Global business travel spending reached $1.47 trillion in 2024 and is projected to hit $1.70 trillion in 2026, according to the Global Business Travel Association. The average business trip now costs $1,128 per person. Corporate travel budgets are up 5% year over year, and 86% of travelers say their trips are worth the expense. Here are the latest verified business travel statistics for 2026.
Business Travel Statistics: Key Numbers for 2026
- Global business travel spending is projected at $1.70 trillion in 2026, an 8.1% increase over 2025 (GBTA).
- Corporate travel budgets are expected to grow 5% globally, with European companies leading at 5.8% (Morgan Stanley).
- The average business trip costs $1,128 per person, up from $834 in 2024 (GBTA).
- 83% of business travelers took at least one bleisure trip in the past year (Hotel Tech Report).
- 85% of travel managers are now required to report carbon emissions for their travel programs (GBTA/BCD Travel).
Global Business Travel Spending Growth (2024–2029)
After two years of double-digit recovery gains, growth has cooled. GBTA projects a 6.6% increase in 2025 to $1.57 trillion, followed by an 8.1% rebound in 2026. That 2026 figure was revised down from 9.2% due to trade policy uncertainty. The $2 trillion milestone is now expected by 2029—a year later than earlier forecasts.
Even at $1.47 trillion in 2024, inflation-adjusted spending remained 14% below pre-pandemic levels. Nominal figures have recovered, but actual travel volume still lags 2019 norms.
Top Business Travel Markets by Country
The U.S. and China account for 58% of spending among the top 15 business travel markets. The U.S. is expected to reclaim the top spot in 2025 with $395.4 billion in projected spend, after China led in 2023 and 2024. China follows at $373.1 billion. The top 15 markets collectively represent $1.31 trillion.
Mining and Information & Communication sectors are expected to post the strongest business travel growth through 2026. Agriculture faces weaker prospects as export market access shrinks.
Business Travel Costs by Category (2024–2026)
CWT and GBTA’s joint forecast tracks average transaction prices across air, hotel, and ground transportation. After years of post-pandemic volatility, prices are stabilizing.
| Cost Category | 2024 | 2025 Forecast | 2026 Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. Airfare (Global) | $721 | $705 (−2.2%) | Slight increase |
| Avg. Hotel ADR | $161 | $163 (+1.2%) | $166 (+1.8%) |
| Car Rental Daily Rate | $45.40 | $46.70 (+2.9%) | $48.00 (+2.8%) |
| Daily Meeting/Event Cost | $162 | $168 (+3.7%) | $172 (+2.4%) |
Airfares are expected to rise 3.7% in 2026, hotel room rates by 3.9%, and car rental rates by 2.8%, per Morgan Stanley’s corporate travel survey.
Regional Airfare Comparison
Regional patterns differ sharply. North American average transaction prices hit $831 in 2024, the highest globally, before an expected dip to $807 in 2025. APAC remains the most affordable region at $502. EMEA is the only region where airfares are expected to rise in both 2025 and 2026.
Corporate Travel Budget Outlook for 2026
Morgan Stanley surveyed 160 corporate travel managers overseeing roughly $5 billion in combined spending. About 61% described themselves as optimistic about 2026, up from 50% at midyear 2025.
European respondents expect a 5.8% budget increase versus 4.9% for the U.S. Premium-class travel policies are loosening: 8% of managers said rules are becoming more liberal, double the prior year and the highest mark since before the pandemic. Private jet usage policies are also shifting—10% of companies now allow more private jet travel, up from just 2% a year ago.
Bleisure Travel Statistics in 2026
Bleisure travel—extending work trips to include personal time—is now mainstream. Navan and Skift’s 2025 report found that 55% of business travelers took at least two blended trips in 2024. The American Hotel & Lodging Association reported that 89% of travelers want to add leisure time to their next business trip.
The global bleisure market was valued at $762 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $849.9 billion in 2026, per Fortune Business Insights. Millennials account for 49% of bleisure travelers. Men make up 64% of the segment, though women’s participation is growing at a 12.86% CAGR. Among bleisure travelers, 82% choose to stay at the same hotel for the full trip.
Business Traveler Behavior and AI Adoption
GBTA surveyed over 7,300 business travelers across 33 countries. About 86% rated their trips as worthwhile, and 74% take between one and five trips per year. More than 80% are traveling as much or more than they did before 2019.
Training and conferences are the top trip purposes globally. Deloitte’s 2025 Corporate Travel Study found that nearly two-thirds of business travelers expect to attend a conference, making it the largest single driver of trip volume. One in five travel managers now cite training and learning initiatives as their company’s top driver of travel growth.
AI adoption is accelerating across booking and expense management. Comfort with AI-based booking tools is highest in Asia Pacific at 78%. Self-service online bookings now account for 61% of all bookings, and 85% of travel managers are required to report carbon emissions as part of their programs.
FAQ
How much will global business travel spending reach in 2026?
GBTA projects global business travel spending at approximately $1.70 trillion in 2026, an 8.1% increase from the $1.57 trillion expected in 2025.
What is the average cost of a business trip in 2025?
The average business trip costs $1,128 per person, according to GBTA’s 2025 survey of over 7,300 travelers across 33 countries. That figure rose from $834 in the prior year’s survey.
Which country spends the most on business travel?
The United States is projected to lead global business travel spending in 2025 at $395.4 billion, reclaiming the top spot from China, which is expected to spend $373.1 billion.
How big is the bleisure travel market?
Fortune Business Insights values the global bleisure travel market at $849.9 billion for 2026, up from $762 billion in 2025. About 83% of business travelers took a bleisure trip in the past year.
Are corporate travel budgets increasing in 2026?
Yes. Morgan Stanley’s survey projects a 5% global increase in corporate travel budgets for 2026. European companies expect 5.8% growth, while U.S. companies project 4.9%.
