Business Travel & Expense Statistics 2026: Spending, Trends, and Forecasts

Global business travel spending is projected to hit new records in 2025 and beyond, even as trade tensions and economic uncertainty create headwinds. This report compiles the latest data on business travel spending, per-trip costs, traveler behavior, and corporate expense trends.

Key Findings at a Glance

• Global business travel spending is projected to reach $1.57 trillion in 2025, a 6.6% year-over-year increase (GBTA BTI Outlook, July 2025).
• Spending is projected to surpass $2 trillion by 2029 (GBTA, 2025).
• Average per-trip spending rose to $1,128, up from $834 in the 2024 survey -- a 35.3% increase (GBTA BTI, 2025).
• 86% of business travelers rate their trips as worthwhile (GBTA, 2025).
• U.S. business travel spending is projected at $314.5 billion in 2025 and $320.6 billion in 2026 (U.S. Travel Association, Fall 2025 Forecast).

Global Spending Forecast

Source: GBTA Business Travel Index Outlook, July 2025.

U.S. Business Travel Spending Forecast (U.S. Travel Association)

2026 Corporate Travel Outlook

• Corporate travel budgets are projected to rise 5% globally in 2026, with European companies expecting 5.8% and U.S. companies 4.9% (Morgan Stanley AlphaWise Survey, Dec 2025).
• 61% of corporate travel managers are "very" or "somewhat" optimistic about the 2026 outlook, up from 50% at midyear 2025 (Morgan Stanley, Dec 2025).
• Hotel bookings are predicted to increase 6.3% in 2026, with room rates up 3.9% (Morgan Stanley, Dec 2025).
• Airfares are forecast to rise 3.7% in 2026, the first time growth expectations strengthened between surveys since 2022 (Morgan Stanley, Dec 2025).
• Only 8% of travel volume is expected to shift permanently to virtual meetings in 2026, down from as much as 29% in surveys from 2021-2024 (Morgan Stanley, Dec 2025).
• 10% of companies report more permissive private jet policies, up from 2% a year ago (Morgan Stanley, Dec 2025).
• Average trip costs for 2026 are expected to remain between $1,600 and $1,800 (FCM Consulting Insights, H1-2026).
• Global airfares are expected to rise only 1.1% in 2026, while hotel rates may increase 4.9% (BCD Travel 2026 Outlook, Nov 2025).

Top Markets by Spending (2025)

• The U.S. and China together represent 58% of the top 15 markets' total of $1.31 trillion (GBTA BTI, 2025).
• The U.S. is projected to reclaim the top spot in 2025 after China led in 2023 and 2024.
• India, South Korea, and Turkey are among the fastest-growing markets in the top 15.

Per-Trip Spending and Traveler Behavior

• Average trip spending: $1,128 in 2025 survey, up from $834 in 2024 (GBTA, 2025).
• 86% of travelers rate their trips as worthwhile (GBTA, 2025).
• 74% of travelers took between 1 and 5 trips in the past year (GBTA, 2025).
• Over 80% of travelers say they are traveling for work as much or more than before 2019 (GBTA, 2025).

Expense Management and Payments

• 67% of business travelers use expense management systems (GBTA, 2025).
• Corporate card access: 69% of travelers, led by North America at 73% (GBTA, 2025).
• However, only half of corporate cardholders are required to use them.
• Mobile wallet adoption: 64% globally, 72% in Asia Pacific (GBTA, 2025).
• Comfort with AI booking tools is growing, especially in Asia Pacific (78%) (GBTA, 2025).

Industry and Sector Breakdown

• Manufacturing accounts for nearly one-third of global business travel spending and faces heightened risk from trade tensions (GBTA BTI, 2025).
• Arts & Entertainment and Professional Services have exceeded pre-pandemic benchmarks, with some sectors growing travel spending by over 20% (GBTA BTI, 2025).
• Mining and Information and Communication are expected to post the strongest growth in business travel spending going forward (GBTA BTI, 2025).
• Agriculture faces the weakest outlook amid shrinking export market access.

Post-Pandemic Recovery Context

• 2024 spending of $1.47 trillion was a new nominal high but still 14% below 2019 levels when adjusted for inflation (GBTA BTI, 2025; Business Travel News, July 2025).
• The $2 trillion milestone is now expected one year later than previously forecast, pushed to 2029 from 2028.

If you found this data useful, please cite as: "Business Travel & Expense Statistics 2026," makemyreceipt.com, February 2026.

Methodology and Sources

• Global Business Travel Association (GBTA): Business Travel Index Outlook, July 2025. 17th edition, covering 72 countries and 44 industries, with survey data from 7,300+ business travelers across 33 countries.
• U.S. Travel Association: Travel Forecasts (Fall 2025 forecast tables).
• Morgan Stanley: Clear Skies for Corporate Travel in 2026 (Dec 2025). AlphaWise survey of 160 corporate travel managers overseeing ~$5B in travel spending.
• BCD Travel: 2026 Business Travel Outlook (Nov 2025).
• FCM Consulting: Business Travel Trends H1-2026.

Last updated: February 2026.