Thomas Cook & SOTC Business Travel Report 2026: Digital Adoption, Bleisure and Tax Headwinds

Approximately 70% of Indian corporates now use technology-led systems for booking, approvals and expense management, while 65% expect business travel volumes to rise in 2026 and 72% of trips remain domestic, concentrated around Mumbai, Delhi‑NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune.

Hard numbers and what they signal for corporate travel

The Business Travel Report 2026 from Thomas Cook (India) Limited va SOTC Travel aggregates responses from over 25 enterprises across BFSI, manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality and professional services. The study points to a pivot from ad hoc travel purchasing toward structured, compliance-driven programmes emphasizing automation, data visibility and traveller wellbeing.

Key operational themes include tightening supplier contracts to manage rising airfares, greater focus on GST compliance and Input Tax Credit (ITC) optimisation, and policy updates to accommodate the growing practice of bleisure—identified by 68% of organisations as a lasting behavioural shift.

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Policy, procurement and traveller experience

Corporates are increasingly making value-based decisions—62% balance cost, safety and compliance—while 56% actively prioritise traveller experience, flexibility and duty of care. Typical measures include:

• Centralised approval workflows integrated with booking tools
• Renegotiated supplier contracts and performance SLAs
• Structured invoicing and compliant supplier networks for GST/ITC clarity
• Defined cost-sharing rules to manage bleisure extensions

Destinations, demand and operational hotspots

Domestic routes dominate, but outbound demand centres on Singapore, Dubai, the UK, the Netherlands and the USA. China and Japan are re-emerging as business corridors, suggesting renewed regional connectivity will shape hotel and ground-transport demand over the next 12–18 months.

Technology enablers: automation, AI and integrated platforms

Enterprises cite advantages from automation and consolidated platforms. Innovations such as Dhruv.ai (voice-enabled AI) and TravelOne (integrated booking platform) aim to reduce friction across approvals, expense reporting and compliance checks, enabling real-time policy enforcement and richer analytics for travel managers.

Implications for tourism and local experiences

The blurring of business and leisure expands opportunities for tourism providers. Short extensions to business trips increase demand for curated local experiences—museum visits with live guides, interactive cultural workshops, short adventure activities or even exclusive yacht charters for events. Corporate travellers seeking meaningful downtime will influence hotel packaging, day tours and F&B offers in major hubs.

• Hotels and F&B can create bleisure bundles and flexible checkout options.
• Local providers can tailor half-day museum tours with live guides or adventure rafting trips for beginners.
• Travel tech integrations enable procurement of small-group excursions and add‑ons at the point of booking.

Practical steps for travel managers and suppliers

To respond to these trends, travel managers should prioritise:

1. Deploying integrated booking tools with built-in policy controls and tax‑compliant invoicing.
2. Partnering with providers that offer transparent pricing and modular add‑ons for bleisure.
3. Monitoring destination reopenings and vendor performance to optimise contracts.

Commenting on the findings, Indiver Rastogi, President & Group Head – Global Business Travel, Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel, underscored the shift from cost control to strategic value creation and highlighted technology and traveller experience as current programme differentiators.

At a glance, the report underlines how corporate travel recovery is being shaped by technology, tax considerations and traveller expectations. Yet even the most comprehensive reviews and the most honest feedback cannot replace first-hand experience. On GetExperience, you book your experience from verified providers at reasonable prices. The platform supports secure full payments with voucher confirmation issued afterward and allows you to submit bespoke requests for tours or excursions tailored to your needs, so suppliers can present offers that match your preferences—helpful when building a cultural programme beyond standard services. Book now GetExperience.com

In summary, Indian corporate travel in 2026 is defined by rapid digital adoption, a comeback in volumes and a new emphasis on traveller-centric policies that blend business purpose with leisure potential. Tax and GST/ITC optimisation remain operational priorities, while platforms like Dhruv.ai and TravelOne illustrate how automation and AI are central to future-proofing travel programmes. For tourism suppliers and travel managers this means adapting offerings to capture bleisure demand—from museum tours with live guides and eco-friendly wildlife safaris to luxury adventure travel experiences, yacht parties, cruise packages and interactive online cultural workshops—while also considering options such as online virtual tours, beginner esports coaching sessions, professional esports training programs and exclusive yacht charters for events. These shifts create opportunities for richer travel experiences and smarter procurement, ensuring corporate travellers get both efficient logistics and memorable time off duty.