The latest Travel Price Index shows airfares and hotel rates jumping—that means a rethink for budgets, contracts, and timing strategies
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Planning budgets just got trickier. According to the U.S. Travel Association’s (USTA) latest Travel Price Index (TPI), the cost of getting people to and from your event ticked up in August — and not by a little.
Airfares jumped 5.9% in August after a flat start to the year. Hotels, after five straight months of declines, reversed course with a 2.6% spike. Even gas nudged upward 1.8%, although it’s still 6.5% cheaper than last year. All told, travel prices rose 1.5% last month, outpacing the broader Consumer Price Index for the first time since January.
For meeting and event planners, that translates into higher costs at exactly the point where attendees, speakers, and sponsors are deciding whether to show up in person.
The Double-Edged Sword for Planners
On one hand, annual TPI inflation still looks modest: just 0.4% year-over-year versus 2.9% for the economy overall. That’s the good news. But the sudden reversal in hotels and airfares is a red flag for 2026 sourcing. If prices keep rising, it could eat into budgets, registration numbers, or both.
How to Navigate Rising Travel Costs
So how should planners respond? Start with timing. With volatility back in the mix, locking in airfares and hotel blocks earlier than usual could make the difference between staying on budget and getting sideswiped by spikes. Contracts are another lever: pushing for clauses that cap annual hotel rate increases or allow rebooking if prices fall gives planners a safety net. Flexibility in dates helps, too. Shoulder-season meetings — those just outside peak travel months — may now deliver the best value. And finally, budget proposals should build in wiggle room for airfare fluctuations, rather than assuming smooth sailing.
Further Reading: U.S. Hotels Cut Growth Outlook as Inflation Squeezes Budgets
From Sticker Shock to Strategy
Attendee experience starts with affordability. If travel feels like a luxury, organizations risk losing people to hybrid or skipping events altogether. By keeping an eye on the TPI — just as closely as on RFPs — planners can forecast not just attendance, but expectations.
Airlines, hotels, and gas stations may set the prices. But how planners anticipate and adapt to them could determine whether 2026’s events are seen as accessible…or out of reach.
Any thoughts, opinions, or news? Please share them with me at vince@meetingsevents.com.
Photo by Katelyn Perry For Unsplash+
