New data reveals the biggest challenges facing European travel managers in 2026 | News
At a time when European airlines are canceling hundreds of flights due to rising fuel prices due to conflict in the Middle East, it is no surprise that ‘geopolitical tensions’ are at the top of the list of concerns among business travel professionals in the region.
New industry insight from 192** business travel professionals released soon Business travel fair Europe reveals a sector under intense pressure from geopolitical instability, cost inflation and rapidly evolving duty of care expectations, with technological disruption and border uncertainty further increasing complexity.
Business Travel Show Europe is the longest running and largest business travel event in Europe, attracting more than 700 business travel buyers. The 32nd edition will take place from 24 to 25 June 2026 at Excel London and is free registration is now open.
With survey respondents invited to choose up to three options and more than 360 data points analyzed, a clear picture emerges: external volatility is now the dominant force shaping business travel strategy, after years of ‘cost cutting’ topping the annual poll.
Geopolitical tensions top the list of concerns
Nearly half – 47% – of respondents cite geopolitical instability as their biggest challenge for 2026 – the strongest signal in the dataset. Travel managers report dealing with unstable borders, sudden route changes, regional conflicts, unpredictable government policies and supply chain disruption.
“This data is consistent with broader industry sentiment that global instability is no longer a background risk, but a daily operational variable. The conflict in the Middle East alone has led to emergency repatriations, widespread fare inflation, cancellations, diversions, travel bans and increased travel bans. It’s a daily-changing minefield that keeps travel managers on their toes,” said Louis Magliaro, Executive VP of The BTN Group, organizer of the Business Travel Show series of global events.
The cost escalation is putting pressure on travel programs from all sides
Cost pressures dominate the next set of challenges. Key concerns include:
– Rising rates for air, accommodation and ground transportation (36%)
– Balancing demand for travel with shrinking budgets (25%)
– General budget pressure (21%)
– Increasing daily costs in major destinations (12%)
The duty of care and the pressure for compliance are increasing
With 20% citing risk volatility and 16% highlighting compliance challenges, the duty of care has firmly shifted from a procedural requirement to a strategic priority: a trend also reinforced by the conflict in the Middle East.
Technology: a source of opportunity and confusion
A cluster of mid-range challenges highlights the widespread uncertainty surrounding technology adoption:
– Changes to airline content and distribution (13%)
– Application of 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 organizations struggle to navigate fragmented content, inconsistent standards and legacy technical systems that don’t integrate,” said Magliaro.
A surprising blind spot: cyber and data privacy risks
Two challenges remain unanswered: cyber attacks and cross-border data privacy – a potentially glaring omission given the rise in ransomware, data breaches and exposure to digital risk in global travel ecosystems. The findings suggest that travel managers may underestimate digital risks or assume they lie solely with IT and security teams.
Business Travel Show Europe to highlight solutions
“The data from our annual buyer report makes one thing clear: 2026 is a pivotal year for business travel. External volatility is changing strategy, cost inflation is redefining budgets and traveler expectations are rising rapidly, making it difficult for travel programs to adapt to demand,” said Magliaro.
Solutions to all the challenges buyers face can be found at the Business Travel Show Europe taking place in London in June. The event will bring together more than 1,000 travel buyers, suppliers and industry leaders to explore solutions to the industry’s most pressing challenges, from geopolitical risk and cost containment to AI adoption, NDC readiness, next-generation duty of care and much more. Together with more than 200 world-class suppliers, the event will provide thousands of organizations across Europe with a much-needed shortcut to business travel innovation.
