Business travel is entering a new phase of innovation, driven by artificial intelligence, automation and deeper platform integration. Looking ahead to 2026, these advancements will transform how teams use AI to predict travel demand, plan and book travel, manage risk and provide proactive support.
CTM technology Leaders such as Joel Bailey, global chief technology officer, and Eric Ediger, global head of automation and machine learning, discuss the trends redefining business travel. Watch the discussion below.
How can travel tools fit more seamlessly into daily workflows?
Travel booking and management will increasingly occur within the platforms employees use every day, such as Microsoft Teams and Outlook. This integration eliminates friction by eliminating system switching and aligning travel directly with calendars, meetings and collaboration workflows.
How is artificial intelligence evolving to provide greater personalization, efficiency and value?
Travel technology is shifting towards behavior-driven personalization. Rather than browsing a vast array of options, travelers will receive a smaller set of relevant choices formed by policies, coworker patterns, past behavior, and preferred airlines or hotels.
This enables faster, more intuitive bookings and returns value to the business through cost savings and increased productivity.
What’s next for AI automation in the CTM ecosystem?
The focus of CTM 2026 is on predictive interventions. Build artificial intelligence to predict and solve problems before travelers even realize they exist. This includes the following scenarios:
- Mark visa requirements after 60 days
- Predicting flight disruptions
- Proactively secure alternatives
CTM is piloting zero-touch bookings for routine travel, with AI managing everything from initial request to expense reconciliation. The goal is to free up travel managers’ time to spend on strategy rather than transactions.
What’s exciting about the future of travel technology beyond 2026?
Travel is moving from passive to active. In the near future, travelers can accept meeting invitations and instantly receive flight and hotel recommendations aligned with policies, sustainability goals, and preferred options in Microsoft Teams.
This is where artificial intelligence and integration converge to deliver meaningful value: anticipating traveler needs, reducing decision fatigue, and making every step of the journey faster, smarter, and more intuitive.
Why is transparency critical to building trust in AI-powered travel?
AI adoption depends on trust. CTM’s “Transparency by Design” framework supports this with clear audit trails, AI passports outlining model training and testing, reversible automation and federated learning that protects data. Trust provides the foundation for a simpler, more reliable travel experience.
How does CTM build the next generation global platform?
CTM is developing a unified global platform that brings together global capabilities through centers of excellence. The platform will enable core services such as sleep spaces, traveler profiles and human resources integration to be delivered consistently globally, enhancing user experience and speed of innovation.
Which challenges will AI have the greatest impact on?
The biggest impact won't be on any single feature. It will build a “trust flywheel.” The Trust Flywheel will show travelers:
- We have searched comprehensively
- Apply policy wisely
- Provide recommendations that meet traveler requirements and preferences
Travelers want to know that every fare source has been searched and every policy has been applied. As trust grows with each successful trip, the need to double-check external websites decreases and bookings naturally flow back to approved channels.
How can travel managers prepare travel plans for artificial intelligence?
Travel managers can focus on three areas:
- Data readiness: Ensure clean, structured input so the AI can optimize results.
- traveler adoption: Try out new features to build confidence and reduce friction.
- C-suite storytelling: Clearly communicate the value of AI through outcomes such as lower expenses, improved compliance, and reduced disruption.
To take full advantage of AI-powered travel prediction and automation, travel managers need to focus on organizational readiness and traveler trust, not just activating new tools.
