19 business travel statistics for 2025
The way companies approach corporate travel is shifting quickly. New tech, tighter budgets, evolving safety protocols, and the growing push for flexibility are all pushing the travel industry forward. And while some trends fizzle out fast, others—like bleisure travel and smarter corporate travel planning—are reshaping what business trips look like.
In this guide, we’ll unpack 19 key business travel statistics for 2025. From booking trends to tech usage and travel expenses, these business travel data insights will help you make smarter decisions about your business trips in the year ahead.
Global business travel cost statistics
Across all regions, a limited supply of new hotels and growing demand for in-person business travel are putting pressure on rates. The key numbers below show how business travel costs are evolving in 2025.
1. Business travel spending is still climbing
Forecasts project global business travel spending to reach $1.64 trillion in 2025, up from $1.48 trillion in 2024, reflecting steady growth after the pandemic rebound. This is approximately an 11% year-over-year rise, underscoring the resilience of corporate travel throughout the United States and global business travel across all regions.
2. Airfare and hotels are getting pricier
Flight prices for global business travel continue to climb. The average ticket price in the United States and Canada rose from $668 in 2023 to $701 in 2024—a 1.9% increase. The price is projected to rise to $705 in 2025, driven by fuel costs, labor shortages, and demand for flexible fares.
Meanwhile, business travel hotel rates grew globally from $158 in 2023 to $162 in 2024, a difference of 2.5%. In 2025, the average daily rate is expected to rise to $165.
3. Meetings and events (M&E) are driving up budgets
The demand for in-person meetings and events continues to surge in the travel industry, and so do the costs. The average daily price for each attendee is set to increase from $162 in 2024 to $169 in 2025, likely due to staffing shortages, wage inflation, and high food and beverage costs. Companies are also spending more on tech and hybrid-ready formats to meet attendee expectations.
4. Cost control is more important than ever
As prices stabilize at higher rates than before, corporate travel managers are feeling pressured to deliver more value with fewer resources. There’s a clear trend toward zero-based budgeting, where every expense, from flights and lodging to group travel and M&E, is evaluated every year—no assumptions, just scrutiny.
Global business travel tech usage statistics
From artificial intelligence (AI) assistance to mobile-first bookings, these 2025 tech stats reveal the business travel trends reshaping how corporate teams plan and book trips.
5. AI is doing the heavy lifting
In 2025, AI-powered trip planning is becoming a travel essential. A recent Accenture survey found that 80% of travelers use generative AI tools to research, book, and manage trip itineraries. Corporate and business travelers rely on AI for real-time recommendations, pricing insights, and chatbot support, making travel for business faster and more personalized.
6. Facial recognition is speeding things up
Airports worldwide are leaning into biometric technology to speed up security. The facial recognition market is already huge, and it’s expected to grow to $19 billion by 2032. These identity tools reduce manual check-in steps and ease congestion, which is critical when business trips involve tight connections and busy hubs.
7. Mobile apps are the new travel assistant
Both corporate travel managers and business travelers expect convenience: Mobile-first apps are essential in 2025, with 40% of business travelers booking hotels via their smartphones. Platforms like Engine deliver, offering sleek mobile apps that let travelers search, book, and manage hotels, flights, and ground transportation in one place, with 24/7 customer service available for travel-related issues.
8. Flight booking is getting smarter with New Distribution Capability (NDC)
NDC, a standard that modernizes how airlines distribute and sell flight content to travel platforms and agents, is gaining momentum, especially for corporate travel. In April 2025, a grand total of 905 travel agencies reported NDC transactions, up from previous years. This is especially important for the business travel market because it improves pricing transparency.
Global business travel policy statistics
These 2025 business travel policy statistics reveal how companies are rethinking travel policies, from traveler well-being to sustainability and beyond.
9. Traveler well-being is part of the plan
In 2025, alleviating traveler stress is top of mind. According to BCD Travel, business travel stress starts before the trip (not in the planning stage). Engine’s platform allows managers to build flexible policies into the booking flow, giving travelers visibility into pre-approved options and limits that support a smoother experience.
10. Sustainability is built in
Climate-conscious travel is no longer optional; it’s expected. A Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) poll shows that 46% of travel programs will prioritize sustainability, with 44% adding eco-friendly initiatives directly into their policies. For example, some companies are adding preferred rail routes and carbon offsets to their corporate travel policy.
11. Policies are getting smarter
According to Navan and Skift, 72% of business travelers and travel managers expect more business trips in 2025. With that growth comes higher expectations—teams want policies that adjust in real time based on market pricing, feedback, and risk alerts. That’s why many companies are rethinking how they build and manage their corporate travel policy.
12. Safety is still a top priority
Business travel safety is non-negotiable, and a GBTA poll found that 46% of travel buyers and suppliers are concerned with factors like economics, geopolitical issues, and border crossing concerns. As a result, many 2025 business travel policies require pre-trip approvals, itinerary visibility, and built-in emergency protocols, especially for high-risk regions.
Global business travel destination statistics
From rising bleisure hotspots to the shift toward greener routes, these 2025 corporate travel destination trends reveal where business travelers are heading next.
13. Bleisure travel is booming
The global bleisure market is expected to grow by 500% over the next 10 years. More business travelers are turning work trips into quick getaways, especially when events land in destinations with beaches, food scenes, or easy access to nature. Companies are responding by offering flexible travel policy perks, allowing business travelers to add on personal days—Engine’s booking platform makes it easy for business travelers to extend their stay.
14. Event cities are heating up
According to Navan, flight bookings for business trips are up 10% in 2025, and hotel stays tied to conferences have jumped 25% over the last year. June is the busiest month, with Las Vegas, Austin, and Chicago among the most popular destinations. Planning early is key for corporate travelers, especially during peak event seasons.
15. Sustainability is shaping where we go
Rail-first travel is rising, especially in Europe. France has banned short-haul flights where rail alternatives exist, and Eurostar is adding new routes to meet the demand for greener alternatives to short flights. Sustainability-focused companies are also prioritizing destinations with cleaner transportation and eco-certified hotels as part of their broader corporate travel goals.
16. Smaller cities are gaining ground
Major metros are no longer the only go-to spots. Cities like Orlando, Charlotte, and Nashville have seen a 17–26% bump in corporate travel thanks to lower costs and growing event infrastructure. These rising hubs attract companies looking to stretch their travel budgets while offering more relaxed, culture-rich experiences.
Global business travel safety statistics
From rising cyberattacks to unpredictable natural disasters, corporate travel risks in 2025 are more complex than ever. These key travel industry safety statistics highlight what companies need to prepare for.
17. Cyber threats are surging
In recent years, cyberattacks targeting mobile devices and public Wi-Fi networks used by travelers have increased. Despite the rise, 45% of business travelers who use mobile still don’t use basic protections like VPNs or endpoint security, leaving sensitive corporate data at risk.
18. Political instability is disrupting the travel industry
Armed conflict and geopolitical tensions continue to impact international corporate travel. Rerouted flights, border slowdowns, and rising travel advisories—particularly in Eastern Europe and the Middle East—are forcing companies to rethink business travel itineraries and invest in better corporate travel management, like risk tracking.
19. Natural disasters are causing more delays
According to Crisis24’s Global Risk Forecast, climate-driven events like wildfires, heatwaves, and flooding are some of the top environmental threats to business trips this year. These disruptions aren’t just stranding travelers—they’re increasing costs for corporate travelers, too.
Empower business travel with Engine
Whether it’s rising airfare, the influence of AI-powered planning, or the shift toward greener destinations, the 2025 corporate travel statistics tell a clear story: Change is here and moving fast. From the $1.64 trillion in projected global business travel spend to the growing popularity of bleisure and dynamic corporate travel policies, companies need better ways to manage every detail.
That’s where Engine comes in. As an all-in-one corporate travel management platform, Engine helps businesses simplify every part of the business travel process, from booking flights and hotels to enforcing policies to tracking travel expenses. With mobile tools that support travelers on the go and policy controls that save time and money, Engine gives your team what they need to travel smarter—no spreadsheets required.
