Why companies are rewriting their travel policies in 2026

The beginning of a new year is when companies take a closer look at how their people travel. Budgets refresh, business goals shift, and teams begin planning major projects, events and travel-heavy periods. 

In 2026, more organisations are revisiting, and in many cases completely rewriting, their travel policies. Corporate travel has changed dramatically in the past few years, and older policies simply don’t match how teams travel today. 

Recent research backs this up. According to SAP Concur’s global business travel study (1), 89% of business travelers, 93% of travel managers, and 90% of CFOs report no planned cuts to travel budgets this year and expect their organisation’s travel budget to increase or remain steady, even though many say current policies no longer reflect the real value or complexity of business travel. 

Here are the key reasons companies are refreshing their policies in 2026. 

1. Remote and hybrid teams travel differently now

Travel policies written before 2020 rarely account for remote-first work. Today, travel is no longer tied to a single head office. Teams move for onboarding, retreats, client meetings, leadership sessions and regional catch-ups. 

Companies are updating policies to clarify:
• who approves remote-employee travel
• what counts as “business travel”
• how home-to-airport travel works
• guidelines for team retreats and offsites
• expectations for distributed teams 

2. Bleisure is now the norm

Bleisure travel has grown rapidly. Two-thirds of corporate travellers say they extended a business trip for leisure in a Deloitte study (2). 

Without clear policies, companies face issues around:
• cost responsibility
• traveller safety
• insurance coverage
• date changes or extensions
• personal vs work travel boundaries 

Clear bleisure guidelines protect both travellers and organisations. 

3. Duty of care expectations have increased

Travellers expect more support than ever. Weather events, global disruptions and shifting geopolitical landscapes mean companies need stronger guidance around risk. 

Modern policies outline:
• traveller tracking expectations
• risk-level approval rules
• emergency escalation processes
• direct-vs-connecting flight guidelines
• wellbeing considerations for frequent travellers 

4. Sustainability requirements are becoming more formal

Sustainability is no longer optional. Nearly half (48%) of travel managers surveyed say their companies are optimising business travel practices to mitigate environmental impact according to a recent Deloitte study (3).  

Policies now include:
• preferred airlines with stronger sustainability programs
• rail alternatives where practical
• direct flights to reduce emissions
• hotel standards for environmental practices
• carbon reporting expectations 

5. Automation & AI are changing the booking experience

AI now supports itinerary recommendations, approvals, disruption alerts, compliance filtering and expense automation. Yet many company policies still assume manual processes. 

This leads to:
• low tool adoption
• increased leakage
• inconsistent traveller behaviour
• unnecessary admin 

6. Multi-region businesses need unified travel rules

Companies expanding into new markets or already operating across Australia, the UK, Europe, Asia or North America are finding their policies inconsistent. 

Policy refreshes help create:
• unified expectations
• consistent traveller support
• clearer budgeting
• improved reporting
• better supplier negotiation power 

7. Traveller wellbeing is now a core part of policy planning

Frequent travel, long-haul schedules and ongoing disruptions have pushed wellbeing into the spotlight. 

Policies now address:
• rest periods
• rules around red-eye flights
• trip spacing to prevent burnout
• support options for heavy travellers
• more flexible planning for caregivers 

Why a policy rewrite works better with a travel partner

Rewriting a travel policy is not just an administrative task. It requires:
• current market data
• supplier knowledge
• global travel insight
• risk expertise
• sustainability understanding
• practical implementation planning 

If your organisation is planning to update its travel policy in 2026, 1000 Mile Travel Group can help you streamline the process and build a policy that genuinely supports your travellers, your budget and your broader business goals. 

References 

1. SAP Concur 

1. Deloitte Study 

1. Deloitte Sustainability