According to a report published by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), headquartered in Washington, D.C., global business travel spending climbed to a record US $1.71 trillion in 2026. The report also stated that the number of business trips worldwide is expected to surpass 1.84 billion by the end of the year.
The report projects that global business travel spending will increase by 7.2% in 2026, representing an acceleration of 1.3 percentage points compared with 2025. GBTA also forecasts that global business travel spending will exceed US $2 trillion by 2030.
Commenting on the report, GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang said, "The most significant development this year is that companies have not abandoned business travel, but they have become increasingly selective and focused on efficiency. While business travel spending continues to rise, the number of trips is growing at a slower pace. This requires all of us to assess our impact on the industry and on organizations. Business travel remains indispensable, and companies are being highly disciplined about where, how, and why they travel."
Europe and Asia Lead Business Travel
According to the report, approximately 1.82 billion business trips were taken worldwide in 2025. Asia and Europe recorded the highest travel volumes, with each region accounting for nearly 600 million business trips.
