Artificial intelligence is beginning to deliver measurable benefits for corporate travel buyers, particularly in helping organisations navigate geopolitical disruption – identified as the sector’s biggest challenge in 2026.
New research from Business Travel Show Europe highlights that while overall adoption is still at a relatively early stage, around one in 10 buyers are already seeing tangible value from AI.
The strongest gains are closely aligned with the most pressing concerns for corporate travel programmes, including geopolitical instability, rising costs and duty of care responsibilities.
With geopolitical uncertainty now the top concern for 46.5% of buyers, just over 10% of respondents report benefiting from AI-driven real-time risk analysis, enabling travel managers to monitor global events, assess potential disruption and respond more quickly to changing conditions.
Cost management is another area where early returns are being realised. With inflation affecting over a third of buyers, 10.92% say AI is already contributing to cost savings through improved optimisation and decision-making.
Meanwhile, 9.24% cite enhancements in duty of care, supported by tools such as traveller tracking, alerts and risk mitigation capabilities.
Despite these gains, buyer sentiment towards AI remains mixed. The research describes a “rollercoaster” of optimism and caution, with strong expectations for future benefits alongside persistent concerns about risk.
Nearly two-thirds (64.71%) anticipate more personalised traveller experiences, while 62.18% expect better cost optimisation and deal sourcing. A further 61.34% see potential improvements in duty of care, and 60.5% highlight opportunities in sustainability and ESG tracking.
However, significant barriers remain to widespread adoption. Three-quarters (75.63%) of buyers cite concerns around misinformation, bias and accuracy, while 66.39% highlight data privacy and security risks. Legal and compliance exposure is also a concern for 47.06% of respondents, underlining the need for robust governance frameworks.
