Tech sector drives demand for project-based corporate travel

Worldwide: In the first quarterly market update report of 2026, SilverDoor reports that corporate travel demand is rising for longer stays in established and emerging technology hubs. 

San Francisco, Seattle, Beijing, London and Dublin are some of the destinations seeing an uplift in bookings. 

As a result of tech companies reducing the mid-level workforce, SilverDoor also reports a “significant increase” in tech-related VIP demand, driven by a smaller senior workforce required to oversee projects. SilverDoor added that one client’s VIP bookings tripled in 2025 compared to the previous year. 

Claire Barrie, chief commercial officer for SilverDoor, said: “The rapid growth of the technology sector in particular continues to be a key global demand driver. From the data centre boom to the race for AI and data science talent, tech-driven demand is huge in both established and emerging tech hubs across the US, India and Middle East; and the impact is spilling out into increased VIP requests from senior and highly specialised tech professionals, as well as more project-driven demand from across the energy, construction, infrastructure and professional services fields.”

Other trends highlighted in the report include:

• Increased demand for temporary housing and accommodation as the demand for talent and movement between technology companies at leadership level accelerates
• Expansion of tech companies into new markets is resulting in more project-based and longer-term corporate travel and relocation assignments in emerging technology locations including Munich, Bengalaru and Vancouver
• Rise in requests for more specialised, executive management of longer-term apartment stays and more luxury accommodation to accommodate senior level executives across the sector
• The AI and data centre market is driving growth across construction, energy, mechanical engineering, security, logistics and infrastructure, all of which are set to drive corporate demand for temporary accommodation
• Global data centre capacity is predicted to double by 2030, according to JLL. Construction workers, engineers and project teams are mobilising across emerging data centre hubs such as Indonesia, India, Dubai, Riyadh, Phoenix and Atlanta, creating immediate demand for flexible, mid-term housing

Barrie added: “For buyers and bookers, particularly those supporting tech-driven programmes, priorities should be getting ahead of demand in emerging locations by securing accommodation early, ensuring pre-approval processes are flexible enough to move at the pace the market demands, and lean on your accommodation partner’s local knowledge — especially in these newer markets where supply is still catching up. For those managing VIP and senior executive travel, now is the time to ensure you have the right accommodation partner in your corner to help meet these rising expectations.” 

The full SilverDoor Q1 2026 market update is available to read here.

Highlights:

• Demand for project-based corporate travel and extended-stay accommodation is rising sharply in major technology centres including San Francisco, Seattle, Beijing, London and Dublin.
• As tech firms reduce mid-level roles, demand for senior-level and highly specialised executive accommodation has increased significantly.
• Rapid expansion in artificial intelligence, data science and global data centre construction is creating cross-sector corporate travel growth across construction, energy, engineering, infrastructure and logistics.
• Expansion into new markets is boosting project-based travel and relocation assignments in cities such as Munich, Bengaluru and Vancouver.