Best European travel stocks to invest in 2026

European travel and hospitality companies represent compelling investment opportunities spanning airlines, hotels, and catering services that serve millions of travelers across the continent. Are you looking for exposure to the European travel sector with its recovery tailwinds and growth potential?

DO & CO provides premium catering services for airlines and prestigious events, serving discerning clients across luxury hospitality segments. Scandic Hotels Group operates as the leading hotel operator across Nordic markets with a strong focus on sustainable hospitality experiences. International Consolidated Airlines holds major European airline brands serving passenger and cargo customers across extensive route networks.

These European travel companies offer investors exposure to the recovering hospitality sector with established brand positions and operational expertise. Their combination of recovery potential, established market positions, and exposure to growing travel demand makes them compelling opportunities among the best European travel stocks for 2026.

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Before we dive into each company, let`s take a look at how your investment would have performed if you had invested in stocks mentioned in this article.

Now, let`s take a closer look at each of the companies:

  • DO & CO (VI:DOC)

    DO & CO Aktiengesellschaft is an Austrian company specializing in premium catering services for airlines, events, and upscale hospitality venues. The company was founded in 1981 in Vienna, Austria, and has since grown into a global leader in high-end culinary solutions. Known for its focus on quality, innovation, and luxury, DO & CO has built strong partnerships with top airlines, sports organizations, and gourmet restaurants worldwide.

    The company core business revolves around three main segments: airline catering, international event catering, and restaurant, hotel, and retail operations. DO & CO serves some of the most prestigious airlines in the world, providing exceptional quality standards for discerning travelers and premium clients worldwide. The company also handles catering for major sporting events across multiple disciplines and entertainment venues worldwide, delivering outstanding culinary experiences for prestigious clients.

    DO & CO financial statements

    Analysts recommendation: 1.95

    Financial Health

    • Return on assets (ROA): 9.99%
    • Return on equity (ROE): 27.81%
    • Return on investment (ROI): -0.23%

    Profitability

    • Gross margin: 25.85%
    • Operating margin: 8.86%
    • Net profit margin: 4.35%

    Growth

    • EPS (past 5 years): 52.84%
    • EPS (current): 9.47
    • EPS estimate (next quarter): 0.06
    • EPS growth (this year): 4.2%
    • EPS growth (next year): 47.68%
    • EPS growth (next 5 years): -5.3%
    • EPS growth (quarter-over-quarter): -237.83%
    • Sales growth (past 5 years): 16.84%
    • Sales growth (quarter-over-quarter): -2.6%

    💡 Why invest in DO & CO?

    DO & CO's position in hospitality and catering offers advantages for investors seeking exposure to the luxury-oriented sector:

    • Diversified Revenue Portfolio: With operations spanning airline catering, international events, and hospitality venues, DO & CO maintains reduced reliance on any single market segment, providing operational stability and risk mitigation.
    • Global Market Presence: The company extensive international reach allows it to effectively tap into various geographic markets and cater to diverse customer preferences across multiple continents and cultural segments worldwide in global regions.
    • Premium Brand Positioning: DO & CO strategically positions itself as a luxury brand, catering to high-end clientele with sophisticated demands for exceptional culinary experiences and premium service quality standards in the hospitality sector.
    • Emerging Growth Opportunity: The global tourism and events industries offer significant growth opportunities for DO & CO to expand its operations in emerging regions and premium hospitality segments across multiple international markets.

    🐌 Key considerations before investing in DO & CO

    Before investing in DO & CO, consider these potential challenges and risk factors facing the hospitality and catering business:

    • Economic Cycle Sensitivity: The hospitality and travel industries experience cyclical fluctuations, with economic downturns significantly impacting demand for premium services and luxury dining experiences across all market segments.
    • Earnings Volatility Risk: Hospitality and catering sensitivity to travel demand, economic conditions, and spending patterns creates significant earnings volatility that materially impacts overall business performance and operational resilience.
    • Operational Management Complexity: Managing diverse operations across different countries, cultural contexts, and business segments creates significant complexity that requires sophisticated management systems and operational expertise.
    • Major Client Concentration: While DO & CO maintains a diversified client base, substantial reliance on major airline partnerships and large event contracts can create meaningful revenue volatility and significant concentration risk.

    Final thoughts on DO & CO

    DO & CO focuses on premium culinary experiences with global reach and exposure to hospitality sector growth and long-term investor opportunities in premium markets. However, investors must carefully evaluate the cyclical nature of the industry, competitive pressures, and operational complexities for potential risks and market dynamics. Like a master chef creating exceptional dining experiences, DO & CO combines culinary artistry with strategic positioning to serve discerning clients across premium market segments.

  • Scandic Hotels Group (ST:SHOT)

    Scandic Hotels Group AB is the largest hotel operator in the Nordic region, providing comprehensive accommodation and professional hospitality services. Founded in 1963 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, the company operates approximately 280 hotels with over 58,000 rooms across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Germany. The company has established itself as the leading hospitality brand in Northern Europe through its focus on accessible, sustainable, and customer-centric hotel experiences.

    The company core operations encompass hotel management, franchise operations, and comprehensive hospitality services through owned, leased, and franchised properties across all regions. Scandic Hotels differentiates itself through its focus on accessibility for disabled guests, environmental sustainability initiatives, and Nordic design aesthetics that create distinctive brand experiences. With the recovery of travel demand post-pandemic and growing business travel activity, Scandic Hotels is positioned to capitalize on the normalization of hospitality markets.

    Scandic Hotels Group financial statements

    Analysts recommendation: 2.4

    Financial Health

    • Return on assets (ROA): 3.22%
    • Return on equity (ROE): 21.07%
    • Return on investment (ROI): 7.2%

    Profitability

    • Gross margin: 50.82%
    • Operating margin: 18.74%
    • Net profit margin: 3.35%

    Growth

    • EPS (past 5 years): -12.4%
    • EPS (current): 3.41
    • EPS estimate (next quarter): 9.8
    • EPS growth (this year): 4.4%
    • EPS growth (next year): 24.7%
    • EPS growth (next 5 years): 18.9%
    • EPS growth (quarter-over-quarter): 89.4%
    • Sales growth (past 5 years): 2.8%
    • Sales growth (quarter-over-quarter): 3.1%

    💡 Why invest in Scandic Hotels Group?

    Scandic Hotels presents compelling investment strengths for investors seeking stable returns and growth prospects in Nordic markets:

    • Nordic Market Dominance: Strong market positions across Nordic markets provide a stable revenue foundation and competitive advantages through established client relationships and deep local expertise across infrastructure sectors globally.
    • Environmental Sustainability Pioneer: Strong Nordic market presence and premium positioning support stable revenue generation and market share protection. creating operational difficulties that must be addressed business resilience.
    • Diversified Customer Segments: Sustainability initiatives and environmental leadership attract socially conscious investors seeking responsible hospitality exposure. across all operational segments. necessitating careful monitoring.
    • Travel Recovery Momentum: Post-pandemic recovery and growing business travel activity position Scandic Hotels to capitalize on normalization of hospitality markets while leveraging its dominant Nordic market position and operational expertise.

    🐌 Key considerations before investing in Scandic Hotels Group

    Investors should carefully consider Scandic Hotels economic exposure and competitive pressures in the Nordic hospitality sector:

    • Economic Cycle Vulnerability: Economic sensitivity impacts business performance significantly during recessions as travel spending declines, affecting profitability and creating meaningful operational challenges for the company and stakeholders.
    • Regional Market Concentration: Labor cost pressures and union negotiations create significant operational challenges affecting profitability margins substantially across all Nordic markets and regions with varying economic conditions.
    • Fixed Cost Burden: Intense competition from global hotel chains and international hospitality brands pressures pricing power and market share in the Nordic region, requiring strategic response and operational excellence to maintain competitiveness.
    • Limited Geographic Diversification: Limited geographic diversification creates challenges when regional economic conditions deteriorate or key market segments experience prolonged slowdowns affecting revenue and growth across Nordic operations.

    Final thoughts on Scandic Hotels Group

    Scandic Hotels offers compelling Nordic market leadership, strong sustainability focus, and attractive recovery potential for long-term investors seeking hospitality sector exposure. However, the company economic sensitivity, geographic concentration in Nordic markets, and competitive pressures require careful evaluation of cyclical hospitality risks. Like a resilient hospitality leader that adapts to changing travel patterns, Scandic Hotels offers recovery potential for investors who understand both the opportunities and challenges.

  • International Consolidated Airlines (L:IAG)

    International Consolidated Airlines Group is an airline holding company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, operating several major carriers across Europe and long-haul routes. Founded in 2011, the group combined legacy airlines to build scale, expand network coverage, and compete more effectively in global aviation markets. Its multi-brand strategy supports service differentiation and route flexibility, while leveraging shared procurement and operational systems across the portfolio today.

    The airlines provide passenger services, cargo capacity, and ancillary offerings, serving leisure travelers, business passengers, and logistics customers across key hubs. Operations depend on fleet planning, schedule management, and network optimization, with profitability influenced by load factors, yields, and seasonal demand patterns. Management targets cost efficiency, improved customer experience, and sustainability initiatives as it navigates regulation, competitive pricing, and volatile fuel costs.

    International Consolidated Airlines financial statements

    Analysts recommendation: N/A

    Financial Health

    • Return on assets (ROA): 7.33%
    • Return on equity (ROE): 58.3%
    • Return on investment (ROI): N/A

    Profitability

    • Gross margin: 29.64%
    • Operating margin: 22.26%
    • Net profit margin: 9.3%

    Growth

    • EPS (past 5 years): N/A
    • EPS (current): 0.56
    • EPS estimate (next quarter): N/A
    • EPS growth (this year): 3.1%
    • EPS growth (next year): N/A
    • EPS growth (next 5 years): N/A
    • EPS growth (quarter-over-quarter): N/A
    • Sales growth (past 5 years): N/A
    • Sales growth (quarter-over-quarter): 0%

    💡 Why invest in International Consolidated Airlines?

    International Consolidated Airlines has advantages in hub networks, brand breadth, and integration that can support route demand:

    • Multi Hub Connectivity: Multiple hubs and a broad route network can improve aircraft utilization, support connectivity, and help balance demand across short-haul and long-haul travel patterns, shifting capacity across regions as seasonality changes.
    • Brand Portfolio Diversity: A portfolio of established airline brands can address different traveler segments, defend pricing on premium routes, and build loyalty through frequent-flyer programs across key hubs and business corridors.
    • Synergy Efficiency Gains: Integrated procurement, shared services, and coordinated scheduling can reduce duplication, improve cost control, and create scale advantages across the airline group when integration and fleet plans execute well.
    • Premium Route Exposure: Strong positions on transatlantic and European routes can attract higher-yield traffic, support cargo utilization, and diversify revenue across business and leisure demand from multiple hubs and brands over time.

    🐌 Key considerations before investing in International Consolidated Airlines

    International Consolidated Airlines faces fuel volatility, labor complexity, and competitive pricing that can pressure earnings:

    • Fuel Price Volatility: Jet fuel is a major operating cost, and price swings can compress margins when fares lag, especially with schedules planned months ahead and hedging programs that cannot fully remove exposure during volatile energy markets.
    • Labor Cost Rigidity: Unionized workforces and complex labor agreements can limit flexibility, raising costs and increasing disruption risk during negotiations or changes, as staffing levels and scheduling rules are difficult to adjust quickly.
    • Competitive Fare Pressure: Low-cost carriers and airlines compete aggressively on key routes, putting pressure on fares and requiring promotions to maintain load factors, which can reduce revenue and make profitability sensitive to demand shifts.
    • Regulatory Compliance Complexity: Environmental rules, slot constraints, and passenger protections can raise costs, limit capacity choices, and complicate network planning across jurisdictions with different tax regimes and enforcement standards.

    Final thoughts on International Consolidated Airlines

    International Consolidated Airlines benefits from a multi-brand portfolio and hub networks that support connectivity and demand across European and transatlantic routes. However, fuel volatility, competitive fare pressure, and labor constraints can create earnings swings and require disciplined capacity and cost management. For investors, the group can be attractive when demand is stable and execution is strong, but it remains sensitive to external shocks.

If you are interested in other stock categories, check out my other lists of the best European basic materials, beauty, brokers, communication services, construction, defense, energy, financial, healthcare, industrial, insurance, manufacturing, retail, semiconductor, tech stocks.