Travel managers face the powerful potentials of having analytical, predictive and agentic AI capabilities at their fingertips. Photo Credit: AdobeStock/InfiniteFlow
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly moving from a support tool to a decision-making engine in corporate travel, as buyers and travel managers deploy tools for predictive, personalisation and workflow optimisation purposes.
A recent study of the global corporate travel sector by Stellar Market Research revealed that 66% of corporates are planning to integrate a range of AI-driven booking, expenses and pricing tools across their travel programmes in the next six years.
From chatbot to predictions
From chatbots fielding client questions, AI is now forming a proactive layer embedded across the travel journey.
Predictive tools are increasingly being used to flag visa requirements weeks in advance, forecast potential flight disruptions and trigger rebookings before travellers are impacted.
AI’s predictive capabilities are being tapped to personalise services travel management services. Geert de Boo, vice president of global business travel at JTB Business Travel, said the company is using AI to guide “more relevant and personalised itinerary-building, based on an understanding of travellers' preferences and past travel patterns”.
He added that agentic AI allows TMCs to “deliver deeper levels of support”, while still ensuring access to human agents when needed, particularly during disruptions.
AI agents
The rise of so-called “agentic AI” – systems that can act autonomously on behalf of users – is emerging as a defining trend for 2026.
“Looking ahead, we will see more proactive, ‘agentic’ experiences – where AI shifts from simply responding to requests to actively supporting travellers in the background,” said Vibhav Singh, principal consultant – commercial lead at Amex GBT Consulting, pointing to systems that monitor trips and step in when disruption occurs.
Trip.Biz echoes this shift, with general manager for Southeast Asia and global partnerships Eugene Tan noting that “AI is no longer just a chatbot that answers questions; it is evolving into a proactive agent that anticipates disruptions and executes complex tasks autonomously.”
However, he cautioned that this transition is also exposing a “trust gap”, as clients remain wary of over-reliance on automation. “AI generates efficiency, but only people generate trust,” he said, adding that successful programmes will need to combine digital speed with human support.
Governance issues
For corporate travel buyers, governance is emerging as a key consideration. Travel managers are taking a measured approach to adoption, ensuring that AI deployment aligns with security, compliance and duty-of-care requirements.
Kerri Homann, travel manager at Rheinmetall Defence Australia and New Zealand, said the priority is ensuring AI is “secure, compliant and well governed”, noting that the challenge lies in balancing innovation with responsibility.
AI will be a central theme at the upcoming Business Travel Show Asia Pacific, where sessions will explore practical applications, governance frameworks and real-world use cases – offering travel managers a clearer roadmap for integrating AI into their programmes.