Global business travel spending is forecast to reach a record $1.71 trillion in 2026, according to the 2026 GBTA Business Travel Index Annual Global Report and Forecast (BTI). It is predicted to rise 7.2% as 25 million additional journeys take the number of business trips worldwide past 1.84 billion, a rise of 1.3%.
The report covers 72 countries and 44 industries and the analysis of surveys from over 4,700 business travellers across 66 global markets. It highlights how rising transportation and travel costs are driving up industry prices.
Key findings of the survey include that 74% of business travellers reported travelling as much or more than in previous years.
Air travel remains the dominant mode of transportation, with 42% of flyers saying they typically travelled in premium cabins.
Rail continues to play an important role, particularly among business travellers in Asia Pacific (72%) and Europe (60%)
In 2025, global business travel spending grew 8.4% to $1.59 trillion, outperforming last year’s 6.6% growth forecast. The report puts that down to stronger-than-expected economic activity, easing trade tensions in the second half of the year and their impact on currency exchange.
Asia and Europe accounted for the highest volumes of business travel – approximately 600 million trips each.
The report also highlights that artificial intelligence (AI) and technology-related investment is emerging as a significant driver of business travel growth, particularly in North America and Asia Pacific.
Among the top 15 markets, Brazil (13.8%), Australia (11.5%), South Korea (11.3%), Türkiye (10.9%) and Japan (10%) rank among the fastest growing.
The sectors expected to record the most significant compound annual growth by 2030 are Mining and Quarrying (6.6% CAGR), Human Health and Social Work (6.3%) and Education (6.3%).
Resilient economic growth, strong business investment, heightened geopolitical uncertainty and elevated transportation costs are shaping the outlook for 2026. The forecast assumes conditions in the Middle East will stabilise and airline networks gradually normalise in the second half of the year.
Global spending on business travel is now projected to surpass $2 trillion by 2030.
Suzanne Neufang, Chief Executive Officer of GBTA, said: “The big story this year is that companies haven’t stepped away from travel, but they are increasingly more selective and productivity-focused. “While business travel spending continues to grow, the number of trips is rising more slowly, making it necessary for all of us to assess industry and organisational impact. Travel remains essential, and companies are critically disciplined about where, how and why they travel.”
Edward Galvin, Vice President and Head of North America Visa Commercial Solutions, added: “As business travel spending grows faster than trip volume, companies are placing greater emphasis on the value of every journey. An executive summary from the 2026 BTI can be downloaded and GBTA members can access the full report via the GBTA Community+ platform.
