AI Leads Corporate Travel Outlook as Buyers Demand More Flexible and Connected Technology

Written By: Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar is a Senior Journalist at Travel and Tour World with more than 10 years of experience in travel and tourism journalism. A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, he combines strong research, industry knowledge and storytelling expertise to produce engaging, insightful and impactful travel news and fascinating feature stories.

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August 28, 2026 1:43 PM

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AI is emerging as the biggest force expected to shape corporate travel over the next 15 months, but a significant gap remains between industry ambition and practical adoption, according to new research from Business Travel Show America. The findings show that corporate travel buyers across North and South America increasingly want technology that works across platforms, delivers reliable data, supports flexible programmes and produces measurable value for travel management.

AI Takes the Lead in Corporate Travel

Artificial intelligence has moved ahead of economic uncertainty as the factor expected to have the greatest influence on business travel during the coming 15 months, highlighting how quickly technology has become central to the future of corporate travel, tourism and wider business mobility. Research conducted for Business Travel Show America among more than 200 corporate travel decision-makers in North and South America found that 22% expect AI to have the biggest impact, compared with 19% in last year’s survey.

The change is significant because global economic pressures and inflation previously dominated the outlook for travel buyers, accounting for 26% of responses in 2025. That figure has now fallen to 16%, while advances in technology and data have risen from 15% to 17%, suggesting that corporate travel leaders are increasingly focused on how technology can improve the management and performance of travel programmes.

The five factors expected to have the biggest influence on corporate travel over the next 15 months are:

• AI – 22% in 2026, compared with 19% in 2025
• Advances in technology and data – 17%, compared with 15%
• Global economic pressures and inflation – 16%, compared with 26%
• Dynamic pricing and rate negotiations – 16%, compared with 8%
• Geopolitical tensions and conflict – 11%, compared with 13%

The results indicate that technology is no longer viewed simply as an operational support function within corporate travel, tourism and business mobility, but as a strategic factor capable of influencing purchasing decisions, reporting, traveller management and programme performance.

AI Ambition Meets Integration Problems

Despite the growing confidence in AI, the research reveals a clear contradiction within the corporate travel technology market, with 21% of buyers identifying slow AI integration as one of their key technology pain points. Travel managers appear interested in using AI, but many are finding that the systems available to them are not developing quickly enough to address the practical demands of modern corporate travel.

This disconnect matters because travel buyers are not necessarily asking for more standalone AI products, but for technology that can operate effectively within the systems they already use for travel booking, expense management, payments, reporting and traveller support. For the travel and tourism sector, the message is increasingly clear: successful AI adoption will depend on connectivity, usability and the quality of the underlying data rather than simply adding another artificial intelligence feature.

Tenise McCoy, Global Travel & Security Manager at Paysafe, said the industry needs more practical applications of AI and greater flexibility from existing technology platforms. Her comments point to a wider concern among corporate travel professionals that technology should reduce administrative workloads, strengthen reporting and support better decisions instead of creating additional systems that buyers must manage.

Customisation Is a Major Technology Barrier

Customisation has emerged as another major source of frustration for corporate travel buyers, with the three leading technology complaints all connected to the ability to adapt systems to individual business requirements. The findings suggest that travel programmes increasingly require technology capable of reflecting different policies, traveller needs, reporting structures and operational priorities.

The most frequently cited technology frustrations were:

• Updates and customisation taking too long – 44%
• Lack of customisation options – 41%
• Additional costs for customisation – 37%
• Poor integration between tools – 31%
• Insufficient access to data – 26%

For travel managers, these issues can have a direct effect on how efficiently a corporate travel programme operates, particularly when companies have different traveller groups, complex approval processes or specific reporting requirements. A system that cannot be adapted quickly can make travel administration slower and limit the value that businesses receive from their technology investment.

The demand for customisation also reflects a broader change in corporate travel, where businesses are increasingly seeking technology that can support individual operating models rather than forcing every travel programme into the same structure. This is relevant across travel, tourism and corporate mobility because flexibility can influence traveller experience, policy compliance, financial control and the ability to respond to changing market conditions.

Corporate Travel Technology Satisfaction Remains Moderate

The research suggests that enthusiasm for future technology has not translated into widespread satisfaction with existing corporate travel technology stacks, with only 7% of respondents giving their current technology a top rating of five out of five. Almost half of buyers, or 49%, awarded their technology stack a three out of five rating, while just under 14% rated it at one or two.

These figures indicate that many travel professionals see their existing systems as functional but far from ideal, creating an opportunity for technology providers that can deliver improvements without forcing companies to completely replace established platforms. The travel and tourism industry has increasingly complex data requirements, and buyers want systems that can turn that information into useful insight without adding unnecessary administration.

When asked what single change they would make to their technology stack, respondents repeatedly highlighted greater flexibility, stronger reporting, better online booking tools, easier system administration and smoother integration between travel, expense and payment platforms. Several buyers also expressed interest in piloting and testing AI capabilities before introducing them more broadly, suggesting that practical trials may become an important step in corporate travel technology adoption.

Data Quality Could Determine AI Success

The growing interest in AI also places greater importance on the quality and reliability of corporate travel data, because artificial intelligence can only produce useful insights when the information feeding the system is accurate, accessible and appropriately structured. For travel managers, this means investment in AI cannot be separated from investment in data management, integration and reporting infrastructure.

Katherine Vaillancourt, Director, Indirect Procurement, Samuel, Son & Co., Limited, said travel programmes need to integrate AI quickly while maintaining accuracy, adding that reliable data will be the key differentiator between deploying AI and generating measurable value. Her observation reflects an increasingly important issue for travel and tourism businesses, where data quality can affect forecasting, supplier negotiations, policy management and decision-making.

The findings therefore suggest that the next phase of AI adoption in corporate travel will be less about introducing artificial intelligence for its own sake and more about connecting it to reliable information and established workflows. This could create stronger opportunities for travel technology providers that can demonstrate measurable improvements in efficiency, reporting and decision support rather than simply promoting AI as a feature.

Dynamic Pricing Gains Importance

The research also shows a sharp rise in the importance of dynamic pricing and rate negotiations, which climbed from 8% in 2025 to 16% in 2026 among factors expected to influence corporate travel. The increase indicates that buyers remain focused on controlling travel costs while navigating changing prices across air travel, accommodation and other parts of the corporate travel ecosystem.

This development is particularly relevant to travel and tourism organisations because pricing volatility can affect both procurement strategies and traveller behaviour, while better data can help corporate buyers understand market movements and negotiate more effectively. The combination of AI, advanced analytics and dynamic pricing could therefore become increasingly important for companies seeking greater visibility over travel expenditure.

Business Travel Show America Puts Technology in Focus

The findings will be a major focus at Business Travel Show America, which returns to the Javits Center in New York on 14-15 October 2026, bringing together corporate travel buyers, procurement professionals and industry suppliers. The event will address major travel industry challenges including cost management, technology adoption and traveller duty of care, providing a platform for buyers to examine how emerging technology can be applied to real corporate travel requirements.

Technology-focused sessions at the event include:

• 14 October, 11:40am: Give travellers their time back: Solving real problems with AI-native, end-to-end solutions.
• 14 October, 3:00pm: BTN Community – Technology & distribution.
• 15 October, 1:40pm: Panel – What’s a booking tool? Wrapping your brain around what’s next in trip planning tech.

Several participants in this year’s Business Travel Show America Innovation Faceoff will also showcase AI solutions designed for corporate travel buyers, including PredictX, Groupize, Cerebri AI and Travel Code. The focus on practical applications gives travel professionals an opportunity to assess technology through real-world use cases rather than theoretical discussion.

What Corporate Travel Buyers Now Expect

The research points towards a corporate travel technology market where flexibility, integration and reliable information are becoming just as important as AI capability itself. Buyers appear to want platforms that communicate with one another, provide accessible data and adapt quickly to changing business requirements across travel and tourism operations.

For technology providers, the challenge is therefore broader than adding AI functions to existing products, because buyers are evaluating whether those functions can improve everyday workflows and generate tangible business value. For corporate travel managers, the findings underline the importance of assessing technology not only by its headline features but also by integration capabilities, customisation, reporting quality, administration and data reliability.

Suggested Editorial Comment — Anup Kumar Keshan

“Corporate travel is entering a phase where technology must prove its value through practical results, not simply ambitious promises. AI has clearly captured the attention of travel buyers, but the research also shows that businesses need flexible systems, stronger data and better connections between the tools they already depend on. This is an encouraging direction for travel and tourism because smarter technology can help companies manage costs, improve traveller experiences and make more informed decisions. The opportunity now is to turn AI interest into useful applications that solve everyday challenges, strengthen efficiency and give corporate travel professionals greater control over increasingly complex global travel programmes.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is AI becoming important in corporate travel?

AI is becoming increasingly important because corporate travel buyers expect it to influence travel management, reporting, administration, decision-making and traveller services over the next 15 months. The research found that 22% of respondents expect AI to have the greatest impact on business travel, ahead of global economic pressures and inflation.

What is the biggest technology frustration among travel buyers?

The largest technology frustration is the time required for updates and customisation, cited by 44% of respondents. Lack of customisation options followed at 41%, while additional customisation costs were identified by 37%.

Are corporate travel buyers satisfied with their current technology?

Satisfaction remains moderate rather than high, with only 7% of respondents rating their current technology stack five out of five. Almost half, or 49%, gave their technology a three out of five rating, showing substantial room for improvement across corporate travel technology.

What do travel buyers want from future technology?

Travel buyers are seeking greater flexibility, stronger reporting, improved online booking tools, easier system administration and more seamless connections between travel, expense and payment platforms. Some respondents also want opportunities to test AI through pilot programmes before introducing it more widely.

Why is data important for AI in corporate travel?

Reliable data is essential because AI systems depend on accurate and accessible information to produce useful insights. Better data can support travel forecasting, supplier negotiations, reporting, policy management and decision-making across corporate travel and tourism programmes.

When is Business Travel Show America 2026?

Business Travel Show America 2026 will take place on 14 and 15 October 2026 at the Javits Center, bringing corporate travel buyers, procurement professionals and industry suppliers together to discuss technology, costs, traveller duty of care and other major issues affecting business travel.