Business Travel in 2026: What CFOs are missing

Is your business travel strategy built for 2026?

Business travel is no longer a cost center — it is a strategic growth lever. With 82% of CFOs planning to increase their corporate travel budgets in 2026, the pressure to demonstrate measurable value has never been greater. The 2026 SAP Concur CFO Guide identifies three critical gaps finance leaders need to close.

Why are CFOs and travel managers failing to close the ROI accountability gap?

Despite 97% of CFOs viewing business travel as central to organizational growth, 89% say travel managers need to do more to justify spend against business goals. Meanwhile, 84% of travel managers say they cannot meet those goals without stronger CFO support. Closing this divide starts with shared data, clearer expectations, and structured ROI reporting.

How is AI changing the threat landscape for travel expense management?

Ninety-two percent of CFOs believe employees are likely using AI to falsify travel expenses or receipts, while 85% are concerned about unauthorized AI tools being used for bookings. Yet the same technology is the strongest defense available: 64% now expect AI-assisted automation to catch more fraud than current methods, up from 55% in 2025.

Why should CFOs treat cybersecurity during business travel as a financial risk?

With the global average cost of a data breach at $4.4 million, travel-related security incidents are a financial controls issue — not just an IT problem. Forty-five percent of CFOs rank data hacking as a top travel concern for 2026, yet more than one in ten business travelers admit to ignoring cybersecurity protocols on the road.

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