New data from Business Travel Show America reveals that almost half of U.S. corporate travel managers expect their travel budgets to increase in 2027, following a turbulent first half of 2026 in which costs rose far faster than anticipated.
The findings come from a survey of 204 North and South American corporate travel buyers .
According to the report, 44.44% of respondents expect their organisations to spend more on business travel next year, while 39.61% foresee no change and 15.94% anticipate a decrease . The upward pressure is largely driven by sharp rises in fuel, hotel and travel costs linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East .
The survey also shows that 30.54% of buyers saw costs rise significantly more than forecast in H1 2026, with only 16.26% reporting increases below expectations . This gap between forecast and reality is already reshaping corporate travel policies:
- 27.54% are changing or considering changes to airline class or hotel eligibility
- 24.55% have reduced trip volumes
- 14.97% have already exceeded their current budgets
- 12.57% are reviewing their TMC relationships
- 9.58% are considering supplier changes
- Only 20.36% report no change at all
Despite rising costs, 68.26% of buyers say they are still managing to balance budgets with improving traveller experience, a key priority for many organisations .
Louis Magliaro, Executive Vice President of the BTN Group, says geopolitical pressures are forcing buyers to make “critical spending and policy decisions,” with nearly a third seeing costs rise beyond forecasts and responding with reduced trip volumes, policy changes and tougher negotiations .
The findings form part of Business Travel Show America’s annual buyer survey, conducted in June 2026 among 209 respondents across the Americas . The event returns to New York’s Javits Center on 14–15 October 2026, bringing together travel buyers, procurement teams and suppliers to address cost management, technology adoption and duty of care challenges shaping the industry .
