GBTA’s latest Business Travel Index report shows spending gains driven by higher prices as geopolitical uncertainty and transportation pressures weigh on the outlook
CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Global business travel spending is forecast to reach a record $1.71 trillion USD in 2026, with the number of business trips worldwide expected to surpass 1.84 billion. The forecast highlights how rising transportation and travel costs are increasingly driving higher industry prices, ahead of the number of trips.
This is according to the 2026 GBTA Business Travel Index (“BTI”) Annual Global Report and Forecast, released today which projects global business travel spending to increase 7.2% in 2026. The report’s first-ever analysis of worldwide business travel volume projects approximately 1.84 billion trips for work will be taken in 2026. This is up from an estimated 1.82 billion trips in 2025 – an increase of 1.3%.
The report also reveals that global business travel spending grew 8.4% in 2025 to $1.59 trillion, outperforming last year’s forecast of 6.6% growth, supported by stronger-than-expected economic activity, easing trade tensions in the second half of the year and overarching currency exchange effects. Global spending is projected to surpass $2 trillion by 2030, one year later than forecast last year due to moderating growth rates after 2026, yet still supported by sustained business investment and international commercial activity.
Unveiled by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) during its 2026 Convention in Chicago, the 18th edition of the BTI—made possible again this year by Visa—represents the industry’s most comprehensive outlook on business travel. The report covers 72 countries and 44 industries and includes survey insights from more than 4,700 business travelers across 66 global markets.
“The big story this year is that companies haven’t stepped away from travel, but they are increasingly more selective and productivity-focused,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA. “While business travel spending continues to grow, the number of trips is rising more slowly, making it necessary for all of us to assess industry and organizational impact. Travel remains essential, and companies are critically disciplined about where, how and why they travel.”
“As business travel spending grows faster than trip volume, companies are placing greater emphasis on the value of every journey,” said Edward Galvin, Vice President and Head of North America Visa Commercial Solutions. “Organizations need greater visibility, control and flexibility to manage rising travel costs and measure ROI. Modern payment technologies help travel and finance teams better track spending, improve efficiency and simplify the travel experience, making it easier for companies to adapt as business travel continues to evolve.”
Rapidly Rising Costs, More Moderately Rising Demand, Drive Business Travel Industry Growth
In addition to the spending forecast, for the first time this year’s report provides global business travel volume for 2025 and 2026, adding perspective on business travel’s growth and the effect of rising prices.
- Global business travelers made an estimated 1.82 billion business trips in 2025. Asia and Europe accounted for the highest volumes, each approaching 600 million trips or more. This is driven by APAC’s concentration of business travel activity and Europe’s strong regional connectivity.
- The estimated 1.3% global increase in 2026 to 1.84 billion trips ─ roughly 25 million additional business trips ─ contrasts with the anticipated 7.2% rise in spending this year, underscoring the dampening effect of higher transportation and travel costs on business travel demand.
The Forces Reshaping Global Business Travel
The forecast identifies four forces shaping the outlook for 2026: resilient economic growth, strong business investment, heightened geopolitical uncertainty and elevated transportation costs. There are also some key assumptions:
- The conflict involving Iran and the broader Middle East in early 2026 disrupted aviation, trade and energy markets, driving longer travel times, different long-haul connection points, and higher airfares. The forecast assumes conditions will stabilize and airline networks gradually normalize in the second half of the year.
- The forecast assumes global gross domestic product (GDP) growth slows from about 3.3% in 2025 to 2.9% in 2026, with downside risks centered on renewed geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, and/or a sharper-than-expected slowdown in business investment.
Regional Growth Varies and Pressure Points Emerge in 2026
- Business travel volume in the Middle East is forecast to decline 12.3% in 2026 as regional conflict weighs on activity, while Asia and Europe face increasing pressure from disruptions to air travel and energy markets.
- In contrast, the Americas are benefiting from stronger economic growth, with artificial intelligence (AI) and technology investment boosting the U.S. outlook, higher energy prices supporting Brazil, and greater stability in Argentina helping drive growth across Latin America.
- AI and technology-related investment is emerging as a significant driver of business travel growth, particularly in North America and Asia Pacific. Investments such as digital infrastructure, data centers and enterprise technology deployment are fueling demand for project-based travel, customer engagement and cross-border collaboration.
- The top 15 markets of the forecasted $1.71 trillion global spending for 2026 account for $1.43 trillion, or 84%. The two largest, the U.S. ($423.0 billion) and China ($403.7 billion), together represent about 48% of total global spend. In terms of growth among the top 15 markets, Brazil (13.8%), Australia (11.5%), South Korea (11.3%), Türkiye (10.9%) and Japan (10%) rank among the fastest rising.
- Among sectors, the fastest business travel spending growth through 2030 is expected in Mining and Quarrying (6.6% CAGR), Human Health and Social Work (6.3%), and Education (6.3%). However, these industries collectively represent only 1.6% of total 2026 business travel spend. While their high growth may create some new opportunities for business travel suppliers, it is not expected to meaningfully impact overall global business travel spend.
- Conversely, while Utilities (4.1% CAGR through 2030) and Manufacturing (4.4%) are expected to have slower business travel spending growth, they collectively represent 42% of business travel spend today and will continue to have an outsized impact on overall spend through 2030.
Global Business Travelers Are Adapting to a Changing Travel Landscape
In May 2026, 4,700 business travelers were surveyed across 66 global markets for the BTI report. Results show business travel remained resilient in 2025, and reveal a workforce that continues to travel regularly while adapting to higher costs, evolving travel programs and a more uncertain global environment.
- Nearly three-quarters (74%) of business travelers report traveling as much or more than in previous years, led by Asia Pacific, where four in five (80%) maintained or increased their travel activity.
- Travelers remain cautiously optimistic: On average, 28% expect to travel more in 2026 than they did in 2025, with 36% from the Middle East and Africa indicating the same.
- Individual travel frequency remains in a typical range, with 41% taking one or two business trips in 2025, 44% taking three to 10 trips, and 15% taking more than 10.
- Air travel remains the dominant mode of transportation, with 42% of flyers saying they typically traveled in premium cabins. Rail continues to play an important role, particularly among business travelers in Asia Pacific (72%) and Europe (60%).
- Managed travel programs remain widespread, with 65% saying their companies require or encourage bookings through a travel management company (TMC) or corporate online booking tool.
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More than two-thirds (68%) of travelers are provided with a corporate credit card, and 63% say they can also collect personal benefits or features from using their card for business travel.
Download the Executive Summary here from the 2026 GBTA Business Travel Index. GBTA members can exclusively access the full report on the GBTA Community+ platform here.
To learn more about GBTA Research or to inquire about GBTA BTI, visit the GBTA webpage or email [email protected].
About GBTA
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organization serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 9,000+ members represent and advocate for the $1.71 trillion global business travel and meetings industry. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy, and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. For more information, visit GBTA.org and GBTAFoundation.org.
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