Business Travel to Edinburgh – 5 Upcoming Trends for 2026
Edinburgh is one of the biggest corporate and business travel hubs in the UK. The Scottish capital is a hub of business and attracts business travellers in large numbers every year. There has been a marked change in business travel trends in the city, something that has been visible in 2025. What’s in store for 2026? That’s what we aim to uncover below.
Major Business Travel Trends in Edinburgh for 2026
There are several unique business travel trends in Edinburgh for 2026 that are worth knowing about. Here’s looking at the top 5 upcoming trends to watch out for in the city.
- Shift Towards Flexible & Long-Stay Accommodation-
Business travel in Edinburgh is expected to shift towards long-stay and flexible accommodation from hotels and conventional rentals. Creating a huge demand for corporate serviced apartments in Edinburgh with amenities like workspaces, meeting rooms, high-speed Wi-Fi, and abundant space and tranquillity to get work done. These apartments are mostly situated in prime Edinburgh locations near leading corporate offices, business hubs, and public transit points.
They are attracting more business travellers due to the higher space and home-like comfort they offer, along with diverse configurations and hotel-like services with great amenities. Housekeeping, laundry, well-equipped kitchens to cook meals, work-friendly environments, impeccable service, and all-inclusive rates (including utilities, Wi-Fi, housekeeping, etc.)- these apartments offer more value for business travellers. At the same time, they come with flexible short and long-term leases that suit corporates. This is going to be one of the biggest business travel trends in 2026.
- Edinburgh Visitor Levy-
Business and corporate stays are set to get slightly costlier, with a 5% accommodation levy coming into the picture from summer 2026. This will naturally affect the cost of accommodations in the city. This tax, however, will help raise more funds to build facilities for local visitors, inclusive of infrastructure improvements. The charge will also be limited to a maximum of five consecutive nights and will cover most types of visitor accommodation as well.
- Higher Sustainability Focus-
Business travellers may increasingly prioritise eco-friendly and sustainable options in 2026. This will percolate through to their accommodation choices. More travellers will look for apartments and rentals that align with their eco-friendly beliefs. So, you can expect more apartments with sustainable features and lower carbon footprints. There will be higher demand for sustainability ratings, efficient energy usage, and smart appliances as a result.
- More Bleisure Travel–
More corporates will look to combine business and leisure for their trips. This will generate demand for Bleisure travel-friendly accommodation and itineraries. More business guests will look for extended stay apartments and other accommodations that take care of work and business duties in addition to offering the space, comfort, and flexibility needed to explore any location conveniently. Thus, flexible leases will be more coveted by travellers in the business category.
- Experiential Travel-
Business guests are increasingly prioritising experiential travel, in line with the growing Bleisure trend. During extended stays in Edinburgh, they look beyond just accommodation and prefer staying in areas that offer authentic local experiences and the right neighbourhood fit. So, from nature trails and bird-watching to coffee culture, corporates will emphasize more on these experiences while staying in Edinburgh for work, projects, and temporary relocation.
Business Travel to Boost Edinburgh Hospitality Sector in 2026
Edinburgh’s hospitality sector is expected to get a massive boost in 2026 with the growth of the business travel segment. There will be more interest in slightly off-beat locations away from the city, which are well-connected to business hubs, but away from the city buzz. At the same time, business travellers will want more flexible policies for travel, thereby helping them fuse business and leisure and also enjoy the benefits of convenient leases to stay as long as they like.
Sustainability will dominate the choice of accommodation for travellers, along with technological integration. This will include AI-based personal recommendations, smart appliances, voice commands, and personal assistants for concierge duties and more. Digital check-ins and keyless entry for maximum convenience will also come to the forefront across business accommodations in Edinburgh. Niche and value segments may also find more traction, while unique accommodations that are beyond mere places to stay will also get a boost. These are some trends that will magnify business travel in 2026 as per industry expectations.
