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105 Critical Business Travel Statistics: 2024 Spending & Concerns Analysis

Why FO is free

Technology may have opened up new ways for individuals to connect, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic where face-to-face communication can become a health risk. This is why business travel remains important for modern companies. If you want to make the most out of your corporate trips, being knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the industry is important. This is where checking business travel statistics becomes necessary.

In this article, we will be discussing everything from the market size of the business travel industry to the use of budgeting software for corporate travel. Furthermore, we have provided some data on emerging business travel technologies. This way, it would be easier to understand how to manage your company trips better as well as prepare yourself for the shifting demands of the industry. 

key business travel statistics

Business Travel Statistics Table of Contents

  • General Business Travel Statistics
  • Business Travel Spending Statistics
  • Statistics on Business Travel Benefits
  • Business Travel Experience Statistics
  • Bleisure Statistics
  • Statistics on the Modern Business Traveler
  • Business Travel Policy Statistics
  • Statistics on Business Travel Concerns
  • Business Travel Tech Usage Statistics
  • Impact of COVID-19 on Business Travel

1. General Business Travel Statistics

Corporate trips may have become more and more prevalent over the years, thanks to the increasingly globalized business landscape. So much so that millions of business travel initiatives are launched each year. However, with the current pandemic, business travel has come to a halt and it is not expected to recover until 2027.

  • There are 445 million business trips every year. (Certify, n. d.)
  • Business travelers make up 12% of an airline’s passengers, but they represent 75% of the profit. (Investopedia, 2020)
  • The global market for business travel is projected to decline by 4.5% in 2021. (ReportLinker, 2020)
  • It won’t be until 2027 that the global market for business travel is expected to recover, at which point it is expected to reach US$829.5 billion. (ReportLinker, 2020)
  • The global market for business travel is expected to post a CAGR of 3% from 2020 to 2027. (ReportLinker, 2020)

Breakdown of Corporate Travel Across the Globe

Companies across the globe understand how important it is to invest in corporate travel. With companies spending an average of $799 per person per day, the business travel market has surely enjoyed the growth in revenue in the past years. Unfortunately, however, when the pandemic hit, many countries experienced huge losses in business travel spending.

  • China lost $404 billion in business travel spend losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the biggest amount among member countries of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). (GBTA, 2020)
  • The second most affected region was Europe, which amassed $190.5 billion in business travel spend losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The third most affected region was Asia-Pacific, excluding China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, with losses amounting to $120.2 billion. (GBTA, 2020)
  • The most expensive business travel location in Asia is Hong Kong, with an average cost of $515 per day. (ECA International, 2019)

Business Trips in the US

American companies are one of the top spenders when it comes to business travel. Simply put, many US companies spend to send their employees on domestic and international trips for business purposes. However, much like the rest of the globe, they are also expected to decrease the number of international business trips in the coming years.

  • In a survey, 45% of respondents said that their company canceled most international business trips to the U.S. as a result of the pandemic. (GBTA Coronavirus Poll/Statista, 2020)
  • U.S. airlines reported a 90% reduction in business travel in Q2 2020. (Spendesk, 2019)
  • The reduction in travel spending resulted in a loss of $162 billion for the U.S. economy in 2020. (U.S. Travel Association, 2020)

business travel losses

2. Business Travel Spending Statistics

It’s no secret that corporate travel is expensive. As you’ll see in the data below, companies spend millions of dollars per year on sending their employees on business trips. To ensure steady business travel funding, you should plan and create a budget for it ahead of time, taking into consideration not only accommodation and airfare but also looking into vaccination expenses for employees. This way, they may avoid the risk of contracting coronavirus while they’re traveling. Moreover, you should keep all travel costs in check. For this, you might find that using tools for budgeting can be useful for your company.

  • Global business travel decreased by more than half in 2020 to $694 billion. (PhocusWire, 2021)
  • Corporate travel spending is expected to lose $820 billion as a result of the pandemic. (CNBC, 2020)
  • As of September 2020, China’s number of domestic passengers reached Corporate travel spending 98% of 2019 levels. (Skift, 2020)
  • The average daily cost of business travel in the US is $325 per day. (Small Biz Genius, 2021)
  • Businesses spend roughly $1,425 for every employee they send on a business trip. (Fyle, 2020)
  • Companies spend $111.7 billion on business travel every year. This is an average of $1,286 per work trip. (Travel Pulse, 2020)
  • Businesses spend $31.6 billion on international travel. This is an average of $2,600 per person. (Certify)
  • The average business travel budget consists of money for lodging (34%), airfare (27%), meals (20%), and car rentals (19%). (Travel Pulse, 2020)

Air Travel Expenditures

If your company is affiliated with businesses located halfway across the globe or on the other side of the country, then spending on air travel is inevitable. So, you should prepare a good chunk of your budget for airfares, especially considering flight tickets and miscellaneous spending at airports are increasingly expensive. You might also want to time your booking so you can get tickets at lower rates.

  • The average domestic airfare in the US is $392. (Business Insider, 2019)
  • The average cost of coach airfare for international flights is $1216. (Certify)
  • Domestic flights in the U.S. are 41% lower on average because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (CNBC, 2020)
  • Booking flights 169 to 319 days in advance allows you to fly at the time you prefer and get the seats that you want. (CheapAir, 2018)
  • The prime booking window is 21 to 121 days in advance of your preferred flight. The fares are the lowest during this time. (CheapAir, 2018)
  • The most costly airports based on lunch, taxi, executive lounge, and parking expenses are London Stansted (£608.29), Amsterdam (£567.35), and London Gatwick (£520.53). (FairFX Blog, 2018)
  • The airports that give business travelers the most value for their money based on lunch, taxi, executive lounge, and parking expenses are Barcelona (£236.36), Belfast International (£228.28), and Beijing (£170,03). (FairFX Blog, 2018)
  • 70% of corporate travelers said that their most important consideration in booking airline tickets after COVID-19 is flexibility in cancellation and changing ticket conditions. This is followed by special measures to ensure onboard hygiene (63%), availability of direct flights (61%), and sanitation levels of aircraft between flights. (Skift Research & McKinsey, 2020)

Road Transportation Costs

More often than not, business travelers still need to go from one place to another upon reaching their destinations. So, it makes sense for them to spend on road transportation. For domestic trips just outside of the city, this might involve gas money for their personal vehicles. In case they have to go farther away, they will need to allocate a budget for car rental. There might also be those who opt to use ride-sharing applications during the trip, although this may not be as popular an option amid the pandemic.

  • Three-fourths of business trips are less than 250 miles from the point of their departure. (U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2017)
  • Personal cars are often utilized for 81% of business trips. (U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2017)
  • New demand for road trip travel has led car rental rates in the U.S. to decrease by approximately 15% in 2020. (CheapCarRental, 2020)
  • 65% of users stopped using ridesharing services in the U.S. due to the COVID-19 outbreak. (Statista, 2020)

Accommodation and Other Expenses

Business travelers require accommodations that are affordable, secure, and trustworthy. What’s more, staying at a place where they have access to conveniences such as workstations and free WiFi can ensure their productivity while on the go. Plus, with the current pandemic, it is also important to consider what hygiene protocols your intended accommodation implements to ensure the safety of your employees. This is why many companies are willing to spend more on hotel rooms and Airbnb accommodations.

  • 40% of hotel guests are business travelers. (American Hotel & Lodging Corporation, 2015)
  • In 2020, the average hotel room price dropped significantly by 32% to $186 per night compared to $274 per night in 2019. (NerdWallet, 2020)
  • Tech companies prefer Airbnb accommodations. In fact, their bookings have doubled from 2017 to 2018. (TravelPerk)
  • In 2018, more than 700,000 businesses utilized Airbnb for Work for their corporate trips. (PhocusWire, 2018)
  • For the fiscal year 2020, the IRS has set the per-diem business travel rates for meals and incidental expenses at $71. (Maxwell, Locke & Ritter, 2020)
  • When it comes to accommodations, business travelers pay attention to quality (44%), trustworthiness (38%), convenience (40%), quietness (30%), affordability (28%), and coziness (28%). (CWT Research, 2019)

How do businesses spend on travel?

A breakdown of the average corporate trip budget.

Car rentals

Source: Travel Pulse

Top Budgeting Software

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3. Statistics on Business Travel Benefits

Many companies may think that business travel is passé or that it is a waste of money. However, statistics show that this is most certainly not the case. Corporate trips actually allow businesses to foster stronger and more close-knit relationships with potential clients and partners. Thus, they yield a good ROI for their business travel initiatives and even grow their company at a faster pace. In addition, even amid a pandemic, many professionals cite business travel as a job perk.

  • 90.6% of corporate travel managers believe that business travel is crucial to company growth. (Skift + TripActions Business Travel Survey, 2019)
  • On the other hand, 91.3% of business travelers said that business travel is crucial to company growth. (Skift + TripActions Business Travel Survey, 2019)
  • Companies get a $2.90 increase in profit and a $9.50 increase in revenue for every dollar spent on corporate travel. (Certify)
  • 79% of employees say that business travel experience has an impact on their overall job satisfaction. (Global Business Travel Association, 2017)
  • 83% of employees say that business travel is a job perk. (Stratos Jet Charters, Inc., 2020)

ROI of Corporate Travel

4. Business Travel Experience Statistics

Corporate travelers are consumers. So, in a similar light as your typical shopper, they expect personalized experiences when it comes to traveling. In fact, they are more than willing to provide their preferences and personal information if it means travel agencies and airline companies will provide them with better products and services. In addition to these, modern business travelers also don’t mind paying extra out of their pocket for upgrades on accommodations and transportation.

  • Nine in 10 corporate travelers will share their travel preferences for a customized experience. (CWT Research, 2019)
  • 65% of travelers are willing to provide additional personal information to accelerate processing at the airport. (International Air Transport Association, 2018)
  • 22% of frequent travelers want travel companies to remember their personal data. (Accenture, 2017)
  • 67% of modern travelers expect brands to help them make good travel decisions based on previous travel information. (Accenture, 2017)
  • 55% of business travelers are willing to pay out of their own pocket to get upgrades for accommodations, car rentals, and airline seats. (AeroLatinNews, 2018)

Improving the Experience of Corporate Travelers

Business travel may not be as prevalent now. But this pause makes it the perfect time to ask, how can you improve the overall business travel experience? Now that we know corporate travel anchors on personalization and convenience, it is important to utilize the available technologies to enhance the travel management process.

Moreover, travel managers should actively measure the satisfaction of business travelers to determine any other points for improvement. To do this, you might want to consider utilizing best-in-class business intelligence platforms or top-rated data analytics software .

  • Travelers say that their experience can be improved using real-time and accurate travel notifications (55%) and automatic flight rebooking (53%). (International Air Transport Association, 2019)
  • A business travel report revealed that 79% of business travel managers say that partnering with travel management companies can lead to more efficient processes and higher savings. (Egencia, 2018)
  • 80% of corporate travel managers say that having a system of measurement can benefit corporate travel initiatives. (ACTE, 2018)
  • 98% of corporate travel managers say that the most important metrics to measure are traveler satisfaction, policy compliance, and savings and expenditures. These are followed by booking statistics (96%) and traveler engagement (90%). (ACTE, 2018)

Points for Improvement for Airlines, According to Passengers

5. bleisure statistics.

“Work hard, play hard” is the mantra of modern businessmen and corporate employees. So, before 2020, it was not surprising that employees have made it a point to extend their trip for leisure or, at the very least, allocate time for fun activities during a trip. While this may not be a possibility with the ongoing pandemic, it is certainly a trend that companies should anticipate as travel restrictions and quarantine protocols relax. After all, it will allow your company to reinforce work-life balance for employees.

One thing to note about bleisure, however, is that this may also pose problems for companies when it comes to accountability and productivity. After all, administrators don’t know how their business travelers will spend their time during a trip. In case you feel like this might be an issue for you, you can always opt to use time tracking software solutions. Using these, business travelers may log their productive hours even while away from the office.

  • Bleisure trips have increased by 20% between 2016 and 2017. (Forbes, 2018)
  • Business travelers enjoy exploring new places and cultures (41%) more than meeting with clients and teams (17%). (Medium, 2017)
  • 80% of corporate travelers make sure to squeeze in fun activities while on a business trip. (National Car Rental, 2018)
  • Almost half of the corporate trips (40%) are extended for leisure. (Expedia Group, 2016)

Employee Expectations on Bleisure

Nowadays, business travelers are not shy about taking some time off while on a trip. After all, they deserve to have a bit of fun after working long hours out of the office. This is why they expect companies to cover bleisure in their travel policies.

  • 82% of travelers expect support from their superiors when taking a break on business trips. (National Car Rental, 2018)
  • Employees want their companies to consider bleisure for their travel policy. This means including a budget for extracurriculars (74%) and giving them the option to bring a guest on the trip (38%). Moreover, they want to be provided with the flexibility to extend their trips for leisure (34%) and given a budget for exercise and similar lifestyle activities during the trip (24%). (National Car Rental, 2018)
  • 37% said that leisure activities should have an equal length as business activities during a corporate trip. (Expedia Group Media Solutions, 2016)

online expense reporting

6. Statistics on the Modern Business Traveler

So, who is the modern corporate traveler? Statistics show that these travelers are mostly college-educated males who are older than 45 years old. They go on trips to attend conferences, build business partnerships, develop their careers, and find investors. Moreover, a handful of them spends a good fraction of their year traveling for business purposes.

  • Two-thirds of corporate travelers have a bachelor’s degree. Moreover, they have an average household income of $82,000. (PhocusWire, 2017)
  • 60% of business travelers are male. Meanwhile, 50% are older than 45 years old. (PhocusWire, 2017)
  • Employees go on business trips to attend conferences (62%), to meet with other companies for business planning (56%), for professional development (44%), to meet with coworkers in a different location (40%), and to pitch new products (30%). (Skift, 2016)
  • The top 10% of business travelers spend an average of 88 nights away from their homes per year. (Corporate Traveler, 2017)
  • 50% of business travelers from Europe go on trips alone. (Fly Aeolus, 2017)

The Millennial Business Traveler

Millennials are poised to comprise the majority of the workforce in the coming years. So, it only makes sense that we tackle how millennial employees view business travel and how they travel for business.

In the statistics we’ve culled, millennials see being sent on corporate trips as a job perk than an inconvenience. So much so that they even create reasons to travel for business. In fact, as of 2016, this generation has become the most active business travelers.

Another thing that sets them apart from previous generations is that while they prioritize cost-efficiency by avoiding expensive hotels and flights, they have a penchant for bleisure. This means they make it a point to balance each trip for both business and leisure.

  • 65% of business travelers who are millennials view corporate trips as a status symbol. (Forbes, 2018)
  • 56% of millennials create reasons to go on business trips. Moreover, 69% of them want to extend their trip for leisure. (Forbes, 2018)
  • Millennials go on 7.4 trips every year. (Skift, 2016)
  • Millennial business travelers in the tech industry prioritize cost-efficiency by opting for non-chain hotels. Also, 85% of them booked budget flights instead of choosing business class seats. (TravelPerk)
  • 78% of Millennials intentionally make time for leisure on business trips. (Business Wire, 2016)

Why Do Employees Go On Business Trips?

To attend conferences

To meet with other companies for business planning

For professional development

To meet with coworkers in a different location

To pitch new products

Source: Skift

7. Business Travel Policy Statistics

Business travelers represent your company. So, how they travel must be in line with your business values. This is why it is pertinent to have a corporate travel policy.

With this, you can set standards as to where they should stay, which airlines to pick, what car rentals to choose. It also allows you to set rules around what gifts may be purchased during the trip. In addition, travel policies can serve as a guideline for on-site spending.

However, not every company and business traveler realizes the value of a travel policy. So, many opt not to create one.

If you don’t have one, you might want to find a good travel management software to do it. As an alternative, you may also utilize reliable business process management solutions .

  • A business travel market report revealed that 40% of businesses still don’t have a travel policy. (Egencia, 2018)
  • 60% of corporate travelers say they don’t understand the need for a company travel policy. (TravelPerk, 2019)
  • Companies allow more than half of business travelers to book their trips however they prefer. (Egencia, 2018)
  • The factors that have a negative impact on business travel are the lack of formal processes and outdated booking systems. (Medium, 2017)

Corporate Travel Management Problems

Of course, simply having a travel policy is not a surefire way to maximize corporate trips. Its positive effect on your business travel processes depends on how you implement it. As you’ll see in the business travel statistics below, companies with travel policies encounter their fair share of problems.

Many of them have travel policies that are not in line with their company culture. Furthermore, not all of them can manage their policies effectively. Lastly, they have many employees who choose not to comply with the policy they have in place.

  • 27% of business travelers say that their company’s travel policy is ill-managed. (Medium, 2017)
  • 52% of employees say that their company’s travel policy only moderately aligns with their company culture. (Medium, 2017)
  • 69% of business travelers comply with corporate travel policies. (Lola.com, 2019)
  • Business travelers often book accommodations out-of-policy because they are not close enough to the destination (37%) or because they found a better hotel within their per diem (37%). (Egencia, 2018)

businesses don’t have a travel policy

8. Statistics on Business Travel Concerns

While there may be quite a lot of tools that you can use to optimize the business travel experience, the industry still has a long way to go. What’s more, with the pandemic, corporate travelers today are poised to encounter more obstacles and concerns that may impede them from being the most efficient they can be. For example, many of them still need to deal with delayed flights, long waiting times at the airport, as well as the hassle of lengthy security and safety processes.

  • The most common issues that business travelers face are flight delays (65.7%), flight cancellations (31.9%), and paying for travel expenses with a personal credit card (30.5%). These were followed by their company’s tool not having the best booking rates (29.3%) and lack of support in resolving issues while traveling (23%). (Skift + TripActions Business Travel Survey, 2020)
  • The most tiring aspects of business travel are the waiting time (27%) and having no direct flights (25%). In addition, travelers feel that the ride to and from the airport (22%), early or late departures/arrivals (16%), and the flight itself (10%) are also exhausting. (Fly Aeolous, 2017)
  • The longest waiting times for security screening at US Airports in 2019 are Newark Liberty International, NJ (23.1 minutes), George Bush International, TX (19.8 minutes), Miami International, FL (19.6 minutes), and Baltimore-Washington International (18.2 minutes). (Statista, 2019)

Source: Statista

9. Business Travel Tech Usage Statistics

Corporate travelers are a tech-savvy bunch. They rely heavily on the internet and their smartphones to manage their trips. Moreover, they have quite a knack for learning new technology. As a result, they have high expectations for their companies, travel agencies, airline companies, and similar firms when it comes to innovation.

For example, they want to have access to all-in-one applications that will help them consolidate and accelerate the travel planning process. In addition, they are looking forward to having voice-activated assistants for travel queries. As you’ll see below, these are only a few of the many things that they are expecting from the industry.

  • 51% of passengers around the world used a smartphone or other device to check in online. (IATA, 2019)
  • 27% of global passengers use an airline app to make last-minute purchases such as an additional bag, upgrade, or lounge access. (IATA, 2019)
  • The majority of modern travelers (57%) want to have a single application to manage their planning and booking needs. (Booking.com, 2018)
  • 57% of travelers want to have a mobile app that will let them track their luggage in real-time. (Booking.com, 2018)
  • 31% of travelers say they like the idea of using voice-activated assistants for their travel queries. (Booking.com, 2018)

FinTech Options for Business Travel

Traveling involves quite a lot of expenditures. Therefore, corporate travelers make a large number of transactions that need to be accounted for after each trip. However, manually tracking spending during a trip can be tedious and prone to errors.

As a result, many travelers are now relying on financial technology, such as expense management software and cashless transactions. These allow them to record their expenditures as they go and make sure that they remain within budget. With these, it is easier for companies to maximize their travel budget down to the last penny.

  • It takes an average of 40 hours per month for business travelers to reconcile their expenses and payment data. (Egencia, 2018)
  • 66.5% of companies use an online expense reporting platform with a mobile solution. (Business Travel News, 2020)
  • In light of the pandemic, 55.7% of corporate travel managers say that contactless payments have become a higher priority for their travel program. (Business Travel News, 2020)
  • 51% of corporate travelers believe that all business trip payments will be made via mobile devices in a few years. (Business Travel News Europe, 2017)

The Decline of Ride-Hailing Apps

Ride-sharing apps are undoubtedly cheaper and more convenient alternatives than car rental and chauffeur services. However, with the current pandemic, it seems less and less business travelers are willing to leverage them due to the risk of contracting the virus.

  • Ride-hailing companies make up 70.5% of all ground transportation receipts for business trips. (USA Today, 2018)
  • Usage of ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft dropped between 70% to 80% due to travel reductions brought about by the pandemic. (Forbes, 2020)
  • 39% of U.S. consumers who previously used ride-sharing plan to lessen their use of these services. (CarGurus, 2020)
  • However, the total number of ride-sharing services are expected to reach 71.3 million users in 2021. (eMarketer, 2020)

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Tech

Business travelers, while often trained to deal with unforeseen circumstances, want to come prepared. That is to say; they like visualizing how their travel plans are going to pan out well before the actual trip. To do this, they must familiarize themselves with their destination.

This is where augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) comes in. These technologies will allow them to get the lay of the land. So, it is easier to map out their itineraries and manage expectations for the trip. For more information about this tech, be sure to check out our list of VR statistics for 2019 .

  • Business travel data reveals that 1 in 5 travelers want to use AR so that it is easy to check out their destination before a trip. (Booking.com, 2018)
  • 81% of business travelers expect hotels to use virtual, reception-free check-in processes in the future. Meanwhile, 79% predict that using VR tech for accommodations will become the norm in the next 10 years. (Business Travel News Europe, 2017)

Artificial Intelligence

In a similar vein as practically every other industry, business travel is also being reshaped by artificial intelligence (AI). Many travel companies, managers, and corporate travelers rely on this tech to make their trips much more efficient. As you’ll see below, they find this very useful when it comes to monitoring employees as well as finding travel suggestions for planning.

  • The majority of corporate travel managers (82%) say that the use of AI for business travel is “very useful” or somewhat useful.” (Skift, 2018)
  • 55% of business travelers say they will allow employers to use GPS tracking to monitor their location during out-of-town trips. (Travelport, 2018)
  • 41% expect travel brands to use AI to provide them with significant travel suggestions. (Booking.com, 2018)

AI is useful for business travel

If you are looking for emerging trends in AI usage, we also have this list of AI statistics that you might find handy.

10. Impact of COVID-19 on Business Travel

With lockdowns and travel restrictions, COVID-19 has turned the business travel sector upside-down. Even as vaccination programs offer a glimmer of hope that business will resume soon, companies still worry about their liabilities for employees who travel without getting vaccinated.

  • At the outset of the pandemic, 98% of member countries of the Global Business Travel Association canceled international business tours, while 92% canceled all or most of their business trips. (GlobeNewswire, 2020)
  • International business travel experienced a sharp decline of -70% in 2020. (U.S. Travel Association, 2021)
  • In a survey, 24% of respondents said that their company is considering returning to domestic travel in one to three months. (Global Business Travel Association, 2020)
  • On the other hand, only 6% of respondents said that their company is considering returning to international business travel in one to three months. (Global Business Travel Association, 2020)
  • 57% of business travelers are considering taking a trip in the next six months. However, corporate travel and meeting planners are concerned with their liability if employees travel without being vaccinated. (MMGY Global, 2020)
  • Only 6% of people miss traveling for business, compared to 48% who miss travel to spend time with loved ones. (Airbnb, 2021)
  • Moreover, as of December 2020, 21% of travel managers report that they are not willing to travel for work. (Global Business Travel Association, 2020)
  • When the pandemic is over, 36% of people expect to travel less for work compared to pre-COVID conditions. (Airbnb, 2021)

Source: GBTA 2020

What Do These Business Travel Facts Mean for Your Company?

The pandemic has changed not only the number of flights worldwide but also the entire face of business travel. But with some signs of bouncing back in the years to come, it is hoped that things will soon be better for one of the industries that were deeply hit by the pandemic. Until then, it is important for companies to find ways on how to carry out business travel in these challenging times.

After all, while it may be convenient to connect with people using video conferencing and similar modes of communication, we have to admit that these are not enough. Getting your message across to customers, colleagues, and potential partners is only half the purpose of these business interactions. If you truly want to build rapport, develop trust, and ensure coordination. Undoubtedly, face-to-face meetings are still the way to go. This is why business travel remains a crucial part of many industries.

As you have already read in our article, corporate travel is expensive, and it is getting more so every year. However, when these are planned thoroughly and executed properly, you can open more opportunities for your company. It can even help you attract the best talents for your company.

Just be sure to take the time to understand the needs of your business travelers. This way, you can have a better idea of how you can improve the experience for them and maximize their participation in each trip.

To sum up, we hope that our list of business travel statistics was able to help you get a better idea of the state of the industry as well as where it is headed. With this data, preparing for future business travel efforts should be much simpler.

Key Insights

  • Pandemic Impact : Business travel experienced a significant decline due to COVID-19, with global market recovery not expected until 2027.
  • Spending Statistics : Corporate travel spending is costly, with companies averaging $1,425 per employee per trip and $111.7 billion annually on business travel.
  • Travel Benefits : Business travel is seen as crucial for company growth, with a positive ROI and a significant impact on employee job satisfaction.
  • Bleisure Trend : A notable portion of business trips are extended for leisure, with 80% of travelers incorporating fun activities during their trips.
  • Traveler Demographics : Modern business travelers are typically well-educated, middle-aged males with higher household incomes, traveling for conferences, business planning, and professional development.
  • Travel Concerns : Common issues include flight delays, long waiting times, and managing travel expenses, especially amid pandemic-related travel restrictions.
  • Tech Usage : Business travelers rely heavily on technology, preferring mobile apps for planning and booking, and expecting innovations like AI and AR to enhance their travel experiences.
  • How has COVID-19 affected business travel? The COVID-19 pandemic drastically reduced business travel, with a 70% decline in international business trips and a significant reduction in domestic travel. The global market is not expected to recover until 2027.
  • What is the average cost of a business trip per employee? On average, companies spend $1,425 per employee for each business trip. This includes expenses for lodging, airfare, meals, and car rentals.
  • Why is business travel considered important for companies? Business travel is crucial for fostering strong relationships with clients and partners, yielding a positive return on investment, and contributing to company growth. It also impacts employee job satisfaction and is seen as a job perk by many.
  • What is the “bleisure” trend in business travel? “Bleisure” refers to combining business and leisure during a trip. Many business travelers extend their trips for leisure activities, with 80% incorporating fun activities and 40% extending trips for leisure purposes.
  • Who are the typical modern business travelers? Modern business travelers are generally college-educated males over 45 years old, with an average household income of $82,000. They travel for conferences, business planning, professional development, and to meet with colleagues or pitch new products.
  • What are the main concerns of business travelers? The primary concerns include flight delays, long waiting times, flight cancellations, and the hassle of managing travel expenses. The pandemic has added concerns about health and safety during travel.
  • How do business travelers use technology? Business travelers heavily rely on technology, using mobile apps for planning and booking, and expecting innovations like AI, AR, and real-time notifications to enhance their travel experience. They also use expense management software for tracking expenditures.
  • What impact did the pandemic have on corporate travel spending? The pandemic caused a significant decline in corporate travel spending, with a loss of $820 billion globally. U.S. airlines reported a 90% reduction in business travel in Q2 2020, resulting in a loss of $162 billion for the U.S. economy.
  • How do companies manage business travel expenses? Companies often use budgeting and accounting software to manage business travel expenses. This includes tools for tracking lodging, airfare, meals, car rentals, and incidental expenses to ensure cost-efficiency.
  • What are the future expectations for business travel? While the industry is expected to recover gradually, business travel will likely be reshaped by new technologies and increased health and safety measures. Companies and travelers will prioritize flexibility, hygiene, and cost-efficiency in their future travel plans.

References:

  • 10 fun facts for business travel road warriors. (2017, July 31). Corporate Traveller .
  • 2018 airfare study – The best time to buy flights, based on 917 million airfares. (2018, March 21). CheapAir .
  • 91 business travel statistics (Some never before released). (2019, June 6). TravelPerk .
  • ACTE Research. (2020, January 28). Quality management in business travel. BCD Travel .
  • Advances in procurement technology and business travel. (2018, November 19). Egencia .
  • Baker, M. (2019, April 18). 5 reasons your corporate travel policy needs regular review. Lola.com .
  • Booking.com reveals 8 travel predictions for 2019. (2018, October 18). Booking.com .
  • Business travellers expect to be cashless by 2027. (2017, September 28). BTN Europe .
  • CarGurus U.S. COVID-19 sentiment study. (2020, April). CarGurus Dealer Resource Center .
  • Coronavirus poll results. (2020, December 17). Global Business Travel Association – GBTA .
  • Cramer-Flood, E. (2020, September 22). Uber and Lyft users and sales will decline dramatically this year. Insider Intelligence – eMarketer .
  • CWT research: Two-thirds of travelers pick window over aisle; 52% prefer missed flight over lost luggage. (2019, April 30). CWT .
  • CWT™ Research. (2019, June 26). RoomIt by CWT™ research reveals key differences in business traveler hotel preferences by country. CWT .
  • Deane, S. (2020, May 15). Over 60 business travel statistics (2021). Stratos Jet Charters, Inc .
  • Ferreira, M. (2018, December 12). The most expensive airports for business travellers. FairFX Blog .
  • Getting back to business: Navigating the safe return of meetings and their role in economic recovery. (2020). U.S. Travel Association .
  • Ghijs, S. (2017). The business flight travel survey statistics. Fly Aeolus .
  • Global business travel industry. (2021, April). Reportlinker.com .
  • Goldstein, M. (2018, June 28). Millennials say business travel is rough, give us more. Forbes .
  • Goldstein, M. (2020, July 27). What is the future for Uber and Lyft after the pandemic? Forbes .
  • How innovative companies travel. (2017). TravelPerk .
  • IATA global passenger survey 2018 highlights. (2018). IATA .
  • IATA global passenger survey 2019 highlights. (2019). IATA .
  • Infographic – The average cost of business travel. (n.d.). Certify .
  • Jet, J. (2018, October 25). Are Bleisure trips becoming more common? This study says yes. Forbes .
  • Jovic, D. (2021, January 11). 42 business travel statistics you should know about in 2021. SmallBizGenius .
  • Kaki, M. R. (2020, March 25). A comprehensive guide to building corporate travel policy. Fyle .
  • Kemmis, S. (2020, August 24). Analysis: How have hotel prices changed in 2020 vs. 2019? NerdWallet .
  • Lodging industry trends 2015. (2015). American Hotel & Lodging Association – AHLA .
  • London ranked joint 10th most expensive location in the world for business trips. (2019, April 17). ECA International .
  • May, K. (2021, February 2). Business travel expected to make full recovery by 2025. PhocusWire .
  • Mazareanu, E. (2020, November 6). Topic: Ridesharing services in the U.S. Statista .
  • McCarthy, N. (2019, August 19). Infographic: TSA security: The longest waits at U.S. airports. Statista Infographics .
  • McDonald, M. (2017, July 19). New GBTA report highlights huge impact of business travel on the US economy. PhocusWire .
  • Menze, J. (2018, August 6). Airbnb for work bookings triple, drive “significant” growth for homes business. PhocusWire .
  • Mezi. (2017, July 13). The changing landscape of business travel. Medium .
  • More than 40 percent of business trips are extended for leisure purposes. (2016, December 7). Expedia Group Media Solutions .
  • The most expensive US destinations to rent a car 2020. (2020, August 6). Cheap Car Rental . https://www.cheapcarrental.net/press/summer2020.html
  • National car rental 2018 state of business travel survey fact sheet. (2018). National Car Rental .
  • New GBTA research shows coronavirus continues to impact the business travel industry. (2020, March 10). Global Business Travel Association – GBTA .
  • Perrotta, A. (2020, November 5). Technology trend watch. Business Travel News .
  • Pitrelli, M. B. (2020, September 23). Many thought airfares would spike in the age of coronavirus. That’s not happening yet. CNBC .
  • Qui, S., & Freed, J. (2020, October 15). China’s domestic flights in September top pre-pandemic levels. Skift .
  • Reid, C. (2020, December 16). Travel in 2021 will be better and worse than you think. MMGY Global .
  • Report: 2021 will be the year of meaningful travel. (2021, January 28). Airbnb .
  • ReportLinker. (2020, November 19). Global business travel industry. GlobeNewswire News Room .
  • Reuters. (2020, March 11). Business travel sector to lose $820 billion in revenue on coronavirus hit, industry group says. CNBC .
  • Sanchez, M. (2017, October 11). Business travel’s influence on employee retention, recruitment and results. Global Business Travel Association – GBTA .
  • Sheivachman, A. (2016, October 27). Millennials are now the most frequent business travelers. Skift .
  • Skift Research, & McKinsey & Company. (2020, September). The travel industry turned upside down. McKinsey & Company .
  • Skift, & Turkish Airlines. (2018). The 2018 Skift global business traveler report. Skift .
  • Small business owners realize benefits in taking vacations, but still struggle to unplug, Marriott rewards premier business credit card survey reveals. (2016, June 14). Business Wire .
  • Statista Research Department. (2021, February 18). COVID-19 impact on business trips to U.S. 2021. Statista .
  • Travelport survey shows business travelers most willing to allow employer tracking. (2018). Travelport .
  • Travelport: Over half of business travelers willing to pay for extras. (2018, August 15). AeroLatinNews .
  • Trejos, N. (2018, May 2). These are the most expensed restaurants, hotels, airlines among business travelers. USA TODAY .
  • TripActions, & Skift. (2019, October 24). New report: The state of business travel 2020. Skift .
  • TripActions, & Skift. (2019, October 28). New report: The state of business travel 2020. Skift .
  • U.S. business travel. (2017, May 20). Bureau of Transportation Statistics .
  • Updated business travel IRS per diem rates have been announced for 2020. (2020, September 30). Maxwell, Locke & Ritter – MLR .
  • Weekly coronavirus impact on travel expenditures in the U.S. (2021, January 22). U.S. Travel Association .
  • Weir, M. (2019, November 5). How much airfare in the US costs today compared to 10 years ago. Business Insider .
  • Whatman, P. (2021, March 30). 60+ fascinating business travel statistics for 2021. Spendesk .
  • Which passengers make the most money for airlines? (2020, October 7). Investopedia .
  • Wood, D. (2020, February 25). REPORT: Companies spend $111.7 billion annually on business travel. TravelPulse .
  • YOUNIQUE: Personalized marketing index, the new travel experience. (2017). Accenture .

James Anthony

By James Anthony

A senior FinancesOnline writer on SaaS and B2B topics, James Anthony passion is keeping abreast of the industry’s cutting-edge practices (other than writing personal blog posts on why Firefly needs to be renewed). He has written extensively on these two subjects, being a firm believer in SaaS to PaaS migration and how this inevitable transition would impact economies of scale. With reviews and analyses spanning a breadth of topics from software to learning models, James is one of FinancesOnline’s most creative resources on and off the office.

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100+ business travel statistics (some never before released)

Sofia Bogunovic

See how to save your company time and money on business travel

How the coronavirus pandemic affected business travel.

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Business travel was hit hard by the 2020 health crisis

  • International mobility decreased by 65% due to COVID-19 - the lowest rate of travel since the introduction of the Boeing 707 in 1958 which marked the start of the Jet Age ( McKinsey ).
  • Following 10 years of predictable growth, the losses sustained by corporate travel in 2020 were 10 times larger than those seen after 9/11 and the 2008 recession ( Global Business Travel Association ).
  • It’s estimated the travel industry will lose $820 billion of corporate travel spending due to the coronavirus pandemic ( CNBC ).
  • Reduced spending on travel cost the U.S. economy $162 billion in 2020 alone ( U.S. Travel Association ).
  • 2020 saw two-thirds of flights put out of action, and 18 airlines declared bankruptcy (McKinsey).
  • While business travel was down by 90% at the height of the pandemic, some companies saw work travel return to about 80% of pre-pandemic levels when restrictions eased over the summer (McKinsey).
  • In 2020 hotels were at 29% occupancy worldwide, compared with 72% occupancy over the same period in 2019 (McKinsey).
  • In 2020 travel managers reported annual travel spending was only 5-15% of the previous year’s totals (McKinsey).
  • Research has revealed that, on average, it takes 5 years for airline services to return to normal levels after unexpected events like the pandemic ( IATA ).

Never fear—business travel is bouncing back

  • After losses of 52% in 2020, corporate travel is predicted to generate $842 billion in spending in 2021 ( GBTA ).
  • 30% of employees would accept roles with a lower salary if the position offered more opportunities to travel ( Booking.com for Business ).
  • 64% of workers believe in-person contact is vital for building trust, with 53% stating they have more faith in face-to-face sales situations than online prospectors ( TravelPerk ).
  • 53% of survey participants believe their industry requires face-to-face meetings. HR teams, in particular, think that in-person contact is crucial, with 67% of respondents stating their sector would collapse if meetings were forced online ( TravelPerk ).
  • Virtual meetings may not reap the best results, with 60% of employees claiming they prepare more for face-to-face meetings than online alternatives ( TravelPerk ).
  • For every dollar they spend on business travel, organizations reap an extra $12.50 in revenue ( TravelPerk ).
  • The business travel market is expected to recover and hit $829.5 billion by 2027 ( ReportLinker ).
  • Almost 100% of corporate travelers enjoy the time they spend traveling for work ( NationalCar.com ).
  • 90% of corporate travelers want to carry on taking work trips for the duration of their career ( SavvySleeper ).
  • While it’s hard to say for sure when business travel will return to pre-pandemic levels, we’re seeing some interesting domestic recovery trends already. In Europe, domestic travel in Germany was at a low point back in April 2020 at only 8%. However, by September, this reached 71% of pre-pandemic levels! Something similar happened in Spain, where domestic travel was as low as 1% in April and rose to 45% in September when the restrictions were relaxed (TravelPerk proprietary data).
  • Business travelers started traveling domestically before international travel resumed. U.S. business travelers are leading the charge at 47% recovery as of January 2021. That’s followed by Spain at 25% domestic recovery, and Germany at 12% (TravelPerk proprietary data).
  • Domestic business travel in China is already bouncing back - in fact, only 2% of respondents to this McKinsey report had taken a domestic business trip before May 2020, whereas 25% of respondents had taken one by August of the same year.
  • According to our own survey, 50% of companies have implemented new corporate travel policies for the next normal ( TravelPerk ).
  • In a 2020 survey, 30% of participants believed their organization would spend 30% of their annual travel budgets on client meetings in 2021, increasing 6% on 2019 spending ( Statista ).
  • The proportion of female business travelers is growing. In the USA, 47% of business travelers are now women ( CreditDonkey ).

Is business travel on the increase in your team?

You'll travel a little differently than you did before.

  • Over half of business travelers surveyed said that travel restrictions put them off booking arrangements for fear of not having them refunded. More flexible cancellation policies will continue to be key ( GlobalData ).
  • Being able to reach providers to change or cancel flights easily (70%)
  • Having access to security fast lanes (69%)
  • Maintaining social distancing through spacious seating on flights (66%).
  • Your travel planning windows will be shorter. You’ll look for tickets and accommodation closer to your departure date than you did before. Data from our own platform reveals that searches for trips less than 6 days away are now almost equal to searches for trips between 7 and 30 days away. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the vast majority of trips were searched for and planned 7 to 30 days in advance ( TravelPerk ).
  • Rail travel will boom over air travel and is already leading the path to recovery. Our own data shows that 80% of domestic trips in Germany are being booked on trains ( TravelPerk ). Furthermore, nearly 50% of passengers now find reducing their carbon emissions and sustainability more important than they did before COVID-19 ( GlobalData ).
  • Airfares could rise by as much as 54% in a post-pandemic world. This will be due to the growing need to keep planes at a higher standard of cleanliness than before, more contactless solutions, and 24-hour service at airports. Travel managers will therefore need to find ways to optimize their business travel spending and consider savings as a significant part of their company’s travel policy ( BBC ).

Future-proof your corporate travel management

The cost of business travel.

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  • In 2021 the United States led global spending on corporate travel with a bill of $322.42 billion ( World Bank ).
  • The cost of the average American business trip is $1293. While domestic trips average at $990 per itinerary, for international ventures, the number rises to $2525 ( Runzheimer and Expert Market ).
  • Domestic flights within the U.S are increasing in cost, with roundtrips averaging around $330 compared to $235 at the start of 2022 ( Travel Pulse ).
  • In 2020 the breakdown of spending for business trips was 34% for accommodation, 27% for air tickets, 27% for meal costs, and 19% for car rental ( Travel Pulse ).
  • In 2022 the IRS's recommended per diem rate for meals and other incidental costs for US business travelers was set at $59, and the average cost for accommodation was set at $96 per night ( Federal Pay ).

The US is getting expensive, like Switzerland

  • In a 2019 survey, New York City took the top spot for the most expensive city for corporate travel, with per diem spending averaging $799. Coming in second was Zurich, with an average spend of $661 per day and closely followed by Washington DC ($621) and Paris ($617) ( ECA International ).
  • In Asia, Hong Kong came in first as the most expensive city for business travelers, with the average daily spend coming in at $515 (ECA International).
  • Joined only by Paris and Reykjavik, the United States and Switzerland are home to 8 of the world's top 10 most expensive cities for corporate travel. Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC, and San Francisco made the list for the USA, while Geneva, Zurich, Bern, and Basel made up the Swiss contributions ( ECA International ).
  • Perhaps unsurprisingly, Geneva was ranked top for most expensive business trip destinations in Europe in 2019, with other Swiss cities also featuring heavily in the top 6 (ECA International).

Further reading recommended:

Tech innovators and unicorns travel differently, disruptive tools, technology and trends.

  • The number of Airbnb bookings among tech companies doubled from 2017 to 2018 (TravelPerk).
  • Millennial business travelers employed by tech companies prefer non-chain hotels and low-cost air carriers. 85% of them booked low-cost airlines in 2018 (TravelPerk).
  • 74% of millennial travelers have stayed in a rental property while on a business trip compared to 38% of Generation X travelers and 20% of baby boomers. 44% of millennials stated they preferred staying in Airbnb-style rentals while traveling for work ( Hipmunk ).
  • Tech travelers break with company policy less than those in the consulting industry. On average, tech companies report 13% of itineraries are not technically compliant with travel policies compared to 16% from consulting firms (TravelPerk).
  • European tech companies have unusual travel hubs: Amsterdam, Stockholm, Brighton, Lisbon, and Copenhagen are among their top destinations (TravelPerk).
  • When surveyed, 98% of travel managers claim the most significant metrics are policy compliance, traveler experience, and expenditure ( ACTE ).

Why and how business travelers travel

Most corporate travelers travel just once per year, predominantly to visit clients.

  • 30% of European corporate travelers fly once per month. 62% travel once per year. 5% travel 21 to 40 times per year ( Fly Aeolus ).
  • 44% of European corporate travelers fly to visit with a customer. 32% fly to visit another company office in a different city (Fly Aeolus).
  • In the USA, personal cars are used for 81% of business trips ( United States Department of Transportation ).
  • Group business travel is more common than you might think. 50% of European corporate business trips are for parties of two or more (Fly Aeolus).
  • 26% of European business travelers report a direct connection as the top factor influencing their decision when selecting flights. Other primary considerations were price (19%), convenience with existing schedules (23%), and airport location (20%) (Fly Aeolus).

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Business travel industry trends and impact

There’s a push to measure the roi of travel.

  • Companies realize $12.50 in incremental revenue for every dollar invested in business travel ( Oxford Economics ).
  • An estimated 28% of current business would be lost if business travel were suddenly cut off (Oxford Economics).
  • However, only 13% of corporate travel managers actively measure trip success rate and trip ROI ( ACTE ).

Travel management metrics need improving

  • 80% of corporate travel managers believe that a standard system of measurement would positively impact corporate travel ( ACTE ).
  • 81% of travel managers measure booking statistics like advance bookings, hotel attachment, and booking issues (ACTE) .
  • Only 37% of travel managers measure travel engagement (how frequently travelers interact with the TMC or in-house travel manager) (ACTE) .
  • 94% of corporate travel managers rely on a TMC or travel agency for reporting (ACTE) .
  • Only 61% of corporate travel managers use traveler surveys as part of their travel management metrics. These surveys can help gather data on traveler satisfaction and trip success (ACTE) .
  • 4 out of 5 business travel managers believe enacting a system of metrics could benefit their corporate travel program (ACTE) .

Self-booking and mobile bookings are growing

  • 59% of U.S. business travelers always book their hotel themselves and 30% usually book their hotel themselves ( Statista ).
  • In another survey, 69% of business travelers report that they book travel themselves regardless of the type of booking ( Skift ).
  • While desktop bookings still reign supreme, 79% of corporate travelers have completed a business trip booking on their mobile device ( LCT ).
  • Business travelers love live chat. 79% of travel industry businesses saw an increase in revenue when they provided live chat (LCT).

Traveler satisfaction and concerns

What travelers want.

  • 80% of frequent business travelers feel that they deserve to make time for fun activities during most of their business trips. And fortunately, 79% of them feel that their boss agrees ( NationalCar ).
  • 86% of business travelers say that they know how to successfully manage their personal lives while away from home ( NationalCar ).
  • 61% of travel managers have a system in place to measure their traveler’s satisfaction ( ACTE ).
  • 22% of business travelers would like travel suppliers to remember their personal details for the future ( Accenture ).
  • 67% of travelers would like travel companies to make recommendations based on their previous preferences ( Accenture ).
  • Over 50% of travelers would appreciate real-time notifications and for airlines to rebook their flights automatically ( International Air Transport Association ).
  • Post lockdown, the most significant factor for 70% of business travelers when booking airfares is flexibility. Other key variants are onboard sanitation (63%), flying direct (61%), and hygiene protocols between flights ( Skift Research & McKinsey ).

What business travelers are concerned about

  • Flight delays are the leading concern among U.S. business travelers. The second concern is the dreaded middle seat ( Statista ).
  • European corporate travelers rank the most tiring aspects of business travel like so: 27% say waiting time is the most tiring while 25% choose no direct flights, 22% say riding to and from the airport, 16% say early departure times or late arrivals and 10% say the flight itself ( Fly Aeolus ).
  • What is the number one way to improve the traveler experience? 35% of European corporate travelers report that having to spend less time at the airport is the number one thing they wish they could improve. 23% would like to spend less time on the way to the airport. 26% want better availability of direct flights and the remaining 16% want greater flexibility with their schedule (Fly Aeolus).

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Millennial business travel statistics

Millennials are the most frequent business travelers.

  • Millennials take an average of 7.4 trips per year ( Skift ).
  • Baby boomers take an average of 6.3 trips per year (Skift).
  • 75% of millennial business travelers think that traveling for work is a perk ( Hilton Hotels & Reports Survey ).
  • 65% of millennial business travelers see it as a status symbol ( Hilton Hotels & Reports Survey ).
  • 34% of surveyed employees revealed they have their most innovative ideas while traveling for work. When analyzing the data from 16-24-year-old respondents, this number jumps to 53% ( TravelPerk ).

Most millennials are happy with their ability to self-book...but are they using company approved sites?

  • 72% of millennial business travelers are satisfied with their ability to book business travel on a third-party site ( Statista ).
  • Hotel bookings are extremely fractured. 28% of millennial business travelers book hotels directly on a hotel’s website. 10% book hotels through an OTA like Expedia. 7% book with a third-party reseller like Kayak. 14% book with a travel agent ( Skift ).

Millennials value free time and leisure time during business travel

  • 43% of millennials have extended their business travel trip for leisure ( Statista ).
  • 78% of millennials have purposefully carved out personal time during a business trip ( Forbes ).
  • 57% of companies have a policy in place for employees who wish to extend their business trip with vacation time ( Forbes ).
  • Millennial men are twice as likely to believe they should avoid having fun on a business trip, 41% versus 20% ( NationalCar ).

Business versus leisure travel statistics

Bleisure is climbing.

  • Bleisure trips grew 20% from 2016 to 2017 ( Forbes ).
  • More than 40% of business trips are extended for leisure purposes ( Expedia ).
  • Bleisure travelers are typically frequent business travelers: 32% of bleisure travelers travel for work once or twice per month (Expedia) .
  • Business trips for conferences or conventions are the most likely to become bleisure trips. 43% of trips for these types of events will turn into bleisure trips, while 24% of trips for team offsite meetings and 9% of sales trips will be a bleisure trip (Expedia) .
  • 84% of bleisure trips that are less than three days take place in one city, while 20% of bleisure trips that are longer than three days take place in more than one city (Expedia) .
  • Why do business trips turn into bleisure trips? 66% percent of bleisure travelers say it's because they like the destination and want to explore it. 51% said they turn business trips into bleisure trips based on the proximity to the weekend (Expedia) .

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The proportion of business travel spend versus leisure travel spend continues to grow

  • Each year, the proportion of business travel spend grows by about .05%. In 2017, the most recent available year, business travel accounted for 30% of all travel spend in the U.S. ( Statista ).
  • While business travelers typically make up just 12% of all flyers, they are twice as profitable to airlines because they are loyal and use frequent flier programs, buy amenities like extra legroom, and also book more flights with less notice ( Investopedia ).

First-class travel isn’t affected by the purpose of the trip

  • Each year 19% of U.S. travelers will board a first-class flight for leisure. Meanwhile, 20% of US travelers will fly first class for a business trip in the span of one year ( Statista and Statista )

Rogue bookings

Do business travelers comply.

  • 60% of companies have a corporate travel policy in place, and 50% of companies allow travelers to book using any method they choose ( Lodging ).
  • Hotels are most frequently booked outside of the approved channel. 46% of business travelers have booked hotels on consumer sites because they found a better price (Lodging) .
  • 52% of employees feel their organization’s corporate travel policy moderately aligns with the company’s wider culture ( Medium, 2017 ).
  • Only 69% of business travelers feel they can comply with their organization’s corporate travel policies ( Lola.com , 2019 ).
  • Using a travel management tool can help improve compliance with corporate travel policies. An advanced booking solution can assist organizations in raising their compliance to 100% through powerful automation systems.

Train Plane Travel

Make business travel simpler. Forever.

  • See our platform in action . Trusted by thousands of companies worldwide, TravelPerk makes business travel simpler to manage with more flexibility, full control of spending with easy reporting, and options to offset your carbon footprint.
  • Find hundreds of resources on all things business travel, from tips on traveling more sustainably, to advice on setting up a business travel policy, and managing your expenses. Our latest e-books and blog posts have you covered.
  • Never miss another update. Stay in touch with us on social for the latest product releases, upcoming events, and articles fresh off the press.

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Business Travel and Wellness Survey Results

Online Booking Stats Scaled

60+ online travel booking statistics & trends

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20 Employee retention statistics that might surprise you

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Business Travel Statistics [2007-2024]: Market & Trend Data Analysis

Business travel is on the rise. Companies still see it as essential and are willing to spend on in-person collaboration. This report unpacks the findings from our business travel statistics research.

business travel accommodation statistics

In many industries, travel is a regular necessity for business. Even in the post-COVID age of telecommuting and Zoom meetings, companies are willing to spend significant amounts on travel for in-person collaboration.

Why is this the case? How much is spent on business travel? Where does that money go? What are the trends in the business travel industry? Who travels for business, where are they going, and how long are they staying? These are all key questions for understanding the business travel industry.

I’ve dug deep into data from key sources in the industry, like the Global Business Travel Association, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and Expedia’s Bleisure Travel Trends Report. After extensive in-depth research, I extracted several key findings.

For decades, business travel looked very much the same. As younger people and women are traveling more for business, and as more people are adding leisure time to their business trips, the landscape of business travel is changing dramatically.

Key Business Travel Statistics

  • Over $1 trillion is spent annually on business travel worldwide.
  • Business professionals expect 25% more revenue generated from in-person collaboration over virtual meetings.
  • China has the highest business travel spending at $360 billion in 2022.
  • The largest percentage of business travel spending goes towards lodgings, with meals coming in second.
  • The average business traveler is a 42-year-old male, but that is changing as more young people and more women are going on corporate trips than ever before.

Business Travel Spending Statistics

In 2019 (before the pandemic), the business travel industry accounted for $1.4 trillion in global spending. While 2022 spending was still lagging due to pandemic recovery ($1.03 trillion), the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) predicts business travel spending will surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2024 and continue to grow to $1.8 trillion in 2027.

With so much being spent, the business travel market is a significant economic force. Not only does corporate travel inject money into the tourism industry and local economies, it also leads to improved productivity and profits. Even in the world of Zoom and telecommuting, the need for business trips isn’t going away anytime soon.

It’s telling that companies carve out a significant budget for corporate travel spending. Clearly, there is an expected return on investment for companies to be willing to make the spend, especially since the average business trip is often more expensive than leisure travel.

According to the ACCOR Business of Travel Report , business professionals expect 25% more revenue generated from traveling for in-person collaboration over virtual meetings .

It’s worth understanding how much is spent on business travel, where that money goes, and when companies decide business travel is worth it.

Here are the key business travel spending statistics to understand the economic impacts of the business travel industry.

Business Travel Spending by Country

Global business travel spending is highly concentrated in a few countries with industrial economies, with China and the United States far outpacing the rest of the world.

Here are the top 15 countries for business travel spending according to the 2023 Business Travel Index Outlook from the GBTA.

It’s no surprise that, with a few exceptions, these same countries are also the highest ranked for GDP. Interestingly, Russia is the only country in the top ten for GDP that doesn’t appear on this list.

Business travelers are almost universally traveling within or between these 15 countries.

The rest of the world combined only adds $207 billion to the total global business travel spending. As with many other metrics, this shows how much the world’s economic activity and wealth is concentrated within a few regions. These 15 countries make up only about half the global population, but they account for 85% of the global business travel spending.

Business Travel Spending Categories

Business travel can be broken into several spending categories to see where companies are spending the most money. The chart below shows the total 2022 spending across five categories according to the GBTA .

It’s easy to assume that airfare would be the leading expense for business trips. In reality, it’s only third on the list after lodging and meals. Lodging is the largest spending by far for corporate travel, accounting for more than double the amount of any other category.

Business Travel Spending vs Leisure Travel Spending

While business travel is a large industry, leisure travel is even bigger. The table below shows total travel spending divided between business and leisure travel according to Statista .

On average, only 15.2% of travel spending comes from business travel. 84.8% is from leisure travel.

However, that breakdown is not consistent across all travel industries. Hotels, dining, and tourist activities generally make much more money from leisure travelers, but many airlines actually earn a larger percentage of revenue from business travelers.

According to Investopedia , only 12% of airline passengers are business travelers. However, because business travelers pay higher rates, more often book last-minute, and are more likely to fly first class, they can account for up to 75% of airline profits.

While many leisure travelers try to save as much money on airfare as possible, corporations are often more likely to spend extra for upgraded business travel comfort.

Research from Business Traveler found that 33% of international business travel flights are in premium class, and 13% of domestic business travel flights are in premium class.

While leisure travel is significantly larger, business travel spending is still a critical component of the travel industry.

Business Traveler Demographics

Traditionally, the majority of business travelers fit within a very distinct demographic. The average business traveler is a 42-year-old man.

But times are changing. Younger people and women are traveling more for business, and these trends will likely change what business travel looks like in the future.

Here are the key business travel statistics relating to traveler demographics.

Business Traveler Age

Generally, people traveling for business are more likely to be in more advanced roles in their career, and people in leadership roles often travel more than others.

Business Travelers by Age

The vast majority of business travelers are in their 30s and 40s—people who are in the stage of working up the ladder in their career. The average age for business travelers is 42.

However, according to market research by Skift , the average age of business travelers is gradually shifting downward, and more younger people are traveling for work.

This will have dramatic affects on the business travel market, as younger travelers prefer Uber over taxis, vacation rentals over hotels, and are less likely to make booking decisions based on travel loyalty programs.

Business Traveler Gender

Historically, corporate travelers have dominantly been men. A Bureau of Transportation Statistics report found that 77% of business travelers that year were men.

However, that trend is beginning to change. The table below compares 2001 gender breakdown with updated 2022 statistics for business travelers.

Gender Difference in Business Travel Over Time

In 2022, 37% of business trips were made by women. That’s up 14% from the 2021 figures.

As workplaces around the world make slow progress toward gender equality, women will take more business trips than ever before.

Interestingly, while business travelers are much more likely to be men, the opposite is true for leisure travel, according to research by Forbes . The table below shows a comparison of the gender breakdown in business travel and leisure travel.

Gender Difference in Leisure and Business Travel

64% of travelers on leisure trips are women.

The demographics for business and leisure travel are not aligned. Where the average business traveler is a 42-year-old man, the average leisure traveler is a 47-year-old woman.

Clearly, women are more apt to travel than men outside the workplace, and the only reason that men are more likely to travel for work is due to overall gender inequality in business. It will be interesting to see if women surpass men in business travel as companies move towards gender equality in workplaces.

Yearly Business Travel Trends

As with most industries, business travel has been growing steadily. As companies continue to grow globally, international collaboration will become more important, and business travel will become even more essential.

The table below shows the global business travel spending over time from 2007 to 2022 according to Statista .

Prior to COVID-19, the only recent drop in business travel spending occurred in 2009, during the recession. From 2008 to 2009, business travel spending dropped 5.7%.

Over the next 10 years, business travel spending increased by 63% and peaked at $1408 billion in 2019. This progress was followed by a massive drop, as the COVID-19 pandemic put a damper on travel.

From 2019 to 2020, business travel spending dropped 53% due to pandemic travel bans.

While the travel industry as a whole has recovered quickly from the pandemic, business travel has had a slower return to pre-pandemic levels according to Deloitte Insights .

Still, growth is on the way. Global business travel spending is expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2024 and continue to grow.

“Bleisure” Statistics

In recent years there has been an increase in business travelers participating in leisure activities or asking to add extra time to their business trips to enjoy free time at their destination. This growing form of business tourism has earned the nickname “bleisure.”

Bleisure trips should become a more important consideration for corporate travel managers when designing a company’s travel policy. When business travelers spend more time as tourists at their destination, they are more likely to see corporate trips as a perk of their job rather than a burden.

The Expedia Group conducted a survey of over 2,500 bleisure travelers worldwide , and I’ve unpacked the key statistics from their report that you need to know.

Bleisure Trip Length

Since bleisure involves combining tourism, downtime, and relaxation with business travel, no two trips are the same. There are definite trends in the bleisure market though.

The first important trend is that bleisure is becoming increasingly popular. On average, 60% of business trips include time added on for leisure.

The length of a business trip is important for travelers deciding whether to add on leisure time to corporate travel. The table below shows a breakdown of bleisure travelers based on the length of stay for business.

Business Trip Length

The large majority of business trips that turn into bleisure trips are 2 or 3 nights . 50% of survey respondents said they were most likely to extend business travel for leisure if they had to stay 2-3 nights. This time only includes the business travel portion of the trip, and most people adding leisure time into a trip will spend several extra days.

When adding leisure onto corporate travel, people spend 3.9 working days and 2.9 leisure days on average. That means leisure time can nearly double the length of a trip.

Bleisure Travel Destination Statistics

International business trips and domestic business trips are equally likely to become bleisure travel. 51% of domestic business trips are bleisure trips, and 52% of international trips include bleisure.

The destination also matters for business travelers when considering adding leisure time to corporate travel. The table below shows the top features of a destination that make a business traveler more likely to add leisure time to their trip.

Bleisure Destination Priorities

According to this research from Expedia Business Group, good food, beaches, natural sightseeing, and good weather are the top considerations that make for a popular bleisure destination.

Bleisure Traveler Statistics

The number of business travelers including leisure in business trips varies by profession. The table below shows the top five occupation categories for bleisure travel.

Bleisure Traveler Occupations

By far the most bleisure travelers work in technology, IT, or software . In general, technology workers travel more than most other professions, which is a key reason for why technology workers are more likely to include leisure time in their travels.

Another way to characterize bleisure travelers is by how frequently they leave on business travel.

Business Trip Frequency of Bleisure Travelers

Most business travelers adding leisure to a corporate trip are those who take business trips every 2-3 months. The average bleisure traveler takes 6.4 business trips each year .

Sources and Methodology

This report is based on a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of business travel spending, demographics, geographic trends, and yearly trends. I gathered this data from market research firms, academic studies, and government agencies.

The GBTA 2023 Business Travel Index Outlook , ACCOR Business of Travel Report , and Expedia’s Bleisure Travel Trends Report were key sources of information for understanding the landscape of business travel and the trends in the industry.

Other key sources for the business travel trends and demographics in this report include the Global Business Travel Association , Bureau of Transportation Statistics , Statista , Forbes , Business Traveler , and Investopedia . Any sources not included here are cited directly in the text.

There is a tremendous amount of information and data available across these sources, but it is disjointed and often difficult to interpret. I compiled raw data and individual findings from these sources into a single cohesive resource.

I used this wide range of information to generate the tables, graphs, and statistics in this report.

Final Business Travel Findings

Travel is a key part of many businesses. It drives innovation, improves productivity, and increases profits. While COVID-19 created a temporary pause, business travel is back, and will only be growing.

Business travel only accounts for about 15% of total global travel spending, but it is a key market segment for many industries, especially airlines. Business travelers are more likely to fly premium class and spend more on travel overall.

There are also several key factors driving change in the business travel industry. Business travel has traditionally been a male-dominated activity, but more and more women are traveling for business. Younger people are also traveling more for business than ever before. More people are creating “bleisure” trips by adding extra days for leisure onto business trips.

If companies can latch onto these trends and create supportive and inclusive travel policies, business travel can become both more profitable to companies and more rewarding for travelers.

Business Travel Statistics FAQs

Is business travel increasing.

While business travel still hasn’t recovered to pre-pandemic levels, it is steadily increasing.

What percentage of flights are business travel?

On average, around 12% of the passengers on a flight are traveling for business.

How big is the business travel market?

In 2022, the business travel industry accounted for $1 trillion in spending globally.

What companies spend the most on business travel?

Amazon is the company that spends the most on business travel.

Which industries have the most business travel?

Tech and IT industries have the most business travel.

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Jakob Thygerson

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Business Travel Statistics: Welcome Aboard, Frequent Flyer

G. Dautovic Image

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.

Although business travel statistics showed a significant slowdown in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, business trips today are on the rise, proving to be one of the most valuable status symbols a company can afford.

So, let us walk you through the terminals of international airports, hotel lobbies, and high-class restaurants with these up-to-date business travel stats.

Airport - Business Travel Statistics

Revenue and Expenses

More than a quarter of global businesses rely on business travel..

(US Travel Association)

Nothing seals the deal like a good old handshake. Customers prefer to have in-person meetings, and companies owe them this privilege. That is why cutting on business travel is rarely posed as an option among big companies, as personal contact with clients is considered important.

According to Oxford Economics business travel statistics, if companies halted their travel policies and denied their customers meetings in person, they would lose approximately 25% of their current clients. This number fairs even higher when it comes to revenue, which would experience a drop of 28% if this nightmare scenario would suddenly turn real.

But that’s not all. An estimate of 36% of customers and 38% of the revenue would be lost in the manufacturing sector if companies were denied their right to use airplanes, trains, and cars to meet and discuss their businesses with clients in person.

Business travel made up about 26% of the total travel revenue in the United States in 2018.

(Global Business Travel Association) (US Travel Association)

The total travel output for 2018 was $2.5 trillion. While leisure traditionally takes up most of the revenue (around 74%), business travel is a constant contributor, with more than $292 billion in spending registered in 2017.

In 2018 US residents logged around 463 million domestic business trips, with 38% of the total number credited to traveling for meetings and events.

And the number is constantly increasing. According to US business travel statistics, the figure is set to rise to 493.7 million by 2022.

Compared to the global business travel revenue of $1.3 trillion in business travels, the United States is certainly a force to be reckoned with. With forecasters agreeing that this figure is to rise to more than $1.7 trillion by 2023, it seems that a huge chunk of the global revenue will still belong to American business travelers in the future.

Domestic business travel accounted for $111.17 billion in 2017.

While international spending averaged $31.6 billion in 2017, domestic business travel accounted for more than three times as much. However, while the average spending per domestic traveler was $949, international globetrotters spent an average of almost three times that much - an average person would spend as much as $2,600 on an international business trip.

But it is proven that business travel always pays off. For every dollar spent on business travel, companies see a $2.9 increase in profit and up to $9.5 increase in revenue.

Accommodation takes up an average of 13% 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.

JTB Business Travel, which measures average prices per diem (per day) of hotels, transport, and meals purchased on business trips shows that New York is the most expensive US city for accommodation. An average New York hotel room costs $385.08 per diem.

If we consider that NYC is home to some of the biggest international hotel franchises like Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons, it’s no wonder that it takes up the flattering first spot. The second most expensive city in the United States is San Francisco at $379.37 per diem, with Boston coming third at $337.64.

In 2018, nearly 700,000 business travelers booked rooms with Airbnb for Work.

(Airbnb) (ZDNet)

Although hotels have a long tradition of accommodating business travelers, for the past few years, Airbnb is reversing the trend.

While domestic hotel rooms cost around $155 per night, Airbnb offers accommodation for only around $99. The company’s international prices are even lower - customers can book a room for an average of $75 as opposed to the $170 they would spend to book a hotel room.

78% of business travelers reported using Uber and other ride-hailing services.

(CNET) (Certify)

With a global market value of $72 billion, Uber has turned the world of taxi drivers upside down. They are becoming the number one choice for corporate travelers who need a lift on their business trips.

Taxi companies aren’t the only ones suffering from this surge of Uber popularity. The rental car service industry - which thrived on corporate executives traveling for business - is also feeling the blow.

Business Travel Statistics - Business woman inside a vehicle

In 2016, the market was still shared relatively fairly between ride-hailing and rental-car services. With 40% of travelers preferring to rent a vehicle, and 46% opting for ride-hailing, the only obvious losers were taxi services who only saw 14% the share.

However, in 2018, ride-hailing won the war with 78% of business travelers reporting to have used and preferred services of companies like Uber and Lyft. Rental cars saw a significant decline at 23% and taxi drivers were all but obliterated, falling to 6%.

In 2018 meals and incidental expenses made up $135.9 billion of total business travel spending.

Meals stack up 21% of expenses for an average business traveler. In addition to meals, companies also include incidental expenses into the traveler's allowance.

According to the 2019 edition of the Business Travel News Corporate Travel Index, meals are most expensive in New York, at $144.85 per diem. The runner-up is San Francisco with meal prices averaging $119.22 per diem, and Boston comes in third at $109.16 per diem.

At $495.1 million, Deloitte spent more on business travel expenses than any other US company.

As one of the Big Four accounting companies, Deloitte is a household name when it comes to expertise, professionalism and, of course, profit. When it comes to travel, Deloitte prefers to book flights, rather than any other means of transportation.

However, you don’t get to the top just by mindless spending alone. Due to its huge number of employees and a vast network of international divisions, Deloitte created a global procurement team in 2017 to handle the company’s global airline and hotel bookings.

Deloitte also implemented an automated airfare price assurance program, and strengthened its pre-trip review and approval processes, making booking faster, cheaper and easier. The majority of flights (72%) were conducted in the United States.

The second spot was reserved for IBM, at $430 million. The bronze went to PwC with $317.6 million spent to fund their employees' business trips. All of their business travel expenses were credited to various airlines.

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.

According to 2019 data, business travelers usually make up at least twice as much in terms of profit. With first-class tickets sometimes costing 10 times the price of coach tickets, business travel statistics like these come as no surprise.

The data implies that in some cases, airlines earn as much as 75% of their total revenue of trips booked by business travelers of all sorts.

This is mostly due to companies booking first-class tickets for their emissaries traveling across the country. While corporate travel policies have a history of saving money on business trips, in more recent years, this trend is being steadily reversed.

Managers now insist on providing their employees maximum comfort and convenience, since it reflects well on overall productivity. This has pushed airlines to compete with each other in terms of services they offer, continually offering new benefits.

In 2019, four US cities landed on the map of the world’s most expensive cities for business travel.

(CNN) (JTB Business Travel)

Los Angeles and San Francisco have landed on the list of the 10 most expensive cities for business travel. This is a significant jump compared to the year before when only Washington DC and New York held positions on the list.

NYC business travel statistics indicate that the Big Apple is the most expensive city for business travelers, mostly due to hefty hotel prices. Moreover, renting a hotel room in New York costs an average of $385 per diem.

Washington currently holds fourth place in expenses, with San Francisco, and Los Angeles, at seventh and ninth place respectively.

The other five cities worldwide are Zurich, Paris, Reykjavik, Basel, and Bern. The United States and Switzerland dominate the list, with four cities each.

Live chat with travel agencies, much like in-person meetings, improves business.

(Statista) (Kayako)

While this is not related to business travel exclusively, it is fairly indicative of which direction the travel industry is headed. Especially if we consider that 59% of US business travelers always book their hotel themselves and 30% usually book their hotel themselves.

In 2017, 79% of travel industry businesses reported an increase in revenue after enabling a live chat option on their website. Any way you look at it, investing in live chat has a huge influence on customer experience. In the short-term, companies that introduced live chat reported a significant increase in new customers. In the long-run, it does wonders for repeat business.

Business Travel Statistics - Passport

However, 38% of surveyed users consider a poor live-chat experience the number one reason for frustration when handling their travels.

Demographics and General Business Travel Statistics

Millennials are the fastest-growing group of business travelers in the united states..

Millennials are a rising force of the domestic economy in all sectors. This applies to business travel as well. According to a survey conducted by Skift, young adults in their late twenties/early thirties took 7.4 business trips in 2015.

Their older counterparts, popularly known as Gen Xers, were reported to have an average of 6.4 trips per year. Baby boomers came last with a 6.3 average.

While boomers prefer traditional accommodation, like hotels, younger travelers are more likely to go for non-chain hotels, Airbnb and other “room share” services. This is especially the case for millennials employed in the tech industry.

Also, travel statistics by age group suggest that the same target group most often uses low-cost air carriers, with 85% of them booking low-cost airlines in 2018.

On the other hand, ridesharing companies have experienced a huge growth in popularity among business travelers of all ages. As much as 81% of the survey’s respondents stated that they would take Uber or Lyft over taxis any day.

Millennials are 60% more-likely to purchase seats with extra legroom while flying, and spend some leisure time on their business trip.

(Forbes) (National Car Rental)

With 65% of millennials viewing business travel as a status symbol, additional legroom, as well as other benefits, are things they desire. That being said, they are also more likely to pay for additional headroom, roomier seats, and in-flight entertainment compared to the other two age groups.

Moreover, Millenials are most likely to consider business travel a perk when choosing a job, with nearly 90% of millennials seeking an advantage to extend their business trip into leisure. Other groups are not far behind, with 81% of Generation Xers and 80% of baby boomers also confirming that they like to make the most of the time they are given while away on business.

45% of millennials are prone to feeling guilty about mixing leisure with their business trips.

(Travel Agent Central)

While all business travelers like mixing business with leisure trips, they are also prone to feeling guilty about it. Around 45% of millennial respondents in a survey have reported having the so-called “bleisure travel stigma.” This means they believe they should avoid telling others about the fun times or personal activities they have on business trips.

While they are the least-likely to tell their bosses about their leisure time on business trips, millenials are most-likely to share photos of their adventures on social media.

However, regardless of their age or generation, managers (64%) and executive/senior leaders (67%) are also more likely to share their “bleisure” activities than non-managers (54 %) on social media.

This goes to show, as the employees become older and assume more senior positions within their companies, the stigma wears off. For example, 40% of Gen X respondents said they prefer keeping their personal activities during business trips private.

85% of frequent business travelers report having trouble balancing everyday work responsibilities while traveling for business.

(National Car Rental)

Employees that spend more than 88 days on the road per year showed an increase in breaking the business vs leisure barrier. “Bleisure” travelers reported working 9.1 hours a day, which is a whole hour less than the travelers who engage in strict travel for work purposes who clocked 10.1 hours on average per day.

The divide is real - 53% of business travelers state that finding time for leisure while on an official trip is next to impossible, as opposed to the 59% who manage to squeeze in some “me time” in the mix.

81% of all business trips in the United States are conducted by personal vehicles.

The majority of business travelers still prefer to use their personal vehicles as transport whenever they can. This is mainly due to the fact that 74% of all domestic business trips are conducted within less than 250 miles from the point of departure, with most of those being less than 100 miles.

However, as the distance gets longer, more people turn to air travel. Around 97% of 50-to 99-mile trips, as well as nearly 94% of 100-to-249-mile trips, are conducted by personal vehicles. Once the range reaches 250-to-499 miles, the personal vehicle share sharply declines to 67% while those in favor of airplanes surges to 31%.

While distances over 1,000 miles account for only 7% of the total number of business trips, they are almost exclusively conducted by air travel.

Attending a conference is the number one reason for business trips for all age groups.

Around 62% of all respondents in the Skift 2016 survey stated that the main reason for business travel is usually to attend a conference of some sort. This was the case with 74% of millenials, 61% of Gen Xers, and 53% of boomers.

The second biggest reason (56%) of travel was to attend a meeting with people from another company for the purposes of business planning or customer service. Millennials once again took the lead with 77%, with Gen Xers as second at 56%, and boomers at 39%.

The third reason is professional development or training, with an average of 44% of all respondents naming this as their purpose of business travel. Broken down into individual age brackets, the numbers come down to 63% of millennials, 43% of Gen Xers, and 25% of baby boomers.

Business traveler demographics report that women account for approximately 47% of all business travelers.

(Corporate Traveller)

While the usual stereotype implies that it is more common for men to take business trips, in recent years, the reality is closer to 50-50.

However, as women become more present in the business travel sphere, some specific safety issues arise. Female business traveler statistics focused on safety issues discovered that 90% of respondents named safety as the first thing that affected the activities pursued during personal time while on business travel.

The women who took part in the survey reported that such issues mostly affect their booking behavior (86%), where they prefer to exclusively book daytime flights, and rooms as close to the center of a city as possible.

Location is simply more important for women. For example, 84% cited that they tend to avoid cities and places that have a reputation for being unsafe. Furthermore, 81% indicated their travel frequency for business has also been affected by safety concerns, and 80% agree that such issues have had an impact on their productivity during business trips.

Nevertheless, the average business travel hotel user is still a middle-aged male.

As we’re all accustomed to seeing grey-haired men in suits and ties hanging around hotel lobbies, this fact is hardly a surprise. The average business travel hotel guest is male (63%), aged 35-54 (50%), employed in a professional or managerial position (56%) and earning an average yearly household income of $127,000.

As much as 78% travel alone, with the large majority of business travelers making reservations (95%). According to USA Today, The Hampton Inn and Suites was the favorite choice for corporate travelers in 2017.

Around 60% of companies have a travel policy, although employees prefer to handle booking themselves.

However, as much as 50% of surveyed companies allow travelers to book using any method they choose.

Furthermore, 46% of business travelers have reported preferring booking hotels on consumer sites and finding a better price, then relying on their company to do it for them.

As companies are led by other factors while choosing hotels, employees tend to think in more practical terms. That is why 37% of surveyed travelers reported having booked the hotels that were in the closest possible proximity of an established meeting place or conference location.

International Travel Statistics

China is the leading force when it comes to business travel spending..

(Global Business Travel Association) (CAPA)

With the United States spending more than $292 billion on business travel alone, China has reportedly reached a figure of $346.50 billion that funded their international corporate exploits.

China’s economic boom has launched the country’s corporate traveler to the very top of global business travel statistics. China dominates both regional and international statistics, with Japan and South Korea as traditional high-spenders in the region.

However, other players in the Asia-Pacific market, like India and Indonesia are making an appearance in the global business travel sector by growing at an incredible rate.

In 2014, India’s business travel market was worth $26 billion. Today it is forecast to reach $46 billion. As a country where economic activity is dominated by consumption, India’s business travel growth rate of 11.3 % is oriented more towards domestic than international.

On the other hand, Indonesia, which reported $17 billion in business travel spending in 2017, is a more trade-oriented country. This means that the country’s business-travel spending growth rate of 8.7% is focused on the international market rather than the domestic.

Europe is right behind China, holding 24% of total global business travel spending.

(Global Business Travel Association) (Blue Swan Daily)

Europe is home to some of the largest corporations in the world that rank the continent as second on a global scale when it comes to business travel spending. The largest part of this spending is attributed to developed Western European countries like Germany, the UK, and France.

In fact, a total of $364 billion in business travel spending was reported in Europe in 2017, with Western Europe claiming as much as $310 billion.

Traditional industrial powerhouses like Germany rated their business travel spending at about $72.07 billion in 2017, confirming the country’s unprecedented status in worldwide trade. France is also a powerhouse - the country spent more than $40 billion in 2016.

Spain spends around $20 billion in business travel, ranking 13th on the Global Business Travel Association’s list of the largest travel markets.

While most Western European economies have reported steady growth in business travel spending during the last few years, the United Kingdom has shown a 0.7% decline in 2017, largely due to the Brexit political crisis.

Further Reading

  • The Most Powerful Passports Ranked

Frequently Asked Questions

1. how often do people travel for business.

An estimated 1.3 million business trips occur in the United States on a daily basis – 463 million trips per year in the United States alone.

2. How many business travelers fly each year?

Around 12% of the total number of flights is reserved by business travelers. In 2017 the US Department of Transportation reported that US airlines and foreign airlines serving the United States hosted 965 million domestic and international scheduled service passengers.

3. What percent of airline travel is for business?

Although business travelers make up only 12% in numbers, they are every airline’s most valuable customer. The data implies that in some cases, airlines earn as much as 75% of their total revenue of trips booked by business travelers of all sorts.

4. Do airlines charge business travelers more?

No. However, the circumstances of a typical business traveler affect the price of a plane ticket. Factors that usually affect the cost of flying for a business traveler are: flying on short notice, arranging a flight at a desirable time of day, and flying to a popular destination.

G. Dautovic

I have always thought of myself as a writer, but I began my career as a data operator with a large fintech firm. This position proved invaluable for learning how banks and other financial institutions operate. Daily correspondence with banking experts gave me insight into the systems and policies that power the economy. When I got the chance to translate my experience into words, I gladly joined the smart, enthusiastic Fortunly team.

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What are you looking for?

100+ business travel statistics (2023).

Bradley Williams

Business travelers contribute a lot to the travel industry in general.

In the US alone, 1.3 million people go on business trips every day.

Although the industry was forced to a slowdown due to the recent Covid-19 pandemic , the business travel market is expected to grow by 188% in 2028.

Today, I’ve summarized everything from the average business travel spending to employee behaviour towards corporate travel.

Whether you’re going on a trip for work or something else, we hope you might find these statistics useful!

Let’s get started…

Sources : You can see the source of every statistics or go to the bottom of this post for a full list of all the surveys and articles used here.

Travellerspoint

What is considered business travel?

Business travel includes any domestic or international trip taken by employees in order to complete corporate-related events. For example, meetings, client works, trade shows, conferences, and product launches.

Business travel spending generally comprises all aspects of the trip, from accommodation and transportation to entertainment.

How many people in the US travel for business?

In the US alone , 1.3 million people travel for business daily.

How big is the business travel market?

The global business travel market was worth $700 billion in 2020.

What percentage of travel is business vs leisure?

In 2021, business travel accounted for 20% of the total global travel and tourism expenditure.

Is the business travel industry growing?

Yes, the business travel market is predicted to grow by 188% in 2028.

Business Travel Key Statistics

  • 92% of these countries also called off all or most of their domestic business tours in April 2020.
  • The global business travel market was worth $700 billion in 2020. 
  • By 2028, the business travel market is predicted to grow by 188%.
  • Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the loss in global business travel spending reached over $700 billion in 2020.
  • Accommodation makes up 34% of the average business trip cost, while airfare makes up 27%, meals 20% and car rental 19%.
  • The average business traveler is male (63%) and aged between 35 and 54 year old (50%).
  • In 2021, the United States and Canada both ranked as the best-rated destinations for business and non-leisure travellers.
  • 56% of business travelers state that lowering their carbon footprint is a moderate priority, whereas 21% believe that it’s a top priority. 
  • The share of companies canceling most or all domestic business trips worldwide reached 38% as of October 2021.
  • 35.2% of travels buyers believe that travel digitization will increase after the COVID-19 pandemic.

General business tourism statistics

1. although business travelers only comprise 12% of all airline passengers, they contribute up to 75% of profits..

[Investopedia]

This is because corporate travelers tend to pay a higher rate for last-minute and non-stop options.

2. In April 2020, 98% of the member countries of the Global Business Travel Association had to cancel overseas business trips.

[ReportLinker]

3. 92% of these countries also called off all or most of their domestic business tours.

4. nearly all business travel bookings are made online, with 28% of hotel bookings made from the hotel’s website, 14% through a travel agent, 10% from an online travel agency (ota), and 7% through a third-party..

[StratosJets]

Around the world, 57% of all travel bookings are made online .

5. In the US alone, 1.3 million people travel for business daily.

Global business travel market, 6. the global business travel market was worth $700 billion in 2020. , 7. in 2028, the business travel market is predicted to grow by 188%., 8. the global business travel market is estimated to reach $829.5 billion by 2027 at a cagr of 3% over seven years..

The travel market is one of the hardest hit industries in the world by the Coronavirus pandemic. It has begun to recover, albeit slowly, and is expected to reach pre-pandemic levels in roughly seven years.

9. Food & lodging takes up the largest segment in business travel, projected to grow at a 3.7% CAGR and hit $446.6 billion by the end of 2027.

10. the business travel market in the united states was estimated to be worth approximately $243.2 billion in 2020., 11. the chinese business travel market is predicted to grow at a 5.1% cagr until it reaches $49.8 billion in 2027..

China has the second largest economy in the world. It’s forecast to achieve a market size of$49.8 billion by 2027.

12. Japan and Canada’s business travel market are predicted to grow at a rate of 2.2% and 3.1% respectively between 2020 and 2027.

13. meanwhile, germany will grow with a cagr of 2.4% over the same period of 2020-2027. , 14. the asia-pacific region is calculated to reach $114.9 billion market share by 2027, with the notable economies being australia, india, and south korea., 15. in the transportation segment of business travel, us, canada, japan, china and europe is expected to drive the 1.4% cagr, reaching a combined $101.9 billion by 2027., 16. the latin american transportation market of business travel will grow at a 1.8% cagr., business travel spending.

How much are the average business travel expenses?

17. In 2021, business travel accounted for 20% of the total global travel and tourism expenditure, a 1% decrease from 2019.

business vs leisure travel spending

18. Business travel expenditure peaked at approximately $1.4 trillion in 2019.

Overall, business travel includes work-related trips such as attending meetings, trade fairs, and congresses.

19. Business travel spending is forecasted to reach $0.9 trillion in 2022, and recover to the all-time high of $1.4 trillion by mid-2026.

Global business travel spending

20. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the loss in global business travel spending reached over $700 billion in 2020.

21. global business travel spending is expected to gain 33.8% in 2022., 22. china recorded the world's highest business travel spending in 2021, at almost $295 billion..

The country spending the second highest amount in business travel was United States, at just over half of China’s spending.

23. However, China was also the country that experienced the biggest loss in business travel expenditure ($404 billion) due to the pandemic.

24. europe was the second most impacted region, losing $190.5 billion collectively..

Europe experienced a $190.5 billion loss in business travel during the pandemic.

25. The Asia-Pacific region (not counting China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan) lost $120.2 billion in business travel spending.

26. in terms of business travel spending recovery, north american performed best in 2021, all thanks to the rapid regaining of domestic travel. it’s expected to experience a compounded annual growth of 23.4% by 2026., 27. for 2022, there was an increase of 16.5% ($407.1 billion) in the asia pacific region, recovering to 66% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year., 28. accommodation makes up 34% of the average business trip cost, while airfare makes up 27%, meals 20% and car rental 19%..

[Travel Pulse]

Average business trip cost breakdown

29. In general, January and March and September to October are the most expensive times to travel.

Demographics of business travelers.

Who is the average business traveler?

30. The average business traveler is male (63%) and aged between 35 and 54 year old (50%).

A recent survey has revealed that only 37% of business travelers are female .

males vs female business travelers

31. Over half (56%) of business travelers are employed in a professional or managerial position.

32. business travelers make an average of $127,000 per year., 33. 66% of business travelers hold a bachelors’ degree., 34. a majority of business travelers, or 78%, travel alone on corporate trips..

Business travelers contribute to the rising number of solo travellers. In fact, 78% of them travel alone for business .

35. Nearly all (95%) business travelers will make reservations for their trip.

Top business travel destinations.

Where do people travel the most for business?

36. In 2021, the United States and Canada both ranked as the best-rated destinations for business and non-leisure travellers, each obtaining 6.4 in scores.

The scoring system is based on the Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI), on a scale from 1 (worst) to 7 (best).

Canada scored 6.4 in 2021 , ranking itself as one of two best-rated business and non-leisure travel destinations in the world.

37. They’re followed by Japan (6.2), China (6), and the UK (5.7), rounding up the top 5 business travel destinations.

UK remains as the fifth highest-rated destination for business travelers.

Best rated business destinations

38. The main country destination for business meetings in 2021 was the United States (500 association events).

39. spain and japan, each with more than 360 events in 2021, ranked as the top second and third country destination for business meetings., 40. the us is also the country with the most conferences, business meetings, and trade shows planned between may 2022 and april 2023, with 33 thousand listed events., 41. the united kingdom has the second highest number of events planned for that period, with 6.4 thousand events listed across all industries., 42. in q4 2021, zurich was the most expensive city for business tourism, averaging $593 in daily cost..

Out of the top ten most expensive business travel destinations, three are Swiss cities, which shows just how expensive the country can be.

43. In Tokyo, the average daily cost for business travel is $517.

44. in terms of hotel cost, the most expensive business destination is new york, where a hotel room costs on average $376 per night..

With hotels having an average daily rate of $376 , New York is the most expensive destination for business trips.

45. Europe is expected to recover the most for US-originating trips in 2022. 25% of travelers say that they expect to take the same amount, if not more, business trips to Europe.

Purposes for business travel.

What is an example of business travel?

46. 43% of respondents in a survey say that sales visits are in the top two reasons for making international business trips in 2022.

47. the next driving reasons for international business trips in 2022 are leadership meetings (32%) and client-based projects (31%)., 48. surprisingly, conferences are only ranked as the top two reasons for sending employees overseas by 15% of respondents., employee perks and opinions in business travel, 49. 28% of employees who travel for work report that travel experience or satisfaction is the biggest pain point of their company’s travel program. , 50. meanwhile, only 13% of travel managers state that travel experience or satisfaction is the single greatest strength., 51. 41% of business travelers claim that cost savings outweigh employee satisfaction in their corporate travel program. 38% say that both factors are balanced, while 21% state that employee satisfaction is prioritized over cost efficiency., 52. 38% of business travelers are the least satisfied with the travel technology of their company., 53. the most desired perk by business travelers is the freedom to book with their favorite travel suppliers (46%)., 54. at 43%, the second most desired business travel perk is the permission to stay an extra night after the end of work meetings., 55. 39% of business travelers would like the ability to book their travels outside of the corporate travel agency., 56. 39% expressed a desire for companies to pay for leisure experiences during business trips., 57. however, a majority of travel managers (84%) state that their company would not consider offering bleisure options., 58. for 83% of employees, business travel is considered a job perk., 59. 79% of employees also say that the ability to travel affects job satisfaction., 60. 60% of job applicants report that a company’s travel policy influences their decision when considering an employer., 61. moreover, nearly 2 out of 5 millennial employees won’t accept a job that doesn't allow them to travel..

Almost 2 in 5 millennial employees will not accept jobs that don't allow them to travel.

Sustainability in business travel

62. 56% of business travelers state that lowering their carbon footprint is a moderate priority, whereas 21% believe that it’s a top priority. , 63. a majority of business travelers are willing to forego daily hotel cleaning (77%) to reduce carbon footprint., 64. to support the effort of reducing carbon footprint, most are also willing to use smaller cars (73%), fly premium less frequently (68%), travel less for work (63%), and take longer business trips at a time (56%)..

business traveler opinion on reducing carbon footprint

65. By 2025, 30% of companies expect sustainability to cause a 11% to 25% cutback in travel budgets.

Sustainability remains a priority for most companies, but they also expect that it will cause corporate travel spending to decrease.

Hotels and accommodation in business travel

66. in 2019, meetings and conferences made up 18% of hotel gross bookings..

This data was based on a 2020 Phocuswright study.

67. In a 2015 survey, business travelers comprise 40% of hotel guests.

hotel guest type breakdown

68. In 2015, hotels generated $141.5 billion in business travel tax revenue alone.

69. corporate booking tools heavily rely on hotels as accommodation. only 9% offer alternative lodging., 70. almost half of companies surveyed in 2022 don’t offer nonhotel lodging reimbursement for their employees..

corporate approach on nonhotel lodging

71. 12% of travel managers have succeeded in adding clauses that specify the availability of amenities for business events in hotels.

72. meanwhile, 10% of travel managers have considered adding such clauses, although they haven’t been successful in implementing them., 73. when airbnb for work launched as airbnb for business in 2014, their bookings tripled from 2015 to 2016..

[PhocusWire]

74. Then again, Airbnb for business bookings tripled from 2016 and 2017, while the number of companies using the platform hit 700,000 in 2017, almost double from the previous year.

In fact, Airbnb for Business was one of the top fastest-growing businesses within the company.

75. Out of the 60% of Airbnb for Work bookings with more than one guest, 40% of them have three or more guests.

This indicates a growing interest in collaborative business trips.

Business travel technology and accessibility

76. only 26% of travel managers claim that their corporate travel booking tool does a good job in accommodating employees with accessibility needs. , 77. meanwhile, a significant percentage of travel managers (37%) are not sure how well their company’s booking tool assists employees with accessibility needs. , 78. 78% of business travelers would like to see personalized search results based on previous purchases and travel loyalty status (78%)., 79. the same percentage (78%) is also interested in the ability to book multiple types of ground transportation., 80. moreover, 70% is interested in integrated access to risk intelligence information. this includes covid-19 infections and crime statistics in the local area..

This shows just how ready business travelers are for new booking-related innovations that can make the business travel experience more seamless.

Challenges and opportunities in business travel

What is the outlook of business travel?

81. 85% of business travelers stated that they need to travel to accomplish their business goals. 

This was based on a GBTA survey in July 2022 of more than 400 frequent business travellers and nearly 48 decision makers.

82. More than 75% expect to make more business trips in 2023 than they did in 2022. 

83.  84% of senior global corporate finance professionals are confident that travel spending would increase in 2023., 84. 73% of business travelers agree that inflation will impact business travel volumes in the future., 85. 69% of business travelers and 75% of global financial executives are worried that a possible recession will affect business travel., 86. most business travelers are ready to travel for work as much as they did before the pandemic. a total of 81% prefer to take the same amount (46%) or more (35%) business trips., 87. compared to wfh-dominant companies, those that implement more wfo policies are twice as likely to expect travel spending to recover to 2019 levels by the end of 2023., 88. over 30% of airbnb for work bookings include at least one weekend night, which shows that leisure is still common., covid-19 impact on business travel.

How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect business travel?

89. The share of companies canceling most or all domestic business trips worldwide reached 38% as of October 2021.

According to the Global Business Travel Association, 38% of companies canceled most or all domestic business trips in October 2021.

90. In that same month, nearly eight in ten firms delayed international business travel.

91. business travel failed to meet expectations in the second half of 2021, with approximately 33% of travel managers expecting to hit half of their 2019 spending in june 2021, but only 8% managing to reach that goal., 92. in 2021, business travel spending worldwide recovered by just 5.5% after having plummeted by over 50% in the previous year due to the coronavirus pandemic. , 93. 70% of providers and buyers of business travel services stated covid-19 travel restrictions hurt their business outcomes..

This data was gathered from a global survey in February 2022.

covid-19 perceived effect

94. As a concrete example, Deloitte spent more than $583 million on air travel in 2019, but only $97 million in 2020.

This figure is surprising because Deloitte was the second leading air travel spender in the United States.

95. 58% of travel managers around the world expected that hotel prices would plummet during the Covid-19 pandemic.

96. 35.2% of travels buyers believe that travel digitization will increase after the covid-19 pandemic., 97. 72% of organizations are keeping online and hybrid meetings even after the pandemic ends., 98. as of february 2022, around 10% of employees across the globe were still unwilling or unsure to take business trips., 99. while pandemic-related concerns in corporate travel have fallen in 2022, increasing travel prices remain a huge barrier., 100. overall, the 2022 gbta business travel index concludes that the biggest challenges to faster recovery in global business travel include inflation, high energy prices, and labor shortages., 101.  the economic slowdown in china and rising sustainability problems are also two major factors in the slow recovery of business travel worldwide..

That’s all about business travel for now!

We’ve learned the outlook of business travel, which despite being impeded by the Covid-19 pandemic will continue to recover and grow.

Do you think we missed any important aspect about business travel?

Leave us a comment below!

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business travel accommodation statistics

42 Business Travel Statistics That Will Inspire You to Hit the Road

business travel accommodation statistics

By Danica Jovic

February 6, 2024

People enjoy traveling. Indeed, they like it so much that most don’t care if they need to send a few emails, attend meetings, or listen to seminars during their trip. Work hard, play hard – that’s the motto of business travelers, who are happy to endure a morning full of meetings if it means they can spend the afternoon sipping margaritas in the sun.

Business travel statistics show that about 30% of job seekers are ready to accept lower-paid jobs if they include business trips. Companies are aware that employees enjoy these “bleisure” trips, and are in many cases willing to make them more comfortable with a lot of money for travel spending, accommodation, meals, and transportation. We’ve compiled the following stats and facts to show just how popular business travel has become.

Editor’s Choice: Business Travel Statistics

  • Global business travel statistics from 2017 show that during that year, $1.33 trillion was spent on business travel worldwide.
  • Globally, annual business travel costs are expected to amount to $1.7 trillion by 2022.

According to the Global Business Travel Association, 1.3 million business trips are taken in the US every day.

  • Almost 10% of business trips can be categorized as “bleisure” trips.

Although business travel is on the rise, only 60% of companies actually have a corporate travel policy.

General business travel statistics.

Even though we live in a telecommunication-dominated era, face-to-face business meetings are still essential for building stable and continuous relationships with clients. No matter how easy it is for workers to make a conference call, communicate with colleagues via Skype, or attend a webinar from the comfort of your own office, companies still organize business trips for employees. In fact, the business travel economy has grown rapidly since the Great Recession, with spending reaching $1.6. trillion in 2020.

The latest US business travel statistics show that US travelers took over 463 million business trips inside the US in 2018.

While business travelers account for only 12% of flight tickets, they generate roughly twice as much money per person for airlines as non-business customers..

(Investopedia)

Global business travel statistics from 2017 show that $1.33 trillion was spent on business travel worldwide during that calendar year.

(Global Business Travel Association)

Annual global business travel costs are set to rise to $1.7 trillion by 2022, according to what was then the National Business Travel Association.

Two-thirds of business travelers believe it’s difficult to build a working relationship via video calls..

(Skift and TripActions)

Global Business Travel Statistics

International business travel statistics show that the US and China are the global leaders when it comes to business travel spending, followed by India, Indonesia, and Sweden. You probably won’t be surprised to learn that the most expensive cities for taking business trips are New York and the two largest Swiss cities: Zurich and Geneva. However, while most countries are spending more on business travel, the UK is going backward; there was a 3% decline in outbound business trips in 2018 due to concerns about Brexit.

China has the largest business travel market, with total spending amounting to $346.5 billion in 2017.

India (11.3%) and indonesia (8.7%) are the two countries with the fastest-growing business travel markets., new york city is the most expensive city for business travel, with daily costs adding up to ($799), followed by geneva, ($716 per day), zurich ($661 per day), washington dc ($621 per day), and paris ($617 per day)..

(ECA International)

Hong Kong remains the most expensive city in Asia for business travel, with an average daily cost of $515.

In total, more than $50 billion was spent on business travel in the uk in 2017., from 2017 to 2018, there was a 3% decline in outbound business trips from the uk. in fact, since 2016, the outbound traffic rate has dropped steadily due to concerns about brexit., american travel statistics for business.

American companies understand the importance of investing in business travel. Whether for meetings, educational events, or conferences, Americans spend a lot of time and money on both personal and group business trips.

This spending is particularly heavy on the west coast. Indeed, the annual number of inbound business trips to the west is 7.5 million higher than those heading from the west to other parts of the country.

By 2022, there will be nearly 500 million business trips per year within the US.

In the us, nearly $328 billion was spent on international and domestic business trips in 2018..

(US Travel Association)

Predictions suggest that North America will lose 1% of global business travel market share by 2022.

There are about 64 million inter-regional trips in the us every year, statistics about traveling show..

(US Department of Transportation)

The west is America’s most popular region for business trips; annually, it attracts nearly 7.5 million more inter-regional business trips than it sends away. Every year, the south hosts 7.7 million fewer inbound inter-regional business trips than outbound ones.

26% of all business trips are one day long, according to international travel statistics..

(Associations Now)

Business Traveler Demographics

If you’re wondering who makes these trips, the answer is not as straightforward as you might think. Men aged between 30 and 49 form the majority of the business travel population, but the number of women who travel for business is growing rapidly.

Travelers are growing up quickly too; 40% of millennials now travel for work, and many choose jobs specifically because of the opportunity to travel. Most millennials who travel extend their business trips to visit other cities.

According to Bureau of Transportation statistics, 77% of people traveling for work are men.

Although some sites claim that 47% of business travelers are women, according to the american travel bureau, the actual proportion of women travelers is just 23%., more than half of all business trips are taken by people aged 30 to 49., millennial business travelers – stats and facts.

Millennials have now reached the age when they’re starting to rise to important positions in the workplace. They’re also known for valuing work-life balance perhaps more than any previous generation. That’s why it’s no surprise that millennials are strongly represented in business travel statistics.

Nearly 40% of millennials travel for business.

(American Express)

Nearly two-thirds of young workers and millennials see business trips as a status symbol.

(Hilton Hotels & Resorts)

Travelers aged 18 to 29 take 16% of all business trips.

55% of millennials prefer to prolong their business trips in order to have more time to experience new places and learn new things., business travel costs.

Business travel isn’t cheap. Indeed, when you take into account transportation, accommodations, food, and attendance at seminars, the costs add up. And most companies don’t choose cheap travel options. Companies spend a lot of money on business trips in order to provide the best experience to their employees.

The average cost of business travel per day in the US is $325.

(Business Travel News)

On the average business trip, companies spend $1,217 for international round-trip tickets and $470 on domestic business tickets.

(JTB Business Travel)

For every trip, US businesses spend nearly $950 per traveler who travels inside the US, while the average cost for an international business trip is $2,600 per person.

Us businesses spend $31.6 billion on international travel every year., typically, companies’ business traveling budgets are distributed like this: meals (21%), flights (17%), miscellaneous expenses (17%), and accommodation (13%)., 5% of total business travel costs go toward cell phones, while only 3% are spent on taxi services., if you’re organizing a business trip to new york, you should budget $145 for three meals a day. however, in nashville, you’ll need to budget only $76.50., business travel transportation facts.

You might be surprised to learn that most of America’s business trips are made by car. Americans prefer to travel in their private vehicles when possible.

About 405 million long-distance business trips are made each year in America, according to US travel statistics.

81% of all business trips are taken by car, while 16% are taken by plane., distance plays an important role in determining which mode of transport should be used; 97% of short trips (50 to 90 miles) are taken by vehicle., the world’s most expensive travel lounges are in these airports: dubai ($329/person), london city ($157/person), and london heathrow ($67/person)., bleisure travel statistics.

Work hard, play hard – this is the philosophy many business travelers now live by. “Bleisure” is a portmanteau that means exactly what you think it means: corporate trips that consist of both business and leisure. Just ask freelancers or remote workers, many of whom have taken bleisure to be their new lifestyle. The average corporate traveler in the USA lives the bleisure lifestyle by extending business trips so they can visit new cities and interact with different cultures.

Almost 10% of business trips can be categorized as bleisure trips.

Nearly 60% of businesses support bleisure trips by encouraging employees to extend their business trips., nearly 50% of business travelers extend their trips to visit other countries or cities..

(Booking.com)

More Business Travel Statistics and Facts

Nowadays, people are willing to take lower-paid jobs if they include business trips as a perk. While some companies don’t support “shared economy services” like Airbnb and Uber, statistics show that most American business travellers prefer these types of services.

Traveling for work is the main reason about 30% of people would choose a lower-paying job.

(Finance Online)

40% of business travelers don’t follow their companies’ travel policies. Instead, they make their hotel reservations on their own.

(Skift and Turkish Airlines)

15% of total Airbnb bookings come from business travelers.

What percent of travel is for business.

Business trips make up about 12% of total air travel. However, thanks to business class fares, they typically generate twice as much money for airlines as regular trips.

How many people travel business each year?

According to US statistics on traveling, 405 million long-distance business trips are taken each year.

What businesses travel the most?

With younger generations – especially millennials – looking for more dynamic jobs, more and more companies are ready to organize regular business trips for their employees. In general, sales representatives, consultants, and travel agents tend to travel most often. Professions like programming and accounting are typically thought of as desk jobs, but nowadays even those workers are getting the chance to attend trips and conferences.

What age group travels the most?

People between 30 and 49 travel the most for business, and most of those travelers are men. However, the number of women of all ages traveling for business is increasing. About 40% of millennials travel for business.

How long is the average business trip?

Business trips are typically quite short. On average, 26% of business trips are only one day long. Of course, many people like to combine business and leisure by extending their business to visit other places, according to the latest business travel statistics.

  • American Express
  • Booking.com
  • ECA International
  • Finance Online
  • Global Business Travel Association 
  • Investopedia
  • Skift and TripActions
  • US Department of Transportation
  • Associations Now
  • Business Travel News
  • Hilton Hotels & Resorts
  • JTB Business Travel

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75+ Business Travel Statistics: Unveiling Facts and Trends [2024]

When it comes to business traveling, our brain buzzes with questions like who is an average traveler? How often do they travel? Is the business travel market growing? Was Covid a major setback? Has the industry recovered?

While the global business travel market was worth $700 billion in 2020 , business travel accounted for 20% of total global travel in 2021. 

The global business market is expected to rise by a CAGR of 3% from 2020 to 2027 . 

The business travel market is evergreen. 

Yes, Covid was a major setback, but Business Travel Statistics reveal that the industry is headed to recovery and rise by a  CAGR of 3% from 2020 to 2027 .

Here we have unveiled the latest facts and statistics about Business Travel to help you understand the market and predict future trends. 

Top Business Travel Statistics: Editor’s Pick

there are 445 million business trips every year

  • 63% of the average business travelers are male and almost 50% of them are aged between 35 to 54 years. [ 1 ]
  • Millennials go on 7.4 business trips every year. [ 3 ]
  • 70% of travel service providers reported New York is the most expensive business destination where a hotel costs an average of $376 per night. [ 4 ]
  • The global business market is expected to rise by a CAGR of 3% from 2020 to 2027. [ 11 ]

The global business travel market was worth $700 billion in 2020 . [ 4 ]

Business travel counted for 20% of total global travel in 2021. [ 4 ]

80% of corporate travelers make sure to squeeze in fun activities during business trips. [ 22 ]

  • 73.2% of business travelers are concerned about delayed flights. [ 26 ]
  • 60% of corporate travelers say they don’t feel the need for a company travel policy. [ 18 ]
  • Airfares were 54% higher due to social distancing during the pandemic. [ 7 ]
  • 1.3 million people travel for work every day in the US alone. [ 3 ]
  • In terms of hotel costs, New York is the most expensive business travel destination. [ 4 ]
  • Domestic travel by US travelers accounted for 462 million business trips in 2008 and 500 million in 2022. [ 18 ]

Business Travel Statistics Based on Demographics

Who are these business travelers?

Based on Gender

  • 63% of the average business travelers are male and almost 50% of them are aged between 35 to 54 years . [ 1 ]
  • Only 37% of business travelers are female. [ 1 ]

average business traveler by gender

Based on Age Group

  • 56% of millennials look for reasons to go on business trips. Moreover, 69% of millennials want to extend their trip for leisure. [ 3 ]
  • Millennials go on 7.4 trips every year. [ 3 ]
  • Gen X’s do leisure activities during business trips at 76% . [ 3 ]
  • Baby boomers perform leisure activities at 73% . [ 3 ]

Based on Education and Occupation

  • Over half of business travelers are in professional or managerial positions (56%). [ 1 ]
  • Business travelers make an average of $127k per year. [ 1 ]
  • 78% of business travelers prefer solo corporate trips. [ 1 ]
  • 66% of business travelers are graduates and hold bachelor’s degrees. [ 2 ]

How Covid has affected Business Travel

Business travel has always been a growing industry, but Covid was a major setback in the industry.

As of October 2021, 98% of companies’ business trips were canceled worldwide due to the Pandemic. [ 4 ]

International business travel experienced a huge decline of -70% in 2020 . [ 6 ]

Also in October 2021, 8 out of 10 firms delayed international business travel. [ 4 ]

Due to the pandemic, business travel spending worldwide recovered by just 5.5% after having plummeted by about 50% in 2020. [ 4 ]

70% of travel service providers reported huge losses due to Covid-19. [ 4 ]

Deloitte, which is the second leading air travel spender in the US, spent more than $583 million on air travel in 2019 . They only spent $97 million in 2020 due to Covid. [ 5 ]

During the pandemic, only 6% of people miss traveling for business, compared to 48% who miss traveling to spend quality time with family. [ 8 ]

Unlike popular opinion, business trips decreased by 60% , much more than leisure trips (24%). [ 10 ]

Business travel spending was reduced from 26% to 14% during Covid in the US. [ 10 ]

Airfares were 54% higher due to social distancing. 

Here we have reviewed the top three countries with major losses in business travel during Covid:

Post-Pandemic Business Travel Statistics

Although the industry was forced to slow down due to the recent Covid-19 pandemic, the business travel market is expected to grow by 188% in 2028 . [ 4 ]

The tourism market lost $1.4 trillion to 1.9 trillion in travel expenditure. [ 9 ]

35.2% of travel buyers believe that travel digitization increased after the pandemic. [ 4 ]

The economic slowdown in China and other sustainability problems across the globe are major reasons for the slow recovery of business travel post-COVID.  [ 4 ]

24% of respondents reported their company is considering returning to domestic travel in one to three months. [ 7 ]

The business travel industry boomed after the restrictions were removed in 2022 at a fine rate as expected. [ 11 ]

By 2026 the global business market is expected to touch $ 791.9 billion . And US market is expected to reach $231.4 billion by then. [ 11 ]

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New York City is the most expensive business destination

30% of companies expect sustainability to cause an 11% to 25% d eduction in travel budgets, by 2025. [ 14 ]

The Transportation segment of business travel is expected to grow by $101.9 billion by 2027 . The notable economies US, Canada, Japan, China, and Europe are expected to drive the 1.4% CAGR.

The global business market is expected to rise by a CAGR of 3% from 2020 to 2027 . [ 11 ]

The biggest amount lost in business travel was $404 billion by China . [ 12 ]

Hong Kong is Asia’s most expensive business travel location, with an average cost of $515 per day. [ 13 ]

By 2028, the global business travel market is predicted to grow by 188%. [ 4 ]

Food and accommodation takes up the largest segment in business travel, projected to grow at 3.7% CAGR and hit $446.6 billion by the end of 2027. [ 11 ]

The business travel market in the US was $243.2 billion worth in 2020. [ 11 ]

China has the world’s second-largest economy, and its business travel market is predicted to grow $49.8 billion by 5.1% CAGR by 2027. [ 11 ]

Germany will grow with a CAGR of 2.4% by 2027 .

Japan and Canada ‘s business travel markets are predicted to grow at a rate of 2.2% and 3.1% respectively by the end of 2027. [ 11 ]

The Asia-Pacific region is forecasted to grow a $114.9 billion market share by 2027, with the topmost economies being Australia, India, and South Korea . [ 11 ]

rise in business travel expenditure

Business Travel Expenditure

Wondering, How much money is spent on business travel?

Are the bills too high? What costs more in business travel?

Go through these Business Travel spending statistics before planning your next trip:

In general, January, March, September to October are the most expensive times to travel. [ 15 ]

The highest business travel amounted to about $1.4 trillion in 2019. [ 14 ]

After facing a major setback due to Covid, business travel spending is going to recover to an all-time high of $1.4 trillion by mid-2016 . [ 14 ]

Business travel expenditure is majorly divided into accommodation costs and transportation. Meals also make up a fair share of total expenditure.

spending during business trip

Expenditure on Accommodation

2015 hotel survey concludes that business travelers comprise 40% of hotel guests. [ 1 ]

In the same year, hotels generated $141.5 billion in business travel tax revenue alone. [ 1 ]

In 2029, meetings and conferences accounted for 18% of hotel gross bookings. [ 1 ]

In terms of hotel cost, New York i s the most expensive business destination where a hotel costs an average of $376 per night. [ 4 ]

Almost half of the companies surveyed in 2022 don’t offer non hotel lodging reimbursement for their employees. [ 5 ]

12% of managers added the amenities for business events in hotels. [ 5 ]

Airbnb’s travel business tripled within the last few days. [ 16 ]

Now 60% of Airbnb bookings are for work, with almost all having more than one guest. 40% of them have three or more guests. [ 16 ]

Transportation Spending

50% of business travel expenditure went towards lodging and air transportation. [ 5 ]

Out of the total $334.2 billion was expended on $94 billion and $70 billion in air transportation. [ 14 ]

Other expenses include $66 billion for food and beverage, $22 billion for retail , $17 billion for fun activities , and $ 65 billion for transportation . [ 14 ]

21% of business travelers confirmed that their top priority while traveling is lowering their carbon footprint, while for 56% it is a moderate priority. [ 14 ]

Benefits and Importance of Business Travel

Wondering, How do you as an employer benefit from sending your employees on business trips?

90.6% of corporate travel managers confirmed that business travel is vital for company growth. [ 30 ]

Businesses earn a $2.90 increase in profit and a $9.50 increase in revenue for every dollar spent on corporate travel. [ 31 ]

79% of employees feel business trips impact their job satisfaction. [ 31 ]

83% of employees reported business travel is a job perk. [ 32 ]

Top Business Travel Destinations and Purpose

While one may believe that there is no specific destination when it comes to work. People travel anywhere and everywhere for work. 

But statistics conclude the opposite. Here we have listed popular business travel destinations:

  • New York City is the most common destination. [ 17 ]
  • Shanghai, Tokyo, Bangkok, Guangzhou, and New York are the fastest-growing destinations for business travel. [ 17 ]
  • China and the US are top markets in terms of travel spend, with Germany, Japan, and the UK being next in line. [ 18 ]
  • Domestic travel by US travelers accounted for $462 million in business trips in 2008 and $500 million in 2022. [ 18 ]
  • Most trips are less than 250 miles away from workspace. [ 18 ]
  • Only 7% or fewer destinations are more than 1k miles away from the office. [ 19 ]
  • More than one-third of business travelers are Asians heading to America and Europe. [ 19 ]
  • The US hosted 500 a ssociation events making it the topmost country for business meetings. [ 4 ]
  • In 2021, Zurich ranked as the most expensive city for business travel with an average daily cost of $593 . [ 4 ]
  • In terms of hotel cost, N ew York is the most expensive business destination where a hotel costs an average of $376 per nigh t. [ 4 ]

best rated business travel destinations

Purposes of Business Travel

43 % of people in a survey stated that sales visits and conferences are the top two reasons for making international business trips in 2022. [ 5 ]

Leadership meetings (32%) and client-based projects (31%) are important reasons behind international trips. [ 5 ]

Business Travel Bleisure and Experience

Today’s corporate world follows the mantra, “ Rest as hard as one works.”

Extending business trips for leisure and making it bleisure is quite normal nowadays.

While companies may fear productivity, they support work-life balance.

Bleisure trips have increased by 20% since 2016. [ 20 ]

Almost half of the corporate trips are extended for leisure. [ 21 ]

41% of business travelers admit to exploring new places and cultures while traveling for work. [ 20 ]

67% of modern travelers want brands to help them make good travel decisions based on previous travel information. [ 23 ]

What Does an Employee Expect on Bleisure from the Company?

  • 82% of travelers expect support from their superiors when taking a break on business trips. [ 21 ]
  • Employees want their companies to consider leisure for their travel policy. [ 21 ]
  • They want to include a budget for extracurriculars (74%) and give them the option to bring a guest on the trip (38%) . [ 21 ]
  • They want flexibility with the schedule during business trips. [ 21 ]
  • 37% of employees wish that they should be given equal time for leisure as they work. [ 21 ]

Business Travel Policy and Management

Companies need to create their own policies so that their employees follow some business values and rules.

Curious to know, What a business travel policy looks like.

These are rules and standards about choosing hotels, car rentals, flights, leisure activities, budgets, and time spent doing work and leisure activities.

While many opt to save themselves from too much hard work over creating a policy, those who create one are highly benefited from it.

business travel policy

40% of businesses did not have a travel policy in 2018. [ 24 ]

60% of corporate travelers say they don’t understand the need for a company travel policy. [ 18 ]

Companies allow more than half of business travelers to book their trips according to their preferences.

27% of business travelers state that their company’s travel policy is ill-managed . [ 20 ]

69% of business travelers happily comply with corporate travel policies. [ 25 ]

Major Business Travel Concerns and Problems

  • 43% of business travelers worry about limited airplane seat availability . [ 26 ]
  • 41% are concerned about earning frequent flier points . [ 26 ]
  • 25% worried about having no direct flights to their destination. [ 26 ]
  • 27% hate waiting time during traveling. [ 26 ]
  • 22% are tired from rides to and from the airport. [ 26 ]

major concerns for business travelers

What Role Does Technology Play in the Whole Scenario?

Want to accelerate the boring behind-the-scenes bookings and checking of your business trips? Join hands with technology!

Business trips are highly dependent on technology these days.

From augmented technology, voice assistance to AI all are coming together to make the process easy. And fintech has played a crucial role in enhancing the travel experience.

Do not worry, you do not need to be tech-savvy! 

Though most business travelers these days already are masters. T echnology around business travel is simple.

51% of travelers use the internet to check in online. [ 27 ]

27% of global passengers use airline applications for bookings , last-minute purchases, and access. [ 27 ]

57% of modern travelers want to track their luggage in real-time with a mobile phone application. [ 28 ]

41% of travelers like voice assistance for their queries. [ 28 ]

66.5% of companies use online expense tracking and recording software. [ 29 ]

79% believe that VR tech for finalizing destination, lodging, and accommodation will be a norm in the coming five years . [ 29 ]

41% of travelers want agencies to use AI for providing travel suggestions. [ 28 ]

What improvements do airlines need according to business travelers?

According to Business Travelers, airlines need to update their systems for real-time and accurate travel notifications. And provide automatic rebooking and voice assistance for travelers’ queries.

What are the most common problems business travelers face?

Business Travelers are bothered by various problems like delayed flights. 8% worry about limited airplane seat availability. 

41% are concerned about earning frequent flier points. And 16% find early or late departures and arrivals exhausting. 

Having no direct flights, and long rides to and from airports are also among the top problems.

What percentage of companies offer travel policies for business travel?

Though 60% of companies have travel policies, 31% of travelers do not follow them. And 27% reported their company had poor travel policy. Despite being majorly benefited, 60% of businesses across the globe do not feel the need for a travel policy.

Business travelers often book their accommodations out-of-the-policy for several reasons such as the location and the budget.

How much is the business travel industry worth?

Business travel has grown to an annual spend of $1.6 trillion by 2020. $1.3 trillion was spent on global business travel in 2017. $325 is the daily cost of corporate travel in the US. $1425 is spent for every employee sent on a trip. 

While the global business travel market was worth $700 billion in 2020, business travel accounted for 20% of total global travel in 2021. The business travel industry has an ever-growing market.

Wrapping Up

After going through business travel statistics we come to the conclusion that after facing a major setback due to the pandemic, global business travel is growing again. And is predicted to reach new heights in the near future. 

While the global business travel market was worth $700 billion in 2020, business travel accounted for 20% of total global travel in 2021. New York City is the most popular business travel destination and has the highest travel expenditure cost. 

Extending business trips for leisure and making it bleisure is quite normal nowadays as 80% of corporate travelers make sure to squeeze in fun activities during business trips.

Technology has accelerated the travel planning and booking process. With the incoming of AI and augmented tech, travelers are relieved and enjoying more leisure time, which they used to spend in arranging travel and queries.

  • AHLA. Lodging Industry Trends
  • Stratos. Over 60 business Travel Statistics
  • Forbes. Millennials Say Business Travel Is Rough, Give Us More
  • Statista. Global business travel – statistics & facts
  • Deloitte. Reshaping the landscape: Corporate travel in 2022 and beyond
  • US Travel Association. Navigating the safe return of meetings and their role in economic recovery. (2020)
  • GBTA. Corornavirus poll results
  • Airbnb. 2021 will be the year of meaningful travel
  • Mckinsey. The travel industry turned upside down
  • US travel. Getting back to business
  • ReportLinker. Global business travel industry
  • Forbes. Airlines warn of 54% higher fares with social distancing
  • ECA International. London ranked joint 10th most expensive location in the world for business trips.
  • GBTA. Global Business Travel Spending is Coming Back
  • Travel Pulse. Companies Spend $111.7 Billion Annually on Business Travel
  • PhocusWire. Airbnb for work bookings triples
  • Spendesk. 60+ fascinating business travel statistics for 2022
  • TravelPerk. 100+ business travel statistics (some never before released)
  • Dollarsprout. 28 Legit Online Jobs That Are Easy, Flexible, and Profitable
  • Medium. The changing landscape of business travel 
  • National Car Rental. National car rental 2018 state of business travel survey fact sheet
  • Expedia Group Media Solutions. More than 40 percent of business trips are extended for leisure purposes
  • Accenture. Personalized marketing index, the new travel experience
  • Egencia. Advances in procurement technology and business travel
  • Lola.com. 5 reasons your corporate travel policy needs regular review
  • FinanceOnline. 105 Critical Business Travel Statistics
  • IATA. IATA global passenger survey 2019
  • Booking.com. 8 travel predictions for 2019
  • Business Travel News. Technology trend watch
  • TripActions & Skift. The state of business travel 2020
  • Certify. The average cost of business travel .
  • Stratos Jet Charters, Inc. Over 60 business travel statistics

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Manisha Saini

Manisha is a digital writer providing guidance in career development and growth. She facilitates skill development and implementation of the right strategies for advancement. At Jobera, She documents content around the latest market trend analysis, insights, and career planning.

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The state of tourism and hospitality 2024

Tourism and hospitality are on a journey of disruption. Shifting source markets and destinations, growing demand for experiential and luxury travel, and innovative business strategies are all combining to dramatically alter the industry landscape. Given this momentous change, it’s important for stakeholders to consider and strategize on four major themes:

  • The bulk of travel is close to home. Although international travel might draw headlines, stakeholders shouldn’t neglect the big opportunities in their backyards. Domestic travel still represents the bulk of travel spending, and intraregional tourism is on the rise.
  • Consumers increasingly prioritize travel—when it’s on their own terms. Interest in travel is booming, but travelers are no longer content with a one-size-fits-all experience. Individual personalization might not always be practical, but savvy industry players can use segmentation and hypothesis-driven testing to improve their value propositions. Those that fail to articulate target customer segments and adapt their offerings accordingly risk getting left behind.
  • The face of luxury travel is changing. Demand for luxury tourism and hospitality is expected to grow faster than any other travel segment today—particularly in Asia. It’s crucial to understand that luxury travelers don’t make up a monolith. Segmenting by age, nationality, and net worth can reveal varied and evolving preferences and behaviors.
  • As tourism grows, destinations will need to prepare to mitigate overcrowding. Destinations need to be ready to handle the large tourist flows of tomorrow. Now is the time for stakeholders to plan, develop, and invest in mitigation strategies. Equipped with accurate assessments of carrying capacities and enhanced abilities to gather and analyze data, destinations can improve their transportation and infrastructure, build tourism-ready workforces, and preserve their natural and cultural heritages.

McKinsey Live event: Faces, places, and trends: The state of tourism & hospitality

McKinsey Live event: Faces, places, and trends: The state of tourism & hospitality

Thursday, June 13 at 10:30 a.m EDT / 4:30 p.m CET

Now boarding: Faces, places, and trends shaping tourism in 2024

Global travel is back and buzzing. The amount of travel fell by 75 percent in 2020; however, travel is on its way to a full recovery by the end of 2024. More regional trips, an emerging population of new travelers, and a fresh set of destinations are powering steady spending in tourism.

There’s no doubt that people still love to travel and will continue to seek new experiences in new places. But where will travelers come from, and where will they go?

We share a snapshot of current traveler flows, along with estimates for growth through 2030.

The way we travel now

Which trends are shaping traveler sentiment now? What sorts of journeys do today’s travelers dream about? How much are they willing to spend on their trips? And what should industry stakeholders do to adapt to the traveler psychology of the moment?

To gauge what’s on the minds of present-day travelers, we surveyed more than 5,000 of them. The findings reveal disparate desires, generational divides, and a newly emerging set of traveler archetypes.

Updating perceptions about today’s luxury traveler

Demand for luxury tourism and hospitality is expected to grow faster than for any other segment. This growth is being powered in part by a large and expanding base of aspiring luxury travelers with net worths between $100,000 and $1 million, many of whom are younger and increasingly willing to spend larger shares of their wealth on upscale travel options. The increase is also a result of rising wealth levels in Asia.

We dug deeper into this ongoing evolution by surveying luxury travelers around the globe about their preferences, plans, and expectations. Some widely held notions about luxury travelers—such as how much money they have, how old they are, and where they come from—could be due for reexamination.

Destination readiness: Preparing for the tourist flows of tomorrow

As global tourism grows, it will be crucial for destinations to be ready. How can the tourism ecosystem prepare to host unprecedented volumes of visitors while managing the challenges that can accompany this success? A large flow of tourists, if not carefully channeled, can encumber infrastructure, harm natural and cultural attractions, and frustrate locals and visitors alike.

Now is the time for tourism stakeholders to combine their thinking and resources to look for better ways to handle the visitor flows of today while properly preparing themselves for the visitor flows of tomorrow. We offer a diagnostic that destinations can use to spot early-warning signs about tourism concentration, along with suggestions for funding mechanisms and strategies to help maximize the benefits of tourism while minimizing its negative impacts.

Six trends shaping new business models in tourism and hospitality

As destinations and source markets have transformed over the past decade, tourism and hospitality companies have evolved, too. Accommodation, home sharing, cruises, and theme parks are among the sectors in which new approaches could present new opportunities. Stakeholders gearing up for new challenges should look for business model innovations that will help sustain their hard-won growth—and profits.

Unbundling offerings, cross-selling distinctive experiences, and embracing data-powered strategies can all be winning moves. A series of insight-driven charts reveal significant trends and an outlook on the future.

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Business Travel Statistics

business travel accommodation statistics

Is there anybody you could think of who doesn’t like traveling? Maybe the answer is a big NO! People relish traveling. People like traveling to such an extent that they even forget to mail others or attend meetings or even listen to seminars during trips. The motto of business travelers is to work hard and play hard. They are happy to endure a morning full of meetings if it means they can spend the rest of the day enjoying.

This article is a compilation of everything you need to know about the most recent business travel statistics. Tighten your seat belts as we are going in for a tour on the latest business travel statistics now.

On this page, you’ll find:

General Business Travel Statistics

Business travel spending statistics, millennial business travel statistics, usage of technology in business travel, benefits and challenges in business travel, key business travel statistics.

Here is a list of the top 10 statistics from this article:

  • Every year, around 445 million business trips are made. (Certify)
  • From 2020 to 2027, the global market for business travel is expected to post a CAGR of 3% (Report Linker)
  • In 2020, global business travel decreased by more than half to $694 billion . (Phocus Wire)
  • As a result of the  COVID-19 pandemic, corporate travel spending is expected to lose $820 billion . (CNBC)
  • Corporate trips are viewed as a status symbol by 65% of business travelers who are millennials. (Forbes)
  • Every year, millennials go on 7.4 trips. (Skift)
  • Globally, 51% of passengers used a smartphone or other device to check-in online. (IATA)
  • To manage their planning and booking needs, 57% of modern travelers want to have a single application. (Booking.com)
  • Business travel is crucial to company growth according to 90.6% of corporate travel managers. (Skift, Trip Actions)
  • For every dollar spent on corporate travel, companies get a $2.90 increase in profit and a $9.50 increase in revenue. (Certify)

          Over the past few years, corporate trips have become more and more prevalent mainly because of the increasingly globalized business landscape. Every year, millions of business travel initiatives are launched. Across the globe, companies have understood the importance of investing in corporate travel. Let us first look into some of the general business travel statistics.

  • In 2021, the global market for business travel is projected to decline by 4.5% (Report Linker)
  • 12% of flight tickets are accounted for by business travelers. This represents 75% of the profits. (Investopedia)
  • With an average cost of $515 per day, the most expensive business travel location in Asia is Hong Kong. (ECA International)
  • In 2017, $1.33 trillion was spent on business travel globally. (GBTA)
  • In Q2 2020, a 90% reduction in business travel was reported by U.S. airlines. (Spendesk)
  • A loss of $162 billion for the U.S. economy was incurred in 2020 as a result of the reduction in travel spending. (U.S. Travel Association)
  • As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 45% of respondents said that their company canceled most international business trips to the U.S. (Statista)
  • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China lost $404 billion in business travel spend losses. (GBTA)

          Undoubtedly, corporate travel is expensive. Accommodations that are affordable, secure, and trustworthy are required by business travelers. Millions of dollars per year are spent by companies on sending their employees on business trips. One should plan properly and create a budget ahead of time to ensure steady business travel funding. We shall now hop into some business travel spending statistics.

  • As a result of the  COVID-19 pandemic, corporate travel spending is expected to lose $820 billion . (CNBC)
  • In the U.S., the average daily cost of business travel is $325 per day. (Business Travel News)
  • Roughly $1,425 is spent by businesses for every employee they send on a business trip. (Fyle)
  • Money for lodging ( 34% ), airfare ( 27% ), meals ( 20% ), and car rentals ( 19% ) is what the average business travel budget consists of. (Travel Pulse)
  • $392 is the average domestic airfare in the U.S. (Business Insider)
  • 21 to 121 days in advance of your preferred flight is the prime booking window, during which the fares are the lowest. (Cheap Air)
  • From the point of their departure, 75% of business trips are less than 250 miles . (U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics)
  • Business travelers account for 40% of hotel guests. (American Hotel & Lodging Association)
  • Business travelers pay attention to quality ( 44% ), trustworthiness ( 38% ), convenience ( 40% ), quietness ( 30% ), affordability ( 28% ), and coziness ( 28% ) when it comes to accommodations. (CWT)

          In the coming years, the majority of the workforce will be comprised of millennials. So, it is important to understand how millennial employees view business travel and how they travel for business. Millennials make sure that they can balance each trip for both business and leisure. In this section, we shall look into some statistics that emphasize millennial business travel.

  • By opting for non-chain hotels, millennial business travelers in the tech industry prioritize cost-efficiency. (Travel Perk)
  • During business trips, 78% of millennials intentionally make time for leisure. (Business Wire)
  • For business, nearly 40% of millennials travel. (American Express)
  • 16% of all business trips are taken by travelers aged 18 to 29 . (U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics)
  • To go on business trips, 56% of millennials create reasons. (Forbes)
  • The ability to book business travel on a third-party site satisfies 72% of millennial business travelers. (Statista)
  • Traveling for work is a perk according to 75% of millennial business travelers. (Forbes)
  • 41% of millennial men and 20% of millennial women agree that they should avoid having fun while on a business trip. (National Car Rental)

          Corporate travelers are a bunch of tech-savvy. To manage their trips, they rely heavily on the internet and their smartphones. They also have a knack for learning new technology. When it comes to innovation, they have high expectations for their companies, travel agencies, airline companies, and similar firms. We shall now look into some statistics that throw light on the usage of technology in business travel.

  • For business travelers to reconcile their expenses and payment data, it takes an average of 40 hours per month . (Egencia)
  • 51% of corporate travelers say that in a few years, all business trip payments will be made via mobile devices. (Business Travel News Europe)
  • 70.5% of all ground transportation receipts for business trips are comprised of ride-hailing companies. (USA Today)
  • In the U.S., 39% of consumers who previously used ride-sharing say that they are planning to lessen their use of these services. (Car Gurus)
  • In 2021, the total number of ride-sharing services is expected to reach 71.3 million users. (eMarketer)
  • 55% of business travelers say that during out-of-town trips, they will allow employers to use GPS tracking to monitor their location. (Travelport)
  • To provide them with significant travel suggestions, 41% expect travel brands to use AI. (Booking.com)
  • To make last-minute purchases such as an additional bag, upgrade, or lounge access 27% of global passengers use an airline app. (IATA)

          Some companies feel that business travel is passe or just a waste of time and money. However, most certainly this is not the case. Businesses can foster stronger and more close-knit relationships with potential clients and partners through corporate trips. Let us now look into some statistics on the benefits and challenges in business travel.

  • Business travel is a job perk according to 83% of employees. (Stratos Jet Charters)
  • The lack of formal processes and outdated booking systems are the factors that affect business travel. (Medium)
  • Corporate travel policies are accepted by 69% of business travelers. (Lola.com)
  • Flight delays ( 65.7% ), flight cancellations ( 31.9% ), and paying for travel expenses with a personal credit card ( 30.5% ) are the most common issues that business travelers face. (Skift, Trip Actions)
  • The waiting time ( 27% ) and having no direct flights ( 25% ) are the most tiring aspects of business travel. (Fly Aeolus)
  • Compared to 48% of people who miss travel to spend time with loved ones, only 6% of people miss traveling for business. (Airbnb)
  • If employees travel without being vaccinated for COVID-19, then corporate travel and meeting planners will be concerned with their liability. (MMGY Global)
  • Compared to pre-COVID-19 conditions, 36% of people expect to travel less for work when the COVID-19 pandemic gets over. (Airbnb)

Frequently Asked Questions

60% of airlines’ revenue comes directly from their passengers. Representing 75% of the profits,12% of flight tickets are accounted for by business travelers.

According to the most recent U.S. statistics, each year around 405 million long-distance business trips are taken by people.

An average of 6.8 trips per year is made by business travelers, while millennials in specific make an average of 7.4 trips per year.

In 2019, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) reported that the share of GDP generated by the business travel market reached 0.7 percent.

A few jobs that require business travel include management consultant, event manager, public accountants or auditors, public or media relations, and regional sales representative.

          We have come to an end of this article and by now you would have understood the importance that companies give for carrying out business travel even in challenging times. Face-to-face meetings are crucial when one wants to build rapport, develop trust, and ensure coordination. This is why business travels are an essential part of many industries.

To conclude, we hope that this statistical list on business travel would have helped you in gaining a better idea of the state of the industry and where it is headed. With this information, one can prepare for their future business travel more easily.

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Author: Shubham Calmblay

Shubham Calmblay, founder of appsthatdeliver.com, has a decade of experience with various Google products. He has authored 1,000+ guides for ATD, published on prestigious tech blogs. His work has garnered recognition from Protocol.com, Leadsbridge.com, MadMobile.com, and numerous other leading publications and corporations.

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Tourism statistics - annual results for the accommodation sector

Data extracted in October 2023.

Planned article update: 25 October 2024.

Nights spent in EU tourist accommodation in 2022: up by 50% compared with 2021, reaching 96% of the pre-Covid-19 levels.

In 2022, German tourists accounted for nearly one in four nights spent by international guests in EU tourist accommodation.

Infographic doughnut chart showing percentage of total nights spent by international guests in EU tourist accommodation by world region of residence of the guest in the year 2022.

This publication focuses on developments in the tourist accommodation sector in the European Union .

Following continuous growth from 2009 until 2019, tourism in the EU was among the most affected sectors by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The number of nights spent in EU tourist accommodation establishments in 2020 fell to half compared with 2019. 2021 showed clear signs of recovery, reaching nearly two-thirds of 2019 levels. The upward trend continued in 2022, when it reached 96 %, while short term indicators for monthly data showed that the number of nights spent during the first six months of 2023 exceeded the pre-pandemic level for the first six months of 2019 (see Tourism statistics - nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments ).

Full article

Nights spent in eu tourist accommodation in 2022: up by 50 % compared with 2021, reaching 96 % of the pre-covid-19 levels..

Over the period 2009-2019, the number of nights spent in EU tourist accommodation establishments grew by 40 %. In particular, there were significant increases in the number of nights spent by international guests (+53 %) while the number of nights spent by residents during domestic trips increased by 30 %. In 2020, tourism was among the most affected sectors by the Covid-19 pandemic with a sharp drop of 51 % in the number of nights spent compared with 2019. 2021 showed clear signs of recovery, with 29 % more nights spent in EU tourist accommodation compared with 2020, while the upward trend continued in 2022, with 50 % more nights spent compared with 2021 (see Figure 1).

Line chart showing indexed trends in nights spent in EU tourist accommodation establishments. Three lines represent total nights spent, nights spent by international tourists and nights spent by domestic tourists over the years 2009 to 2022. The year 2009 is indexed at 100.

With almost 2.8 billion nights spent in 2022 (see Table 1), EU tourism reached 96 % of pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Spain, France, Italy and Germany each recorded more than 400 million nights spent in 2022. Jointly, these four countries accounted for more than six out of ten nights spent in the EU in 2022.

Looking at the distribution by type of accommodation, hotels and similar accommodation were clearly the most popular (61.6 %), followed by holiday and other short-stay accommodation such as rented apartments (24.0 %) and camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks (14.5 %). However, there were significant regional differences: in Bulgaria, Cyprus and Malta hotels covered more than 90 % of the entire market for rented accommodation; more than half of the tourism nights in Croatia were spent in holiday and other short-stay accommodation, while the highest share for campsites was observed in Denmark, France and Luxembourg, with more than 30 % of total nights spent.

Table showing nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments in the EU, individual EU Member States, EFTA countries, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Türkiye and Kosovo in the year 2022.

The increase at EU level compared with 2021 reflected positive trends in all EU Member States. Portugal, Greece, Malta, Spain and Austria reported the highest increases of more than 70 % compared with 2021 (see blue bars in Figure 2). Comparing, however, with the pre-Covid-19 figures (see brown bars in Figure 2), Latvia and Slovakia still faced the biggest gap to bridge, reaching less than 75 % of 2019 levels. On the other hand, Denmark (+12.3 %), the Netherlands (+4.3 %), Belgium (+1.2 %) and France (+0.7 %) fully recovered after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Vertical bar chart showing percentage change nights spent in tourist accommodation in the EU, individual EU Member States, EFTA countries, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Türkiye and Kosovo. Each country has two columns representing the percentage change for the year 2022 with 2021 and 2022 with 2019.

All three types of tourist accommodation showed increases for 2022 compared with 2021. The number of nights spent in hotels increased by 63.2 %, remaining however 8.7 % lower compared with 2019. Nights spent in holiday and other short-stay accommodation and nights spent at campsites increased by 41.2 % and 21.7 % respectively in 2022 compared with 2021, reaching 2019 levels (+0.1 % and +9.9 % respectively) (see Table 2).

Table showing percentage change nights spent in tourist accommodation by type of establishment in the EU, individual EU Member States, EFTA countries, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Türkiye and Kosovo for the year 2022 compared with 2021 and 2019.

Taking into account the population of the country ( tourism intensity ), Croatia (with 23.3 nights) and Malta and Cyprus (15.8 nights each) recorded the highest number of nights spent per inhabitant over the year 2022 (see blue bars in Figure 3). In the EU, an average of 6.2 guest nights were recorded in relation to the overall population of 446.7 million in 2022, 0.2 nights less compared with 2019 when tourism intensity at EU level was 6.4 nights spent per inhabitant (see brown dashes in Figure 3).

Vertical bar chart showing tourism intensity as nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments per inhabitant in the EU, individual EU Member States, EFTA countries, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Türkiye and Kosovo. Each country column represents the year 2022 and scatter plots 2019.

In three EU countries, fewer domestic nights were spent in 2022 than in 2021

The outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020 caused a shift towards domestic tourism. In 2022 compared with 2019, nights spent by international guests fell by 12 %, while nights spent by domestic tourists increased by 2 % (see Table 3). The share of nights spent by international guests in EU tourist accommodation dropped from 47 % in 2019 to 29 % in 2020, while in 2021 this share increased to 32 % of total nights spent and further to 44 % in 2022. Although domestic tourism was less affected, it could only partly compensate for the decline in international tourism.

Table showing percentage change nights spent in tourist accommodation by origin of the guest in the EU, individual EU Member States, EFTA countries, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Türkiye and Kosovo for the year 2022 compared with 2021 and 2019.

In 2022 compared with 2021, nights spent by international guests in EU tourist accommodation increased by 104 %, reflected in all Member States. The lowest increases, below 60 %, were reported by Croatia, Cyprus and Luxembourg, while in Czechia the overnight stays by international guests almost tripled. Figure 4 shows for each Member State, how close overnight stays by international tourists in 2022 came to 2019 levels, the year before the pandemic. Denmark, Croatia, Portugal and Luxembourg reached over 95 % of 2019 levels, while international tourists in Latvia in 2022 spent less than 60 % of the nights they had spent in 2019.

Vertical bar chart showing indexed nights spent by international guests in tourist accommodation in the EU, individual EU Member States, EFTA countries, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Türkiye and Kosovo. Each country column represents the year 2022 and scatter plots 2021. A line across all countries represents the year 2019 indexed at 100.

In 2022, 25 % more domestic nights were spent in EU tourist accommodation compared with 2021. Greece (+42 %) and Germany (+41 %) recorded the biggest increases, while Cyprus, Malta and Slovenia reported drops in domestic nights (most likely a substitution effect after a year where it was relatively difficult to travel abroad). Given the fact that domestic tourism recovered faster than international tourism, nights spent by domestic guests in the EU in 2022 reached 2019 levels (+2 %). Figure 5 shows that in 19 EU countries, domestic nights recovered completely in 2022 and even surpassed 2019 levels, while in all other countries domestic nights are much closer to 2019 levels compared with international nights.

Vertical bar chart showing indexed nights spent by domestic guests in tourist accommodation in the EU, individual EU Member States, EFTA countries, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Türkiye and Kosovo. Each country column represents the year 2022 and scatter plots 2021. A line across all countries represents the year 2019 indexed at 100.

The top 30 NUTS 3 regions represented 26.5 % of all nights spent in the EU

Looking at regional [1] data, the top region at NUTS 3 level attracted 1.8 % of all nights spent in the EU during 2022. This was the Spanish region of Mallorca, followed by the French region of the capital city Paris, the Spanish region of Barcelona and the Italian region of Venezia. In 2022, the top 30 regions accounted for 26.5 % of all nights spent in the 1 166 NUTS 3 regions of the EU, while accounting for only 2.9 % of the EU territory (see Table 4). One in eight tourism nights was spent in the top 10 of the in total 1166 regions, these 10 regions representing only 1.1 % of the EU territory.

Map 1 shows nights spent by international guests as share of total nights spent in each NUTS 3 region. The region of Ausserfern in the Austrian Tirol, the three Greek regions of Irakleio, Lasithi and Rethymno in the island of Crete, and the Croatian region of Istarska županija (Istria County) come on top with 96 % of nights spent by international guests.

Table showing the top 30 EU tourism destinations as NUTS 3 regions in terms of million nights spent and percentage share in tourist accommodation for the year 2022.

Paris, the most visited city in the EU

From 2020 reference year on, Eurostat publishes data on nights spent in selected cities, including all capitals and cities with a minimum population of 200 000 inhabitants as well as some other cities that are of particular importance for tourism. In 2022, more than 71 million nights were spent in Paris, the most visited city in the EU, followed by Roma and Berlin with respectively 29.2 and 26.3 million nights.

Table 5 shows for each country the top 3 cities in terms of nights spent in tourist accommodation. With the exception of Bulgaria, Spain, Croatia and Cyprus the most visited city was the capital city of each Member State. In Latvia, Lithuania and Malta, the capital city accounted for more than half of the total nights spent in the country. Very important shares of the capital cities were also recorded in Estonia (44.5 %), Luxembourg (33.6 %), Hungary (29.6 %), Czechia (26.5 %) and Portugal (22.2 %).

Table showing nights spent in tourist accommodation in the top three cities in the EU, individual EU Member States and EFTA countries for the year 2022.

German tourists accounted for nearly four out of every 10 nights spent by international tourists in EU tourist accommodation

In 2022, more than half (56.4 %) of nights in tourist accommodation were spent by domestic tourists, travelling inside their own country (see Figure 6).

Pie chart showing percentage nights spent in EU tourist accommodation by origin of guest. Three segments represent domestic, international from other EU countries and international from outside the EU for the year 2022.

The majority of the 1.2 billion nights spent by international guests were by tourists coming from other EU Member States (65 %), while 22 % were spent by tourists coming from other European countries. Only 13 % of non-resident nights were spent by tourists from other continents (see Figure 7).

Pie chart showing nights spent by international guests in EU tourist accommodation as percentage of total international nights spent by world region of residence of the guest for the year 2022.

German tourists accounted for 23 % of the total international nights in EU tourist accommodation, followed by French and Italian tourists (with 5.7 % and 3.4 % respectively). For 11 out of the 26 Member States with available data – excluding the German domestic market – the greatest number of tourists came from Germany. For the 13 remaining Member States, nights spent by German tourists were their second or third market, the only exception being Malta (see Table 6).

Table showing percentage nights spent in tourist accommodation by top countries of origin of the guest in the EU, individual EU Member States, EFTA countries, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye for the year 2022. Kosovo.

More than 28 million bed places in EU tourist accommodation

In 2022, the EU could offer 28.9 million bed places to accommodate tourists, spread over more than 621 000 establishments. In terms of bed places, Italy (with 5.2 million bed places) and France (with 5.1 million bed places) accounted for more than one-third of total available capacity (see Table 7).

Table showing capacity of tourist accommodation establishments by NACE group in the EU, individual EU Member States, EFTA countries, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye for the year 2022.

The comparability and completeness of this data is affected by the fact that countries apply data collection thresholds. In many countries, establishments having fewer than ten bed places are not covered by these statistics, but the threshold applied is not identical across the European Union. This means that the 28.9 million bed places mentioned above is a modest estimate; the actual number of bed places including those offered in the smallest establishments may be higher than the published estimate.

For countries where a breakdown by size class is available, 58 % of hotels and similar accommodation establishments had less than 25 bedrooms, 34 % had between 25 and 99 and 9 % were large establishments with a capacity of 100 or more bedrooms (see Table 8).

table showing percentage hotels and similar accommodation establishments by size class in the EU, individual EU Member States and EFTA countries for the year 2022.

Average occupancy rate of bed places in hotels was 47 % in 2022

Comparing the capacity data in terms of available beds or rooms with the occupancy data in terms of nights spent gives an indicator of the occupancy rates . At EU level, the net occupancy rate of bed places in hotels was 47 % in 2022, down by 3 percentage points (pp) compared with 2019. The highest occupancy rates were recorded in Cyprus (66 %), Spain (59 %), Croatia (55 %), Malta (54 %) and Greece (51 %) (see Figure 8).

Vertical bar chart showing percentage net occupancy rates of bed places in hotels and similar accommodation in the EU, individual EU Member States, EFTA countries, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye. Each country has two columns comparing the year 2019 with 2022.

Source data for tables and graphs

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Data sources

For the short-term trends in the nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments in the European Union (EU), see the quarterly updated article Tourism statistics - nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments .

The EU is a major tourist destination, with four Member States among the world's top ten destinations for holidaymakers, according to UNWTO [2] data. Tourism is an important activity in the EU which contributes to employment and economic growth, as well as to the development of rural, peripheral or less-developed areas. These characteristics drive the demand for reliable and harmonised statistics on this activity, as well as within the wider context of regional policy and sustainable development policy areas.

Direct access to

  • Tourism entry page in Statistics Explained
  • All articles on tourism statistics
  • Tourism statistics - nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments
  • Tourism (t_tour)
  • Tourism (tour)
  • Tourism statistics
  • Recent Eurostat publications on tourism
  • Capacity and occupancy of tourist accommodation establishments (ESMS metadata file — tour_occ_esms)
  • With 2012 as reference year:
  • Regulation (EU) No 692/2011 of 6 July 2011 concerning European statistics on tourism and repealing Council Directive 95/57/EC. ( Summary )
  • Regulation (EU) No 1051/2011 of 20 October 2011 implementing Regulation (EU) No 692/2011 concerning European statistics on tourism, as regards the structure of the quality reports and the transmission of the data.
  • Previous legal acts (concerning reference periods before 2012):
  • Commission Decision 1999/35/CE of 9 December 1998 on the procedures for implementing Council Directive 95/57/EC on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism.
  • Commission Decision 2004/883/CE of 10 December 2004 adjusting the Annex to Council Directive 95/57/EC on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism as regards country lists.
  • Directive 95/57/EC of 23 November 1995 on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism.
  • Directive 2006/110/EC of 20 November 2006 adapting Directives 95/57/EC and 2001/109/EC in the field of statistics, by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania.
  • Regional Statistics Illustrated - select statistical domain 'Tourism' (top right)
  • Agenda for a sustainable and competitive European tourism (Communication from the European Commission, October 2007)
  • European Commission - Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs - Tourism
  • ↑ More detailed regional data: Tourism statistics at regional level
  • ↑ UNWTO data
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Watch CBS News

How Trump's conviction could change the dynamics of the 2024 race

By Olivia Rinaldi , Jacob Rosen , Katrina Kaufman

Updated on: May 31, 2024 / 11:57 AM EDT / CBS News

Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in his Manhattan criminal trial, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already unprecedented campaign.

As a c onvicted felon , Trump is not prevented from continuing to campaign for president , since the Constitution does not prohibit candidates from running for president even if they are convicted of a crime. In fact, there is precedent for a candidate running from behind bars: In 1920, Socialist Party candidate Eugene V. Debs ran for president from a federal penitentiary in Atlanta.

Trump is the first former U.S. president to be found guilty of felonies, and the first major party candidate to run for office after being found guilty of a crime. Here's how his conviction could change the 2024 campaign:

How Trump can campaign after his conviction

Now that he's convicted, Trump is all but certain to appeal the decision handed down by the jury, and he is likely to be able to return to the campaign trail as the process plays out. 

The next development in the case will come at sentencing, currently scheduled for July 11. Justice Juan Merchan has wide discretion over when sentencing occurs and what the punishment looks like. Trump faces a maximum of up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each of the 34 felony charges of falsification of business records. The sentencing options available to Merchan include prison, probation, conditional discharge, fines or house arrest.

The judge could put limitations on his travel, such as restricting Trump from leaving the state and taking his passport, but Merchan has said he doesn't want to interfere with his ability to campaign.

"I would think that the judge wouldn't dare interfere with his right to speak to the American public because it's the right of the voters to be informed as well," said John Coffee, a professor at Columbia Law School and an expert on corporate governance and white collar crime.

In a recent survey of dozens of cases brought by Manhattan District Attorney's Office in which falsifying business records was the most serious charge at arraignment, attorney and author Norm Eisen found that roughly one in 10 of those cases resulted in a sentence of incarceration.

"I think that is fascinating," said Caroline Polisi, a criminal defense attorney and professor at Columbia Law School. "A lot of commentators say the reason he won't be incarcerated is because the logistics of it with respect to the Secret Service would be too much. On the other hand, if you're saying he should be treated like any other defendant, we have a lot of data saying that 90% of other defendants would not get jail time in this situation."

The impact of the conviction on Trump's ability to campaign could largely hinge on what sentence Merchan ultimately hands down, and when Trump would serve it.

"In the context in which he is found guilty and then sentenced to no jail time, I don't think it's going to cause a bit of difference," added Polisi. "There might be some minor issues. He might not be able to vote for himself. But other than that, I don't think it's going to cause any problems."

When determining Trump's sentence, the judge could take into account his numerous gag order violations — which led Merchan to threaten him with jail time if the violations continued — and his lack of demonstrated remorse or respect for the legal system. Throughout the trial, Trump referred to Merchan as "conflicted" and "corrupt" and to the case itself as a "sham." 

"In New York, a 78-year-old defendant, who's a first time offender, committed a non-violent offense, and has an otherwise, well, distinguished record — in some regards being an ex-president is distinguished. In that kind of world, there'd be no chance of an incarceration sentence," said Coffee. Trump turns 78 on June 14. "They can use probation, they can use fines. But there may be a view of many judges that you have to show that no one's above the law, and even the future president should have a taste of prison."

Even if Merchan does order Trump to serve time behind bars, the sentence could be deferred until his appeal has run its course.

"In other cases, when you don't have someone running for the White House, it would be more or acceptable to put him immediately into incarceration," said Coffee. "You certainly could put special conditions on what he could do or put him under house arrest, but I think until we get to the actual election, we're going to have to let Donald Trump run around and campaign."

The conviction's possible impact on Trump's poll numbers and support

Trump has predicted that a conviction in this trial could boost his poll numbers. 

"Even if convicted, I think that it has absolutely no impact. It may drive the numbers up, but we don't want that. We want to have a fair verdict," Trump told CBS Pittsburgh in an interview earlier this month.

Trump's support among his Republican base has been remarkably resilient in the face of his various criminal cases. In the months following his four indictments last year, Trump maintained his commanding lead in the Republican primary, capturing the nomination despite the dozens of criminal charges he faced.

Many Trump supporters who CBS News has interviewed since the trial began have said a guilty conviction will not change how they vote in November, adopting the former president's grievances as their own.

"Stormy Daniels has already been reviewed and stuff. It's kind of coincidental," Michigan resident Lori Beyer said at a recent rally in Freeland, Michigan, adding she would vote for Trump regardless of the conviction. "I don't think it's going to impact it, as far as I'm concerned."

Whether a conviction changes the minds of voters who are not committed to the former president remains to be seen. A recent CBS News poll found that the majority of Americans believed Trump is "definitely or probably" guilty of the charges he faced in New York. The overwhelming majority of Democrats — 93% — believed Trump was guilty, while 78% Republicans said he was not. Independents were split, with 53% believing he was guilty and 47% saying he wasn't. 

Opinions about whether Trump was guilty or not were already highly partisan, according to Kabir Khanna, deputy director of elections and data analytics for CBS News. Most people who believed Trump was guilty also thought the jury would convict him, and vice versa. 

Additionally, Khanna said people who followed the trial closely were the most polarized in their views.

"Together, these factors could blunt the impact of the verdict on the views of an already divided public," Khanna said. "Some voters may be swayed by the news, but I wouldn't expect a sea change." 

Other polling supports that notion. A NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey released Thursday found that 67% of registered voters nationwide said a Trump conviction would not make a difference in how they vote. Among independents, just 11% said a guilty verdict would make them less likely to vote for Trump.

The conviction also gives the Biden campaign a potentially potent new weapon in their arsenal: the ability to label Trump a convicted felon. Mr. Biden remained largely silent about the Trump trial while it was ongoing, but NBC News reported last week that he planned to become more aggressive about Trump's legal woes after the trial concluded, while acknowledging that Trump would be on the ballot regardless of how his legal cases played out.

Trump has used the trial to help boost his fundraising, and will likely look to capitalize on the conviction. The Trump campaign and Republican National Committee saw an influx of donations after jury selection began, with the two entities raising $76 million in April. His campaign had about $50 million cash on hand at the beginning of May as he prepared to get back out on the campaign trail after the trial.

The former president repeatedly used the developments in the trial to raise money, including when he was held in contempt for violating the gag order against him.

"I'd get arrested ONE MILLION TIMES before I'd let those filthy dogs get their hands on you," one typical fundraising appeal read. 

Trump's other criminal cases

The New York case might be the only one of Trump's four criminal prosecutions to reach a conclusion before voters cast their ballots in the fall, giving the guilty verdict added weight.

The two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith remain in limbo. 

In Washington, D.C., Trump faces charges related to his actions to remain in power after the 2016 election. Trump has argued that he is immune from prosecution, and the Supreme Court is currently weighing his claim.

The high court heard arguments in the immunity dispute on April 26 and is expected to issue a decision on the matter before the end of the court's term, likely in June. If the case is allowed to move forward, there is a slim possibility that the district court could schedule the trial before November. If the justices side with Trump and find him immune from prosecution, the charges would be dropped.

In Florida, Trump faces federal charges stemming from his retention of classified documents after he left the White House. Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Trump, has indefinitely postponed the trial. She ruled in early May that picking a trial date would be "imprudent and inconsistent with the court's duty to fully and fairly consider" numerous unresolved pre-trial motions. Those motions include Trump's efforts to dismiss the case altogether, as well as issues related to what classified information can be revealed at trial.

In the third case that remains outstanding, Trump faces state charges related to the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia. The trial in that matter is also on hold as Trump seeks to have District Attorney Fani Willis removed from the case. Georgia's Court of Appeals recently granted Trump's appeal of a decision that had allowed her to remain, bringing the trial to a temporary halt.

Trump's two federal cases could largely be in voters' hands if they are not resolved by November, a fact that raises his personal stake in the outcome. If he wins and returns to the White House in January 2025, Trump could order the Justice Department to seek to drop the charges altogether.

Trump has pleaded not guilty in all of the criminal cases against him.

  • Donald Trump

More from CBS News

Some Black Americans find irony in Trump's reaction to guilty verdict

Views of Trump trial unchanged following verdict — CBS News poll

Full transcript of "Face the Nation," June 2, 2024

Wisconsin fake elector on why he signed phony electoral document for Trump

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The average cost of a vacation: Transportation, food, entertainment and more

business travel accommodation statistics

As another travel season approaches, many consumers are planning how much they’ll need to spend on such items as flights and accommodations, with the caveat that these costs are higher than they’ve been in previous years.

While inflation has slowed, its effects persist. According to Bankrate’s Summer Vacation Survey, 47 percent of Americans aren’t planning a summer trip this year. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of those people cite affordability. Strategic financial planning will be essential for managing travel costs while still making invaluable travel experiences.

Vacation costs vary tremendously depending on such factors including the destination, accommodations and activities. Here are some average costs to help you budget your vacation and manage increased costs.

Key vacation cost statistics

  • For a one-week vacation in the U.S., the average cost for one person is  $1,991. (Budget Your Trip)
  • A one-week vacation in the U.S. for two people jumps to an average cost of $3,982. (Budget Your Trip)
  • Round-trip flights to Europe from the U.S. are averaging around $918,  between May and September 2024. (The Points Guy)
  • The average cost for a double occupancy hotel room in the U.S. is $259 per night. (Budget Your Trip)

How much does a vacation cost?

The average cost of a one-week vacation in the U.S. for one person is $1,991 . Many Americans, keeping in mind the cost of traveling, plan to take various measures to reduce how much they’re spending on such expenses as travel and accommodations.

Transportation costs

Transportation can account for a large chunk of your vacation budget, so it’s a good idea to start with these costs when planning your trip. In addition to airfare, factor in any other costs such as car rental, gasoline, tolls and parking fees.

Airfare tends to peak in June, with the highest prices around the summer months in general. Fares will peak this summer at $315 for a round-trip domestic ticket, with prices remaining in line with those of last year, according to Hopper.

To keep traveling budget-friendly amid rising costs, many consumers are making changes to their plans. Over one-quarter (27 percent) say they’re driving instead of flying to their destination this year, according to Bankrate’s holiday travel survey. Meanwhile, 21 percent say they’re traveling a shorter distance, and 17 percent say they’re using rewards points or loyalty programs to help pay for travel.

Keep in mind: More than one-third (36 percent) of U.S. adults traveling this summer will take on debt to pay for their vacation, according to Bankrate’s Summer Vacation Survey. Ways you can avoid vacation debt include taking a shorter vacation or a staycation.

Hotel and other accommodation costs

Hotel prices vary dramatically depending on the location, demand and time of year. An oceanfront hotel room in South Florida, for example, will cost less in the winter months than in summer, when deals can be found.

If your budget isn’t generous and you’re OK with fewer comforts, hostels or a recreational vehicle park can save you money.

When planning a vacation, you can also save by choosing a destination that’s less popular, while still offering value in experience. France, one of the most popular destinations, costs on average $1,753 to visit for one week. Meanwhile, the average cost for a week-long trip to Zagreb, Croatia, costs $574 on average, according to Budget Your Trip.

Food and entertainment costs

Food and entertainment expenses can lighten your wallet if you don’t draft a thorough vacation budget. They tend to be among the last costs travelers consider when planning a trip.

The average cost of food for one person on vacation, per day, is $58, according to Budget Your Trip. This figure doesn’t include snacks, tips or alcohol.

Budgeting for a family vacation can be trickier than budgeting for a solo trip, especially if young children are coming along. You probably won’t be eating at posh restaurants and strolling museums with kids in tow, but you likely will have to budget for a bigger hotel room and reservations for activities they’ll enjoy. Don’t forget to look for group rates and discounts, if eligible.

Average cost of a vacation by generation

Data from Squaremouth , a travel insurance company, shows that older generations spend more on travel than younger generations, on average. The Silent generation — the oldest living generation — spends over $3,500 per trip, on average. By contrast, Generation Zers spend just under $2,000 per trip, on average.

The higher vacation costs for older generations may be due to them having more savings , longer trips or a number of other factors. Still, while Gen Zers are spending less on travel, they’re more likely to travel for fun : 68 percent of Gen Zers planned to travel for leisure in 2023, according to Bankrate’s travel problems survey .

During the 2023 holiday season, younger generations were also more likely to change their travel plans due to inflation. Of Gen Z holiday travelers, 86 percent changed their travel plans for cost reasons, followed by millennials (80 percent), Gen Xers (77 percent) and baby boomers (68 percent), according to Bankrate’s Holiday Travel Survey.

Vacations and inflation

Increased costs for airlines, accommodations and other travel-related services contribute to higher overall trip expenses. Since this time last year, the average cost for a one-week vacation in the U.S., has risen by $413, or about 26 percent.

These high costs, coupled with diminished purchasing power, prompts consumers to make adjustments in their travel plans, either by choosing more economical options, shortening their vacations or, in the worst case, forgoing travel altogether. According to Bankrate’s Summer Vacation Survey, 65 percent of U.S. adults not planning to travel this summer say it’s because they can’t afford it.

But you don’t have to give up the idea of traveling this year because of costs. Instead, strategic planning and setting priorities can ensure you’re traveling within the capacity of your wallet.

Vacation budgeting tips

More than a one-third (36 percent) of U.S. adults traveling this summer say they will take on debt as a result, according to Bankrate’s Summer Vacation Survey.

“We have most definitely put a bit too much emphasis on spending money during the holidays,” says Aja Evans, LMHC, Financial Therapist at Laurel Road, a division of KeyBank. “While I love the value of coming together during this time, the costs can quickly add up.”

Here are some tips to help you get the most trip for your money :

  • Determine how much you can spend on the vacation and draft a budget.
  • Start a vacation fund, such as a sinking fund , in a high-yield savings account .
  • “Prioritize your must-attend events” rather than traveling for every holiday, says financial therapist Aja Evans, LMHC.
  • Avoid paying high prices for lodging at popular destinations by finding accommodations slightly farther away.
  • Save money by visiting destinations during off-seasons.
  • Search for inexpensive flights and book in advance. You might save money on international flights by booking the cheapest flight to the destination country, followed by another flight to the particular city you wish to visit.
  • If traveling abroad, find places that offer the best currency exchange rates.
  • Consider using a prepaid debit card to control daily spending or a good travel rewards credit card to earn cash back on certain purchases.
  • Plan meals, and work them into your budget accordingly. If you wish to eat at a high-end restaurant for dinner, choose an inexpensive meal for lunch.
  • Plan what you’ll need to bring, and pack those items in your travel bag. This can help you avoid buying things on the trip that you forgot to bring, such as toiletries or over-the-counter medicine.

Budgeting for a family vacation can be trickier than budgeting for a solo trip, especially if young children are coming along. You probably won’t be eating at posh restaurants and visiting many museums with young kids in tow, but you will have to pay for a bigger hotel room and plan for activities they’ll enjoy. Don’t forget to look for group rates and discounts, if eligible.

Bottom line

The main budgetary components of a vacation include lodging, transportation, food and entertainment — all of which cost more now than they did in past years, due to the effects of high inflation.

While all aspects of a vacation can be pricey, it’s possible to lower your costs significantly through such activities as budgeting, traveling during the off-season, finding affordable ways (and places) to eat and planning early.

And, of course, setting money aside early and often can help you get the most out of your vacation. “Setting up a sinking fund you contribute to throughout the year can alleviate the last-minute pressure to spend money you don’t have,” financial therapist Evans says.

— Former Bankrate writer René Bennett contributed to a previous version of this story.

business travel accommodation statistics

Business, conference travel on the rise

Ellanie Smit

The total average occupancy at tourism establishments increased with 7% in April compared to the same period last year, while business travel made up more than 13% of accommodation registered during the month.

According to statistics provided by the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), the total national average occupancy was over 58% in April and even 4% higher than the average occupancy for April 2019. The year 2019 is known as the last pre-pandemic year for tourism.

The association's CEO Gitta Paetzold said European markets dominate the Namibian tourism sector, while German-speaking countries still maintained a prime position. Specifically visitors from Germany, Switzerland and Austria made up 38.02%.

She said what is exciting to note is that business travel seems to be returning slowly but surely, with over 13% of the accommodation registered in April noted as business travel, especially in the hotel segment.

“Last year, business and conference travel constituted just over 8%, while in 2019 business travel made up 13.5% of the accommodation numbers and conferencing some 3.6%.”

Paetzold said with Namibia preparing to host major events in the coming weeks and months, they expect this trend to continue and, in particular, the conference business sector to pick up strongly.

Barely captured

Meanwhile, she admitted that the pure camping segment of the Namibian industry is still understated, "despite HAN having added a special column for this category into its reporting form".

She said the visible presence of self-drive travellers on Namibian roads and in towns, restaurants and other tourism attractions points to a much higher prevalence of camping in the country - information that could possibly be held by especially the car rental companies offering fully-equipped vehicles.

Paetzold said while HAN solely relies on the contribution and input from its members the registered commercial tourism accommodation businesses listed in Namibia and with the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), it must be assumed that an additional stream of business and revenue flows into Namibia via online booking platforms and businesses listed on these platforms only.

However, this is barely captured in terms of official revenue or tax declaration, and yet it has an impact and footprint on the Namibian environment and infrastructure, she noted.

Paetzold added that with the Namibian tourism industry this week focusing on 'conscious travel' and responsible tourism development during the Travel Namibia Festival event, the impact of tourism and the extent to which Namibia's infrastructure and the environment can sustain tourism development will come under scrutiny.

According to her, sustainable development is the key to success, adding that stakeholders and operators are committed to ensure that the focus remains on sustainability.  

I paid $500 for a private room on a 30-hour Amtrak ride that came with 2 beds and a toilet. Take a look inside.

  • I spent 30 hours in a sleeper car on an Amtrak train traveling from New York City to Miami in 2021.
  • For $500, I stayed in a roomette , a private cabin with two beds, a toilet, and basic amenities.
  • At around 20 square feet, I thought my cabin made impressive use of a tiny space.

Insider Today

In October 2021, I took my first overnight train journey from New York City to Miami. For the 30 hour-ride, I booked the cheapest private cabin I could — an Amtrak roomette for $500.

The 22.75-square-foot cabin had two beds, a toilet, and basic amenities. With clever storage hacks , I thought it felt like a tiny hotel room with no unused space.

Take a look around the most affordable Amtrak ride in a private cabin.

To get to my private room, I walked along a narrow corridor that could only be used single file and crossed three sleeper cars.

business travel accommodation statistics

Inside, I found two seats, a table, and a bed above the seats that pulled down. The seats also pulled out into a bed.

I thought this was a big step up from sitting in coach, where you get one train seat and sit with other passengers.

My roomette had a door and blinds to cover up the windows.

business travel accommodation statistics

Across from the window was a sliding door that locked and curtains for privacy.

The room came with clever storage features that reminded me of a tiny home, like a pullout table between the chairs.

business travel accommodation statistics

The table had two foldout leaves, too, for more counter space.

In some roomettes — mine included — a side table swings open to reveal a hidden toilet. Above it, I had a folding sink and mirror.

business travel accommodation statistics

With no privacy curtain around the toilet, I was grateful to be a solo traveler.

Due to the availability when I booked my ticket, I had to switch partway through my trip to another roomette, which didn't have a toilet.

business travel accommodation statistics

For that portion, I used a shared bathroom at the back of the sleeper car.

I was surprised by the roomette's variety of lighting options, which seemed to be more than what I'd get in economy on a flight.

business travel accommodation statistics

I was also surprised to be able to control the temperature inside my roomette with a dial and air conditioning vents. I kept it cool, about 66 degrees Fahrenheit.

My ticket came with dinner, which I ate in the dining car.

business travel accommodation statistics

For dinner, I had braised short ribs, mashed potatoes, and a hard roll. While I didn't love the meal as it came, I made a little sandwich out of the ingredients, which tasted better to me.

After dinner, I was ready to rest for the night. The roomette seats folded into a bed on the bottom level, and another bed came down from the ceiling that was suspended in the air.

business travel accommodation statistics

I decided to try sleeping on the top bed. I thought the available blankets wrapped in plastic were surprisingly soft and comfortable.

While I found the train movement through the night to be a little unsettling, I appreciated the dim, blue light on the wall next to me. It was my favorite feature of the roomette because it reminded me of my colorful night light at home.

Even though I didn't sleep my best, I'm glad I went with the top bunk because of the blue light and the views I had in the morning.

business travel accommodation statistics

Looking out the window reminded me that I was going somewhere exciting, and I thought it was a welcome distraction from the tight quarters.

Though the roomette started to feel small as I neared the full 30 hours in it, I thought it made impressive use of roughly 20 square feet.

business travel accommodation statistics

After 30 hours in a roomette, I would book the accommodation again. But for those looking for more room to stretch out, I recommend the Amtrak bedroom .

business travel accommodation statistics

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Festive Travel Statistics: Christmas and New Year’s Eve Getaway Trends

business travel accommodation statistics

Christmas holidays might be over, but the festive travel statistics and trends are as hot as ever. Although COVID-19 impacted many people’s Christmas and New Year’s Eve traveling arrangements, the pandemic is over, and festive travel is on its way back .

For that reason, it’s important to stay up to date with the latest holiday travel trends and plans . Not only can these plans significantly impact their spending patterns, but they can also be an example of macro-economic trends that prevailed in the last few years and are likely to prevail in the future.

We’ve put together this guide to the Christmas and NYE getaway statistics and trends around the world. We delve into the festive travel choices made by people worldwide, the most popular destinations for holiday travel, and the possible future trends for traveling during this period. Let’s dive in.

Key Festive Travel Statistics

The americas, destinations, accommodation, transportation, authentic experiences, sustainability, staying connected, shifts in holiday travel statistics.

1. Only 6% of US residents (20 million people) chose to go on a Christmas vacation in 2023. Most people preferred to stay home for Christmas. 2. Over 8 million of UK residents have gone abroad this holiday season by air travel alone. 3. 57% of Nigerians travel within their country to visit their relatives during the Xmas season. For Kenyans, the figure is 64% and for South Africans, it’s 60%. 4. Over 50% of Christmas travelers stay in London for 10 days or more, and London’s popularity as a Xmas destination grew 11% from 2022. 5. Four out of ten top global vacation destinations by hotel occupancy are located in APAC – they are Phuket, Tokyo, Sydney, and Taiwan.

Holiday Travel Statistics by Region

Christmas vacation score by country

First of all, how many people around the world actually choose to go on Christmas vacations and what are their main reasons for doing so? Let’s take a closer look at how this manifested across different countries and regions, as well as extrapolate key trends.

Number of people traveling home during the 2022-2023 holiday season in the US

The song “Driving Home for Christmas” is very telling – most people who travel during Christmas in the US do so to get home. In fact, over 100 million US residents (almost 33% of the total US population) drove home for Christmas in 2023. By comparison, 7.5 million Americans flew home last year.

In contrast, only 6% of US residents (20 million people) chose to go on a Christmas vacation in 2023 . Understandably, most people preferred to stay home for Christmas. By comparison, 7% of Mexico residents (approximately 8.9 million) went on vacation for a Christmas.

Most popular UK airports for Christmas traveling in 2023

Given the freedom of movement in the EU, more people there travel for Christmas than in the US – whether it’s to see their family in another country or to go on a ski holiday.

The Christmas travel trend is particularly prevalent in the UK. Although 66% of Brits spent Christmas at home in 2023 , a significant proportion of UK residents have gone abroad this holiday season – over 8 million by air travel alone , to be precise. In 2022, that figure was just 5 million .

Many of these travelers prefer to go to sunny destinations to escape the rough British winters, such as Turkey and the Canary Islands. However, some Brits love traveling to Lapland: over 40,000 British residents visited Santa’s homeland last year with just one travel agency.

Christmas traveling in Africa, 2021-2022

It seems that many residents of African countries, such as Kenya , Nigeria , and South Africa , go on a trip during the Christmas holidays. The majority of these trips are, however, domestic and involve visiting family.

57% of Nigerians travel within their country to  visit their relatives . For Kenyans, the figure is 64% , and for South Africans, it’s 60% .

Few Africans travel abroad during the holidays . The figures for each of the aforementioned countries don’t constitute more than 10%.

Average spending per person on flights in Australi, October 2023

Not every APAC country celebrates Christmas and New Year’s at the end of December. Despite that, the region is a popular destination for travelers around the world during the festive season.

Many countries, especially in the South East Asia, are warm and sunny all year round, making them popular among travelers from colder parts of the world.

For instance, 2023’s Christmas and New Year’s Eve bookings in APAC were 10% higher than the year before , according to Amadeus . In the next section, we examine the most popular festive period destinations in APAC and other regions.

Most Popular Christmas & NYE Getaways

Now that we’ve taken a look at the regional Christmas travel trends, let’s take a look at the most popular getaways of the festive season.

Most popular Chrismast and New Year's destinations in 2023 per region

Amadeus’ 2023 report reveals the top Christmas holiday destination to be Los Cabos, Mexico. But how does it stack up against other popular festive destinations?

As we mentioned above, the Asia-Pacific region is growing in popularity for the festive season. Four out of ten top global vacation destinations by hotel occupancy are located in APAC, according to Amadeus. They are Phuket, Tokyo, Sydney, and Taiwan.

In the 2023 Christmas season, the occupancy rate in Phuket was 69% , while Sydney has seen the highest increase in popularity : it’s up 22% from 2022.

Most popular EMEA Chrismas and New Year's destinations in 2023 by occupancy

According to RateGain , the top Christmas travel destinations for Europeans are:

  • London . The festivities in Covent Garden and the stunning Christmas light displays are big reasons for the UK capital’s popularity during the festive season. Over 50% of Christmas travelers stay in London for 10 days or more, and London’s popularity as a Xmas destination grew 11% from 2022 .
  • Berlin . The popularity of the German capital during Christmas is largely thanks to the famous German Christmas markets. The majority of visitors spend 4 days or less in Berlin during the festive season.
  • Paris . The world’s most romantic city is also a popular Christmas destination. 63% of festive travelers linger there for a week or more.

However, Rome was the destination that experienced the highest increase in demand in the 2023 Christmas season – it’s up 33% from 2022.

Outside Europe, the popular EMEA Christmas travel destinations are Cape Town, which had a 71% occupancy during the 2023 festive season , and Dubai, with a 48% occupancy rate.

As we mentioned above, a resort in Mexico was the top Christmas travel destination in 2023. Cancun was another popular destination, with an occupancy rate of 69%. In fact, the entire LATAM region’s popularity grew 4% in 2023, compared to 2022.

When it came to North America, Honolulu’s 64% occupancy took the crown as the most popular Christmas destination . Another Hawaiian location, Kahului, came second with 57%.

Occupancy rate in French mountain resorts, 2019-2021

The festive season is one of the busiest times of the year for the hospitality industry, especially hotels and resorts. So, it’s no surprise that many providers look to raise prices and make the most of the season.

For instance, Airbnb hosts earned $107 million during Christmas Eve 2021 and $104 million after Boxing Day in the US alone , albeit slightly less than $112 million earned during the earlier Thanksgiving period.

It also sees a lot of New Year’s Eve travelers, an estimated 4.5 million guests around the world stayed in Airbnb accommodations on New Year’s Eve in 2021.

These figures tell us of the users’ increasing preferences for Airbnb. However, they don’t mean that people aren’t staying in traditional accommodations, quite the contrary. In 2021, the US hotel occupancy rate during the Christmas season was 47.3%, the highest figure ever recorded .

However, the COVID-19 pandemic delivered a significant hit to the hotel industry. For instance, the occupancy rate of French mountain resorts dropped from an average of 83% (2019-2020) to just 37% (2020-2021) during the Christmas season.

Holiday travel forecast 2022

As we mentioned before, driving is one of the most common ways of traveling around Christmas in the US, whether you’re going to see family in another state or trying to get some winter sun in Florida.

In 2022, the number of Christmas and New Year travelers in the US who drove reached 101.8 million, 2 million more than the year before. About 7.17 million people flew, and 3.66 million chose other methods of transport.

Future Christmas and New Year’s Eve Travel Trends

We delved into the statistics of festive season traveling, covering going home for Christmas and Christmas vacation preferences. As you can see, many people around the world prefer to stay home for Christmas, but a significant proportion of the population does enjoy going abroad , especially in Europe and the UK.

Marketers should, therefore, pay attention to the behaviors of that group and the key trends influencing their festive travel choices. Below, we put together some possible future Christmas and NYE travel trends worth bearing in mind .

Travelers are i ncreasingly choosing authentic, off-the-beaten-path adventures , and we predict that the festive season would be no exception. After all, Christmas is a time for connections, and meaningful connections are an increasingly significant priority for travelers.

Immersion in different cultures is also important, especially for families with children.

In an increasingly eco-conscious world and with Christmas gift choices becoming more sustainable , it’s very likely that Christmas travel choices will be impacted by the sustainability trend as well.

Travelers would be likely to choose destinations that prioritize sustainability , and the means of travel that reduce carbon footprint.

We believe that the travel industry is likely to respond to these preferences by promoting eco-friendly accommodations, transport, and activities.

As we already mentioned, the holiday season is the time for connecting with loved ones. Digital transformation and advancements in telecommunications are making that possible, even if you’re far away from home.

Furthermore, increased connectivity and flexible working arrangements would allow many travelers to start enjoying an exotic destination early on in the festive season whilst working remotely, which enables savings on what would normally be expensive Christmas travel arrangements.

As you’ve seen from this guide and our other festive guides , the Christmas season is a very important season for marketers. It signifies pivotal shifts in consumers’ behavior as they take advantage of sales and shop for presents.

The travel industry is no exception to this. Even though many people choose to stay home for Christmas, the numbers clearly show there’s a significant trend of festive travelers in every region , and their holiday choices have a significant economic impact.

Whether you stayed home this Christmas or went somewhere nice, the TechReport team hopes you had a wonderful time! Do let us know your favorite Christmas destinations in the comments.

  • Number of year end holiday travelers forecast in the United States in 2022, by mode of transport (Statista)
  • Number of year-end holiday travelers in the United States from 2018 to 2020, by transport type (Statista)
  • Share of adults that plan on traveling to a vacation destination or gathering during the holidays in the United States in 2021, by holiday type (Statista)
  • Share of citizens travelling during Christmas in Kenya as of 2022 (Statista)
  • Share of citizens travelling during Christmas in South Africa as of 2022 (Statista)
  • Share of citizens travelling during Christmas in Nigeria as of 2021 (Statista)
  • Travel plans for New Year’s holidays in Russia in 2021 (Statista)
  • Share of citizens travelling during Christmas in Nigeria as of 2021, by destination (Statista)
  • Share of citizens travelling during Christmas in Kenya as of 2021, by destination (Statista)
  • Share of citizens travelling during Christmas in South Africa as of 2021, by destination (Statista)
  • Forecasted average spending per person on flights and travel during the Christmas period in Australia as at October 2023, by generation (Statista)
  • Most popular ways to spend the Christmas holidays in Japan in 2022 (Statista)
  • Christmas Vacations Score Low on This Year’s Wishlists (Statista)
  • DRIVING Home for Christmas (Statista)
  • Occupancy rate in mountain resorts in France from season 2019-2020 to season 2020-2021, by vacation period (Statista)
  • Millions of Brits head abroad for The Great Christmas and New Year Getaway (ABTA)
  • Five million Brits head abroad for the Great Christmas and New Year Getaway (ABTA)
  • Jingle All the Way: Europe Christmas Travel Trends (RateGain)
  • Thailand takes lead in Asia for Christmas and New Year’s hotspots (WiT)
  • Most Profitable Events, Weekends, Holidays, and Times of the Year for Airbnb Hosts (Hostaway)
  • US Hotels Set Performance Records Over Holidays (CoStar)

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Kate Sukhanova Senior Statistics Contributor

Kate is an accomplished tech writer and SaaS (Software as a Service) founder, renowned for her expertise in the technology industry. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the esteemed University of Exeter, where she honed his critical thinking and analytical skills.

Beyond her entrepreneurial endeavors, Kate is a true statistics geek. She revels in the world of data and derives insights that drive decision-making and business strategies. This penchant for numbers enhances her ability to craft data-driven articles, guiding readers through complex topics with clarity and reliability.

Kate's passion for knowledge and curiosity about emerging technologies drive her to learn and stay ahead of the curve continuously. She is deeply committed to sharing valuable information about innovations that have a tangible, positive impact on businesses and society.

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Hotel  industry worldwide - statistics &  facts

What are the biggest hotel companies in the world, markets with the most hotel projects in the pipeline worldwide, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Global hotel and resort industry market size worldwide 2013-2023

Hotel openings worldwide 2021-2024

Market value of biggest global hotel and resort companies 2023

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Leading hotel companies worldwide 2023, by number of properties

Most valuable hotel brands worldwide 2023, by brand value

Further recommended statistics

Industry overview.

  • Premium Statistic Global hotel and resort industry market size worldwide 2013-2023
  • Premium Statistic Hotel openings worldwide 2021-2024
  • Premium Statistic Hotel room openings worldwide 2021-2024
  • Premium Statistic Monthly occupancy rate of hotels worldwide 2020-2023
  • Premium Statistic Monthly hotel occupancy rates worldwide 2020-2023, by region
  • Premium Statistic Change in monthly number of hotel bookings worldwide 2020-2023
  • Premium Statistic Change in monthly number of hotel bookings worldwide 2020-2023, by region

Market size of the hotel and resort industry worldwide from 2013 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Number of hotels opened worldwide from 2021 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2024

Hotel room openings worldwide 2021-2024

Number of hotel rooms opened worldwide from 2021 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2024

Monthly occupancy rate of hotels worldwide 2020-2023

Monthly occupancy rate of hotels worldwide from 2020 to 2023

Monthly hotel occupancy rates worldwide 2020-2023, by region

Monthly hotel occupancy rates worldwide from 2020 to 2023, by region

Change in monthly number of hotel bookings worldwide 2020-2023

Year-over-year monthly change in number of hotel bookings worldwide from 2020 to 2023

Change in monthly number of hotel bookings worldwide 2020-2023, by region

Year-over-year monthly change in number of hotel bookings worldwide from 2020 to 2023, by region

Key players

  • Premium Statistic Market value of biggest global hotel and resort companies 2023
  • Premium Statistic Sales of biggest global hotel and resort companies 2023
  • Premium Statistic Most valuable hotel brands worldwide 2023, by brand value
  • Basic Statistic Leading hotel brands in the world 2022, by traveler ratings

Leading hotel and resort companies worldwide in 2023, by market value (in billion U.S. dollars)

Sales of biggest global hotel and resort companies 2023

Leading hotel and resort companies worldwide in 2023, by sales (in billion U.S. dollars)

Leading hotel brands based on brand value worldwide in 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Leading hotel brands in the world 2022, by traveler ratings

Best-rated hotel brands worldwide in 2022, based on traveler scores

Digitalization

  • Premium Statistic Change in monthly number of online hotel searches worldwide 2020-2023, by region
  • Premium Statistic Technologies global hotels plan to implement in the next three years 2022
  • Premium Statistic COVID-19 hotel technologies or services that global consumers want long-term 2022
  • Premium Statistic Hotel technologies global consumers think would improve their future stay 2022
  • Premium Statistic Guests interested in touring hotels using VR/metaverse technology worldwide 2022
  • Premium Statistic Guests interested to stay at hotels with automated messaging/chatbots worldwide 2022
  • Premium Statistic Guests more likely to stay at hotels with self-service technology worldwide 2022

Change in monthly number of online hotel searches worldwide 2020-2023, by region

Year-over-year monthly change in number of online hotel searches worldwide from 2020 to 2023, by region

Technologies global hotels plan to implement in the next three years 2022

Technologies hotels are most likely to implement in the next three years worldwide as of 2022

COVID-19 hotel technologies or services that global consumers want long-term 2022

Hotel technologies or services popularized during the pandemic that travelers would like to see permanently adopted worldwide as of 2022

Hotel technologies global consumers think would improve their future stay 2022

Must-have hotel technologies to create a more amazing stay in the future among travelers worldwide as of 2022

Guests interested in touring hotels using VR/metaverse technology worldwide 2022

Share of travelers that are interested in using a virtual reality/metaverse experience to tour a hotel before booking worldwide as of 2022

Guests interested to stay at hotels with automated messaging/chatbots worldwide 2022

Share of travelers that are interested in staying at a hotel offering automated messaging or a chatbot to provide support for most customer service requests worldwide as of 2022

Guests more likely to stay at hotels with self-service technology worldwide 2022

Share of travelers that would be more likely to stay at a hotel offering self-service technology that minimizes contact with staff worldwide as of 2022

Construction outlook

  • Premium Statistic Countries with the most hotel construction projects in the pipeline worldwide 2022
  • Premium Statistic Countries with the largest amount of hotel rooms in the construction pipeline 2022
  • Premium Statistic Cities with the most lodging projects in the pipeline worldwide 2022
  • Premium Statistic Cities with the largest amount of lodging rooms in the pipeline worldwide 2022
  • Premium Statistic Number of rooms in the pipeline worldwide 2022, by company

Countries with the most hotel construction projects in the pipeline worldwide 2022

Countries with the highest number of hotel construction projects in the pipeline worldwide as of Q4 2022

Countries with the largest amount of hotel rooms in the construction pipeline 2022

Countries with the highest number of hotel rooms in the construction pipeline worldwide as of Q4 2022

Cities with the most lodging projects in the pipeline worldwide 2022

Cities with the highest number of lodging projects in the construction pipeline worldwide as of Q4 2022

Cities with the largest amount of lodging rooms in the pipeline worldwide 2022

Cities with the highest number of lodging rooms in the construction pipeline worldwide as of Q4 2022

Number of rooms in the pipeline worldwide 2022, by company

Number of hotel rooms in the construction pipeline worldwide as of Q4 2022, by company

Further reports

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IMAGES

  1. 100+ Business Travel Statistics (2023)

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  2. 25+ Essential Business Travel Statistics [2023]: How Much Do Companies

    business travel accommodation statistics

  3. Business Travel: 90+ Statistics, Facts, and Trends [2023]

    business travel accommodation statistics

  4. 100+ Business Travel Statistics (2023)

    business travel accommodation statistics

  5. 105 Critical Business Travel Statistics: 2024 Spending & Concerns

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  6. 105 Critical Business Travel Statistics: 2021/2022 Spending & Concerns

    business travel accommodation statistics

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COMMENTS

  1. Global business travel

    Business or corporate travel is the tourism segment that focuses on people who travel for work or professional purposes and the related tourism services.

  2. Business travel in the U.S.

    Business travel made up nearly one-third of the tourism spending in the United States in 2019 and regained momentum in 2021, after having dropped to less than 20 percent in the previous year.

  3. 105 Critical Business Travel Statistics: 2024 Spending & Concerns

    Key business travel statistics for 2021 and beyond, including insights on the predicted global spending on accommodation, airfare, and more.

  4. 100+ statistics on the state of business travel

    From business travel trends to industry disruptors, we've collected every business travel statistic for 2020 and 2021!

  5. Business Travel Statistics [2007-2024]: Market & Trend Data Analysis

    Business travel is on the rise. Companies still see it as essential and are willing to spend on in-person collaboration. This report unpacks the findings from our business travel statistics research.

  6. Business Travel

    Business travel is the branch of the tourism industry focusing on trips taken for business purposes. It comprises the segments such as accommodation, transport, travel management, meetings and events.

  7. Key Business Travel Statistics for 2024

    With the global economy getting more entwined, business travel statistics mirror this with a constant increase in business trips across the world.

  8. Business Travel Industry Statistics • WorldMetrics

    More than half (54%) of business travelers stated hotel location as the most important factor when booking their accommodation in 2019. On average, companies saved about 20% on travel expenses in 2020 due to decreased business travel. The airline industry lost over $35 billion in sales from corporate travel alone in 2020.

  9. 100+ Business Travel Statistics (2023)

    By 2028, the business travel market is predicted to grow by 188%. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the loss in global business travel spending reached over $700 billion in 2020. Accommodation makes up 34% of the average business trip cost, while airfare makes up 27%, meals 20% and car rental 19%.

  10. Top Business Travel Destinations & Cities of 2024

    A World Travel and Tourism Council study of 82 major corporate travel destinations forecasts that by 2032, cities in the Middle East and Africa will dominate the list of popular destinations for international business travel, with Singapore and European cities rounding out the top 10: Lagos, Nigeria. Cape Town, South Africa. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

  11. 42 Business Travel Statistics You Should Know About In 2024

    Business travel statistics show that about 30% of job seekers are ready to accept lower-paid jobs if they include business trips. Companies are aware that employees enjoy these "bleisure" trips, and are in many cases willing to make them more comfortable with a lot of money for travel spending, accommodation, meals, and transportation.

  12. 75+ Business Travel Statistics: Unveiling Facts and Trends [2024]

    The global business travel market was worth $700 billion in 2020. [ 4] By 2028, the global business travel market is predicted to grow by 188%. [ 4] Food and accommodation takes up the largest segment in business travel, projected to grow at 3.7% CAGR and hit $446.6 billion by the end of 2027.

  13. Business Travel on the Move: Trends Shaping Corporate Travel in 2024

    Explore the future of corporate travel in 2024 as we highlight four key trends set to redefine the industry and make an impact on the wider world.

  14. Accommodation statistics: the current issues and an innovation

    In many countries, tourism accommodation statistics, which popularly developed with the unbiased linear estimator, are less accurate. This study recommends an integration of bootstrap and regression to overcome the challenge. An unbiased linear estimator is used as a benchmark to investigate the integration method's effectiveness.

  15. The state of tourism and hospitality 2024

    Tourism and hospitality are on a journey of disruption. Shifting source markets and destinations, growing demand for experiential and luxury travel, and innovative business strategies are all combining to dramatically alter the industry landscape. Given this momentous change, it's important for stakeholders to consider and strategize on four major themes: The bulk of travel is close to home ...

  16. 50 Incredible Business Travel Statistics

    Let us now look into some statistics on the benefits and challenges in business travel. Business travel is crucial to company growth according to 90.6% of corporate travel managers. (Skift, Trip Actions) For every dollar spent on corporate travel, companies get a $2.90 increase in profit and a $9.50 increase in revenue.

  17. Global tourism industry

    With more and more people traveling, the global tourism industry has boomed over the last decade. For more information, read our topic page on tourism worldwide!

  18. Tourism statistics

    The share of nights spent by international guests in EU tourist accommodation dropped from 47 % in 2019 to 29 % in 2020, while in 2021 this share increased to 32 % of total nights spent and further to 44 % in 2022. Although domestic tourism was less affected, it could only partly compensate for the decline in international tourism.

  19. 70+ Stunning Online Travel Booking Statistics (2023 Figures)

    Embark on a journey through 60+ stunning online travel booking statistics in 2023, unveiling the trends and facts shaping the industry.

  20. How Trump's conviction could change the dynamics of the 2024 race

    Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in his Manhattan criminal trial.

  21. The average cost of a vacation: Transportation, food, entertainment and

    Don't forget to look for group rates and discounts, if eligible. Average cost of a vacation by generation Data from Squaremouth, a travel insurance company, shows that older generations spend more on travel than younger generations, on average. The Silent generation — the oldest living generation — spends over $3,500 per trip, on average.

  22. Business, conference travel on the rise

    The total average occupancy at tourism establishments increased with 7% in April compared to the same period last year, while business travel made up more than 13% of accommodation registered ...

  23. Amtrak Viewliner Roomette Review With Tour and Photos

    Business Insider's reporter booked Amtrak's private roomette on an overnight train from NYC to Miami. It packed a lot into 20 square feet.

  24. Business travel spending by purpose 2021

    The coronavirus pandemic hit the global business tourism industry hard as the ability to travel was limited in order to reduce the spread of the virus.

  25. Traveling on Memorial Day? You could be making history

    Passenger traffic at US airports is on pace to make this Memorial Day weekend the busiest on record, according to Transportation Security Administration screening data.

  26. Festive Travel Statistics: Christmas and New Year's Eve Trends

    Christmas holidays might be over, but the festive travel statistics and trends are as hot as ever. Although COVID-19 impacted many people's Christmas and New Year's Eve traveling arrangements ...

  27. Hotel industry worldwide

    The hotel industry is a subdivision of the hospitality industry that specializes in providing customers with accommodation services. There are a variety of hotel types that typically can be ...

  28. Memorial Day travel rush, explained

    Memorial Day weekend travel has returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to data from the FAA and travel agency AAA.