Flight Centre Travel Group has released its annual "State of the Market" survey, showing stronger global and regional investment in corporate travel for fiscal year 2026.
The survey, conducted by Flight Centre’s corporate division, analyzed more than 1,200 responses from clients of its flagship brands FCM Travel and Corporate Traveler. It offers a snapshot of business travel intentions from July 2025 through June 2026.
Globally, 45 percent of businesses expect to increase their travel budgets in FY26, up three percent from FY25. Of that group, nine percent anticipate spending more than 20 percent above last year’s levels, while 36 percent project increases of up to 20 percent. Another 37 percent expect budgets to remain steady, and just eight percent predict cuts.
In the Americas, the outlook is even stronger. Nearly half (47 percent) of respondents said they plan to boost business travel spending in FY26—a 10 percent rise from last year—while only 10 percent forecast a decline.
“With macroeconomic challenges beginning to ease globally, the survey shows that customers have a more optimistic outlook for the year ahead,” Charlene Leiss, president of Flight Centre Travel Group Americas, said in a statement. “Corporate travel is increasingly seen as a non-discretionary spend—a critical component of business success. These figures reflect growing confidence and a renewed commitment to travel as a driver of growth and innovation.”
The survey also highlights a growing emphasis on meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE). Globally, 33 percent of companies plan to dedicate more than half of their travel budgets to this sector, up from 28 percent in the previous year. In the Americas, the figure rises to 36 percent.
“It’s encouraging to see businesses continuing to invest in travel as a way to deepen relationships, increase collaboration, and create opportunities,” Leiss said in a statement. “The industry’s resilience is clearly reflected in these upward trends.”
The full survey results include detailed breakdowns of spending expectations globally and in the Americas.
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