Corporate India is gearing up for a steady uptick in business travel, with 95% of companies projecting stable-to-growth travel spends over the next 12 months, according to the inaugural Business Travel Report 2026 released by Thomas Cook (India) and its group company SOTC Travel.
The report finds that nearly 65% of corporates expect business travel volumes to rise, while 30% foresee stability. Only 5% anticipate a decline, reflecting travel’s continued role in driving revenue growth, client engagement and operational continuity. Client meetings, sales travel and internal business-critical movement remain the primary demand drivers.
A strong shift toward technology-led travel management is emerging. Over 70% of companies are increasing reliance on digital tools for bookings, approvals, expense management and MIS reporting. This is enabling tighter policy compliance, improved visibility and data-backed decision-making.
Cost optimisation remains important, but companies are increasingly prioritising value. About 62% of respondents said they are balancing cost efficiency with safety, reliability, compliance and traveller well-being, strengthening the role of managed travel programmes and strategic travel partners.
Indiver Rastogi, president & group head, global business travel at Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel, said the findings signal a shift toward value-driven programmes, accelerated technology adoption and tighter governance. The company has introduced digital solutions such as Dhruv.ai and TravelOne to help corporates build smarter, policy-aligned travel ecosystems.
Traveller experience and flexibility are also gaining prominence. More than 56% of corporates highlighted the growing importance of duty of care and convenience, particularly for frequent travellers and senior leadership. The findings reflect a trade-off between policy control and traveller comfort, prompting firms to adopt smarter, tech-enabled frameworks that reduce friction while maintaining governance.
Amid rising travel costs, nearly 60% of organisations have tightened or are revisiting travel policies. Renegotiation of airline and hotel contracts, rationalisation of preferred suppliers and stricter approval workflows have emerged as key levers. In fact, 80% of respondents reported higher airfares over the past year, with over one-third witnessing increases exceeding 15%.
Domestic travel continues to dominate, accounting for 72% of corporate trips, led by hubs such as Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune. Internationally, destinations including Singapore, Dubai-Abu Dhabi, the UK, USA and Australia remain popular, with China and Japan gaining traction.
The blending of work and leisure is also on the rise. About 68% of corporates reported employees extending business trips for personal leisure, prompting policy recalibrations around cost sharing and flexibility. GST complexities remain another pressure point, with 55% citing challenges around compliance and input tax credit optimisation.