Global business travel prices are expected to remain elevated for the rest of this year before beginning to level out in 2027.
But travel buyers should evaluate costs by region, market and category, as pricing drivers vary considerably around the world.
This is the advice from the 2027 Global Business Travel Forecast, published this week by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and ALTOUR.
The report says aircraft delivery delays, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) requirements, labour shortages and geopolitical uncertainty are all taking their toll.
And it warns that many of the forces driving higher prices have become long-term features of the industry, rather than short-term disruptions.
“The most acute impacts of the early 2026 energy-related inflation were beginning to ease, but we are likely to see elevated fuel-related inflation for the remainder of the year and the operating environment for business travel is not returning to what it was before,” says Michael Boult, SVP and Chief Commercial Officer of ALTOUR.
“For organisations, the priority now is turning volatility into a more manageable and predictable planning discipline. That means using better forecasting, stronger supplier strategies, enforcing policies and gaining real-time visibility across categories and markets to keep business travel moving.”
Flights
Air travel remains the most volatile category, reflecting continued exposure to fuel costs, aircraft shortages, labour expenses and premium-cabin constraints.
On average, global airfare is forecast to reach $756, up 4.7% versus 2025.
Economy fares are projected to rise 8.7% in 2026 to $536, while premium fares (premium economy, business class and first class) are expected to rise 9.5% to $4,488, reflecting ongoing pressure on long-haul and premium travel markets.
In 2027, fare increases are expected to slow to 1.5% for overall fares, 1.1% for economy fares and 2.2% for premium.
North America and EMEA are expected to experience some of the strongest average airfare increases in 2026, driven by capacity constraints, higher operating costs and ongoing aircraft delivery delays, says the report.
Hotels
Global hotel average daily rates (ADR) are expected to rise 3.7% in 2026 to $168, followed by a more moderate 1.8% increase in 2027 to $171.
While demand remains robust, a record global hotel construction pipeline is helping contain rate growth.
Regional variation remains significant for 2026, with Latin America (9.5%) expected to record the strongest hotel pricing growth as demand outpaces new hotel development.
This is followed by APAC (5%), which continues to benefit from strong demand recovery in key markets, and NORAM (3.2%).
EMEA (0.6%) remains the most stable hotel market in the forecast, driven by softer demand.
Ground transport
Car rental, the largest component of managed ground transportation, saw rates decline in 2025. Average rates are forecast to increase 3.6% in 2026 to $46.50 per day before dropping 0.9% in 2027 to $46.10.
Among global regions, APAC rates in 2026 are expected to be highest at $57.70 per day, up 4.0%. Fleet availability and vehicle supply are stabilizing, helping moderate pricing pressure across most regions.
Meetings and events
While negotiated group hotel rates remain relatively stable, food and beverage, production and labour costs continue to put pressure on program budgets.
Cost per attendee per day is forecast to increase approximately 3.0% to $263 in 2026 and 1.5% to $267 in 2027.
Food and beverage and production expenses remain the primary drivers of meeting cost inflation.
