More than nine-in-ten business leaders forecast that business travel with either increase or be steady in the next year, according to the latest findings of the American Express Trendex: Business Travel edition.
Additional data found some surprising domestic destinations trending for business travelers this year, including Richmond, Virginia; Columbus, Ohio; Charleston, South Carolina; Boise, Idaho; and New Orleans, Louisiana. Locations trending internationally include Kumamoto, Japan; Cork, Ireland; and Malmö, Sweden.
“Business travel remains a proven growth driver. More than ever, companies must effectively manage costs and compliance while also meeting employee expectations for a smooth travel experience,” wrote EVP & General Manager, Global & U.S. Large Enterprises Fernando Iraola in a report about the survey. “With travel as a continued priority, we are seeing ongoing travel and business expansion in cities in the US and around the world, bringing business travel to these destinations and helping their communities flourish.”
Additional Findings From the Report:
Face time drives growth, keeping travelers out on the road: Most decision-makers (92%) and travelers (88%) find value in in-person meetings. The top two reasons cited for travel are maintaining or getting more time with clients (64%) and new or more business (59%).
Companies and travelers agree that travel is a perk, but younger generations struggle more with wellness and productivity: 80% of companies use travel to attract and retain talent, while 84% of travelers consider it a perk, driven by Gen-Z and Millennials (88%) followed by Gen-X and Boomers (78%).
Measuring travel return on investment: 93% of companies agree they can attribute business growth to in-person meetings and events, and 87% of travelers say their client relationships benefit more from in-person interactions than virtual meetings. However, 90% of companies agree that having greater control over travel spending is increasingly important amid today’s evolving business landscape, with 60% expecting their company's focus on optimizing budget to intensify further in the next 12 months.
The full press release is available here.
[09.02.25]
