FCM Consulting Insights Report: Trends & Strategies for H1-2026
FCM Consulting’s new-look insights report is here.
This report covers everything from air and ground movements to traveller behaviour 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
The first edition of our newly reshaped report focuses on five trending topics in corporate travel right now:
- AI in corporate travel, helpful or hype? Understand where automation can add value in travel programmes, and what’s better left to humans.
- Risk management during unstable times. Gain expert strategies for preparing, responding to, and futureproofing during geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and sudden changes.
- Airline outlook. Stay informed about what's happening in the skies, including capacity, infrastructure, fuel, supply, and demand.
- Hotel trends and rate predictions. Discover what's driving hotel pricing and the markets that are decreasing vs. increasing.
- Regional watchlist. Europe is torn between economy and sustainability. America is managing instability. Australia’s eyeing off ancillaries. Every region has its own realities; this section zooms in on each.
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 stabilising 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 for this quarter include:
- 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
Empower your travel programme with global insights and data points. Download FCM Consulting’s Q3-2024 Global Trend Report today.
What story does Q2-2024 tell us about corporate travel?
Global airline passenger demand was up 9.1%, the average hotel room rate was rising, and economic uncertainty underpins everything as we move into H2-2024. However, data shows that the first half of 2024 created positive momentum for the business travel industry.
Key takeaways from the first half of 2024 included fares around the globe rising by 15% in economy and 11% for business class. Hotel occupancy was forecast to reach 70% in July, with 11 of the top corporate airlines to exceed 2019 levels.
Explore travel trends from Q1-2024
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 maximised 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).