WEX Global Survey Finds that 74% of Travel Intermediaries Expect Growth This Year, Despite Geopolitical Uncertainty
New benchmark research highlights how travel industry leaders are looking to proactive financial innovation and AI-driven operations to help secure long-term enterprise growth, amidst growing pressure on traditional operational infrastructures
A new international survey of 300 travel industry executives conducted by FT Longitude, a division of the Financial Times, in partnership with WEX (NYSE: WEX), a global leader in intelligent payment solutions, highlights a landscape vulnerable to geopolitical volatility amidst compressing performance forecasts. However, the study also reveals strong resilience, showing that many travel intermediaries are adopting modernized payment strategies to overcome these external pressures and achieve their 2026 growth expectations.
The study, “Avoiding Payment Jet Lag,” offers comprehensive insights into how travel intermediaries are optimizing their back-office financial operations. While 74% of travel intermediaries still forecast growth this year despite conflict in the Middle East lowering initial expectations, the research highlights a widespread push to modernize legacy payment systems. Industry leaders recognize that updating these tools is critical, noting that system limitations during market disruptions can impact customer loyalty (79%) and limit an organization’s ability to provide crucial 24/7 payment support (57%) to travelers.
