Travel and Expense
Business Travel in 2026: What Finance Leaders Must Prepare For
Business travel in 2026 is no longer just a line item — it is a strategic driver of growth. Nearly all CFOs (97%) say business travel is important to their organization's overall strategy, and 82% expect budgets to increase this year. But higher investment demands greater accountability. Rising spend, AI-driven expense fraud, and mounting cybersecurity threats are exposing gaps that finance leaders can no longer afford to ignore.
Business Travel Budgets Are Rising — But ROI Accountability Is Lagging
Travel spending is climbing: 82% of CFOs expect budgets to grow in 2026, up from 76% the year before. Yet 89% say their travel manager needs to do a better job justifying how travel helps the organization meet its goals.
The problem is structural. Many travel programs lack a clear returns framework. Before approving the next budget, CFOs should define what success looks like — deals closed, relationships built, revenue influenced. Without that, the brief given to travel leaders is incomplete.
This is a two-way challenge. Eighty-four percent of travel managers say they cannot meet goals without more support from their CFO. The top requests are better data to demonstrate ROI (44%) and clearer communication on expectations (41%). Regular alignment between finance and travel leadership is no longer optional — it is a business necessity.
AI Is Creating New Risks in Travel and Expense Management
AI is reshaping business travel in 2026, bringing both opportunity and risk. On the risk side, 92% of CFOs say it is likely that employees are using AI to falsify expenses or receipts, and 60% report that fraud is already increasing. AI tools can generate convincing fake receipts at scale — a threat traditional audit processes are not built to catch.
The issue goes beyond expense fraud. Eighty-five percent of CFOs are concerned that employees are using unauthorized AI tools when booking travel, and 72% of business travelers admit they would willingly do so. Among those who prefer unauthorized tools, 42% find them better than company-approved options, and 30% say their employer offers no AI tools at all.
When employees reach outside the approved stack, it signals a governance gap. CFOs and IT leaders need to audit current AI offerings and use employee preference data, along with cost evaluation and business priorities to inform smarter procurement decisions.
Take Control of Your Travel and Expense Program
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Explore CFO InsightsAI Automation Is Also the Strongest Defense Available
The same technology creating expense fraud risk is also the most effective defense. Confidence in AI-assisted expense automation is growing: 64% of CFOs now expect it to catch more errors and fraud than current methods, up from 55% in 2025. The proportion worried about fraud slipping through has dropped from 45% to 36%. Organizations that act quickly can close the controls gap before it widens. Framing AI adoption as both a controls upgrade and a cost-saving measure strengthens the internal investment case.
Cybersecurity During Travel Is a Financial Risk, Not Just an IT Problem
Forty-five percent of CFOs rank data breach risk as a top travel concern in 2026. The stakes are real: IBM puts the global average cost of a data breach at $4.4 million — well above the cost of adequate preventative controls.
Employee behavior on the road is a persistent vulnerability. More than 1 in 10 business travelers admit ignoring cybersecurity protocols during a trip, whether that means skipping a VPN or leaving a device unattended. Closing that gap requires clear policy, consistent enforcement, and shared accountability between travel and IT teams.
CFOs should treat travel cybersecurity as a financial controls issue. A practical first step: ask IT and security teams for a cost-of-breach estimate tied to a travel-related incident, and use that figure to build the investment case for stronger controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are business travel budgets increasing in 2026?
Eighty-two percent of CFOs expect budgets to increase in 2026, up from 76% in 2025. The shift reflects growing recognition of travel as a strategic growth driver — with deal-making, relationship-building, and revenue generation cited as key outcomes.
How is AI being used to commit expense fraud?
AI tools can generate convincing fake receipts quickly and at scale, lowering the barrier to fraud in ways traditional audit processes are not equipped to detect. Ninety-two percent of CFOs say it is likely employees are already doing this.
What can CFOs do to improve travel ROI accountability?
Define success criteria before approving budgets — deals closed, relationships built, revenue influenced. Meet regularly with the travel leader to align on expectations, and ensure they have the data and insights needed to demonstrate returns.
Why is cybersecurity a financial concern for travel programs?
A single travel-related data breach carries an average cost of $4.4 million, according to IBM. Treating device policy, access management, and incident response as financial controls — not just IT issues — is the most effective way to manage that exposure.
