the report links in part to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Delivering a satisfying traveller experience within policy was cited by 19% of respondents, reflecting rising expectations among business travellers alongside tightening budget constraints.
Technology: opportunity and confusion
A cluster of mid-tier results points to widespread uncertainty around technology. Airline content and distribution changes were flagged by 13% of respondents, the application of AI to travel management by 12%, and dynamic pricing models by 11%. Finding a suitable technology stack was cited by 9%, while uneven adoption of NDC across airlines concerned 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,” said Magliaro.
Cyber risk registers zero responses
Two challenges received no responses at all: cyber attacks and cross-border data privacy. The omission is notable given the rise in ransomware incidents and data breaches across global travel ecosystems. The findings suggest travel managers may be underestimating digital risk or treating it as the sole responsibility of IT and security teams.
“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,” said Magliaro. “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.”
Business Travel Show Europe is the longest-established and largest business travel event in Europe, attracting over 700 corporate travel buyers. Free registration for the June event is open now.
