FCM Consulting Insights Report: Trends & Strategies for H1-2026
FCM's Consulting's new-look insights report is here.
This report covers everything from air and ground movements to traveler behavior and external events influencing business travel. If you oversee the big picture, make the bookings, or are just curious about what’s ahead, this twice-yearly insights report is designed to deliver data and direction.
Backed by corporate travel statistics, trends, and expert voices, this is your corporate travel forecast.
Latest business travel trends
Our newly reshaped report focuses on five trending topics in corporate travel right now:
- AI in corporate travel, helpful or hype? Understand where automation adds value in travel programs, and what’s better left to humans.
- Risk management during unstable times. Gain expert strategies for preparing, responding to, and futureproofing during geopolitical tensions and disruptions.
- Airline outlook. Stay informed about what's happening in the skies, including capacity, infrastructure, fuel, and demand.
- Hotel trends & rate predictions. Discover what's driving hotel pricing and which markets are rising vs. falling.
- Regional watchlist. Europe is torn between economy and sustainability. America is managing instability. Asia is eyeing new destinations. Every region has its own realities, and the report zooms in on each.
From chaos to calm: Unlock the power of AI in travel management
What you'll learn:
- Real-world AI applications for efficiency-draining travel management tasks
- Strategies to integrate AI while avoiding common adoption pitfalls
- How AI predicts disruptions and safeguards travel plans
- Methods to establish business cases for AI that emphasize measurable outcomes
- Insights on fostering human-AI partnerships for enhanced customer service
Previous corporate travel trend reports
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 travelers 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.
- Economic outlook for 2024 is positive, but faces uncertainty
- Rising demand is increasing supplier confidence
- Seat capacity forecasted to increase +3.5% over 2019 from May to December 2024 (North America leading the way with +9% increase)