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FCM Consulting Insights Report: Trends and strategies shaping managed travel for H1 2027
Business travel costs more to buy, and finance leaders want proof it delivers value in return.
The FCM Consulting Insights Report: Trends and Strategies for H1 2027 brings together data, regional analysis, and expert commentary on the pressures reshaping corporate travel programs over the next six months.
What is inside the H1 2027 report:
Download the report to learn:
- How global hotel rates and airfare costs are moving, and what's driving the increase
- Why airlines have less room to add capacity despite rising demand
- How to close the "articulation gap" between travel data and company strategy
- Where AI is ready to take on travel tasks, and where human governance still matters
- How to spot the gap between negotiated rates and what travellers actually pay
Webinar
Accommodating the Americas: A regional deep dive into hotel trends
2026 is more than halfway through, and some of the year’s hottest questions persist as we enter hotel RFP season:
- How can suppliers maintain transparency in the era of dynamic pricing?
- Are there solutions to help guarantee availability while still allowing flexibility?
- What does the ideal collaboration look like between hotels and TMC partners when it comes to data sharing and forecasting?
FCM Consulting teamed up with experts from Hyatt for an hour of insights and strategies from the report, as well as audience questions to reinvigorate your 2026 hotel RFP season.
Previous corporate travel trend reports
Trends & Strategies for H2-2026
Hybrid working, geopolitical shifts, and changing traveller behaviour have forced many businesses to change their corporate travel program. Which means heading into hotel request for proposal (RFP) season this year will require more than rate table refreshes and supplier list reviews. This FCM Consulting Insights Report is designed to bring clarity to hotel request for proposals (RFPs), helping teams make informed decisions with confidence.
Download the report to learn:
- Where hotel rates and demand are heading in 2026
- How to structure hotel programs for greater cost control and consistency
- What traveller behaviour means for compliance and supplier strategy
- How regional differences should shape your hotel RFP approach
Trends & Strategies for H1-2026
This edition covers AI in corporate travel and understanding where automation can add value in travel programs, and what’s better left to humans. Gain expert strategies for building a more resilient travel program that can handle whatever the world throws at it. The airline industry outlook is designed to help you stay ahead of what’s happening in the skies, including capacity, cost, and demand.
Corporate travel trends in Q4-2024
Business travel surged late last year, but so did prices and pressure. Airlines pushed capacity, hotels filled up, and travel managers had to think on their feet.
In this report, you'll find:
- Online self-service rose, with 61% of bookings made online.
- Seat availability was forecasted to rise with 38 million extra seats on offer in 2025.
- Hotel prices and occupancy rose in key cities, while some regions bucked the trend.
- Average trip costs hovered between $1,600 and $1,800, with airfares making up most.
- Domestic flights were popular, while economy and business fares dipped.
Corporate travel trends in Q3-2024
While economic uncertainty remains around the world, 2024 has continued to be a strong year for the travel industry. With flights 86.2% full in August 2024 and prices stabilizing for economy and business fares in Q3-2024, airlines are now looking to further grow services and schedules to meet demand in 2025.
Key takeaways from Q3-2024:
- Global airline capacity is expected to reach new heights in H1-2025.
- Airline income from ancillaries (bags, meals, etc.) increased 32.5% in 2023 vs 2022.
- Europe and the Americas saw hotel rates increase, while decreases were noted in APAC and Middle East & Africa.
- Car rental global average daily rates decreased 30% in Q3-2024 vs the same quarter last year.
What story does Q2-2024 tell us about corporate travel?
Global airline passenger demand is up 9.1%, the average room rate is rising, and economic uncertainty underpins everything as we move into H2-2024. However, data shows that the first half of 2024 created positive momentum.
Key takeaways from Q2-2024:
- NDC made up 21.5% of total transactions in June 2024
- Global fares rose by 15% for economy class and 11% in business class
- Hotel occupancy was forecast to reach 70% in July
- 11 of the top corporate airlines are forecast to exceed 2019 levels
Download for more Q1-2024 travel trends
Despite increasing demand, companies are not ready to increase corporate travel budgets. Business travellers are out on the road meeting with clients and colleagues, and budgets are being maximized with a combination of early bookings and more days away.
The economic outlook for the rest of 2024 is positive but faces some uncertainty due to a flux of geopolitical events. Regardless, the rising demand is increasing supplier confidence. Seat capacity is forecasted to increase +3.5% over 2019 from May to December 2024 (with North America leading the way at a forecasted +9% increase).