Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

American Express Predicts Increase in Travel Prices

The American Express Global Business Travel Forecast 2016 predicts that ground transportation prices — along with hotel and air — will see modest gains in 2016 as a slowly-improving economy and strong demand outpace increases in supply.

by Staff
December 15, 2015
2 min to read


The American Express Global Business Travel Forecast 2016 predicts ground transportation — along with hotel and air — will see modest gains in 2016 as a slowly-improving economy and strong demand outpace increases in supply.

Ground transportation rates are expected to remain relatively flat as overcapacity, strong competition and a continued focus on ancillary fees persist globally, according to the report.

Ad Loading...

American Express Global Business Travel’s annual forecast provides subscribers with over 1,800 pricing predictions across airfares, hotel rates and car rental rates in North America; Europe, Middle East and Africa; Latin America; Asia-Pacific.

“While we expect modest increases in global travel prices heading into 2016, travel managers are operating in an era of new challenges and evolving disrupters,” said Caroline Strachan, vice president, consulting, American Express Global Business Travel. “In addition to handling tasks such as measurement and compliance, new factors such as the sharing economy and mobile booking channels are becoming increasingly popular for business travelers. In order to thrive in this digital era, travel managers need to be aware of and dynamically adapt to these forces across a variety of geographies.”

According to American Express’ forecast, here are some predictions on 2016 car rental in global regions:

- North America: The ground transportation market is expected to see limited growth in 2016. Despite aggressive attempts by suppliers to increase pricing, negotiated rates should remain largely flat — although increased ancillary fees will drive up average costs. Ride-sharing services are also expected to see greater mainstream adoption and expansion in 2016.

- Latin America: With the strong competition between the major car rental companies and new local suppliers, Latin American car rental rates are not likely to experience notable increases in 2016. Larger car rental companies are expected to continue to establish themselves across Latin America as they capitalize on business from global corporations and local companies with travel patterns that match their networks.

Ad Loading...

- Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA): The average daily rates for ground transportation in Europe, the Middle East and Africa are all expected to rise in 2016 on higher ancillary expenses. Increased competition and growing demand for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles should keep base fares relatively flat in 2016. Carsharing services will also see significant growth in 2016 as major car rental companies make further investments in this area.

For more information on the study, visit www.amexglobalbusinesstravel.com.

More Rental Operations

Photos of CEOs Colm Brady and Francois Kruger on a blue background and above a headline.
Telematicsby News/Media ReleaseMay 22, 2026

RentalMatics, GeoInt Partner On Rental Car Speed Tracking Tech

Rental operators can now detect and act on speeding while vehicles are still on rent, thereby reducing fines, admin workload, vehicle wear, and safety risks.

Read More →
NextPass 407 ETR

NextPass Expands Toll Payment Service to Highway In Toronto

Fleets and consumer can use a transponder-less option when traveling between Canada and the U.S.

Read More →
A black Jeep is displayed at the Zubie-Bosch-TSD exhibit during the International Car Rental Show.

Zubie, PurCo Integrate Rental Damage Detection With Telematics

The combination brings actionable vehicle insights into PurCo’s PurInspect platform, improving damage detection and operational efficiency for rental fleets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
50 states map showing LOR rates for each state with different shades of light to dark green

U.S. Length Of Rental (LOR) Declines Slightly in Q1 2026

LOR related to insurance claims overall continues to trend downward, but ongoing market and economic conditions could affect future results while the industry deals with staffing and productivity challenges.

Read More →
Illustration of a driverless futuristic front seat/dashboard view of other cars on a freeway with city skyline on horizon.

Hertz, Uber Deepen Roles In Self-Driving And Driver-Led Fleet Services

The business arrangement connects demand with scalable fleet management services and supports a range of mobility uses.

Read More →
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
A black Audi SUV superimposed on a historic scene from downtown Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Carwiz Sets Up Rental Operations In Central Asia

The global franchise operation reaches a first in its rental fleet portfolio with new service in Uzbekistan.

Read More →
A raging brushfire in the countryside.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 30, 2026

Where Rental Fleets Must Adjust To Shifting Catastrophe Risks

West Coast disasters pose unique challenges and liabilities for rental fleet operators, who are advised to take steps tailored to their specific situations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
ARN Industry Newsmakers thumbnail page with ARN and ICRS logos and shots of Nick DiPrima and Martin Romjue
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 27, 2026

Using AI To Find Rental Car Damage

Angry car renters are storming social media, the mainstream media, and online ratings platforms to complain about charges they claim are either unfounded or excessive.

Read More →
Ad Loading...