Business Travel Statistics: Welcome Aboard, Frequent Flyer

People just don’t do business like they used to. With everything moving online, corporate executives are communicating via email and messaging apps around the globe, all day, every day.

But, there’s something about human interaction that will never go out of style. That’s why traditional corporate protocol still insists on face-to-face meetings. Whether it’s to close a multi-million dollar deal, or to simply attend an annual work convention, a good, old-fashioned sit-down does the trick.

Business trips today are on the rise, proving to be one of the most valuable status symbols a company can afford.

Key Business Travel Statistics for 2025 - Editor's Choice

• 67% of business travelers view travel as essential to their careers.
• In 2024, there was an increase of 11.1% in global business travel spending.
• Domestic business travel in the US will account for $247.44 billion in 2025.
• 34% of millennials traveled on business domestically in 2024.
• Personal cars were used in 51% of business trips in 2024.

Global spending on business travel will reach $1.64 trillion by the end of 2025.

(Global Business Travel Association)

In 2024, there was an increase of 11.1% in global business travel spending, while projections for this year see it grow by an additional 10.4%.

The U.S. business travel market generated a revenue of $198.21 billion in 2024.

(Grand View Research)

Last year, the United States accounted for 12.2% of the world's business travel market.

Domestic business travel will account for $247.44 billion in 2025.

(Statista)

While the revenue from domestic business travel has once again increased, it is still not reaching pre-pandemic levels, and is expected to grow at a slow rate, reaching $252.8 billion by 2027.

Accommodation takes up an average of 28% of a business traveler’s budget.

(JTB Business Travel)

Hotel rooms can be expensive, especially when you’re doing business in a high-class metropolis like New York City. While motels, hostels, and Airbnb services are experiencing a rise in popularity among business travelers, hotels still reign supreme, especially within corporate business travel policies.

22% of travel managers in 2024 stated that the rising travel prices were the biggest detterent to the trip volume for their companies.

(Deloitte)

Additionally, half of the surveyed managers stated that the risings cost have encouraged or mandated them to seek lower-cost flights last year.

 67% of business travelers viewed travel as essential to their careers in 2024.

(SAP Concur)

Additionally, some 51% of them stated that they enjoy travel.

At $483 million, Amazon spent more on business travel expenses than any other US company.

(Statista)

According to the latest available data from 2023, Deloitte comes in second at $300.9 million, while Boeing spends around $242 million on annual travel expenses.

Some airlines earn as much as 75% of their total revenue from business travelers.

(Investopedia)

Airlines get most of their revenue directly from passengers. While business travelers make up only 12% in numbers, they are every airline’s most valuable customer.

New York is the most expensive city for business tourism, with an average daily cost of $686.

(Statista)

London comes in second at $599, while business travelers going to Zurich spend an average of $593 a day.

34% of millennials traveled on business domestically in the United States in 2024.

(Business Travel News)

The millennials are now leading the US in business travel, followed by Gen Zers who are just behind at 32%.

Around 51% of business travelers booked their travel on their own and on the platform of their choice in 2024.

(Business Travel News)

Only 28% of respondents of the survey stated that they book on their own, but on a platform of their company's choice.

82% of companies will support employees in choosing low-carbon travel options in 2025.

(Global Business Travel Association)

This is due to the fact that some 52% of businesses are now commited to reducing their carbon footprint and the level of emissions created due to their business traveling.

Some 41% of US businesses plan to increase their travel volume in 2025.

(Flight Centre Travel Group)

Additionally, more than 47% of these companies plan to spend more on travel this year.

With 28% of business travel in 2025 will be spent on sales and account management meetings.

(CTM)

Some 20% of the travel budget will go to internal company meetings, while 16% will be spent on conferences and other industry events like trade shows.

Personal vehicles were used in 51% of business trips in 2024.

(Enterprise Rent-A-Car)

The global data from last year showed that cars are still by far the most used vehicle for business travel, with 44% of trips also taken by rental vehicles.