2025 GBTA Business Travel Index Outlook

The 2025 GBTA Business Travel Index Outlook – Annual Global Report and Forecast (“GBTA BTI™”) is an exhaustive forecast of business travel spending and growth covering 72 countries and 44 industries. 

Now in its 17^th annual edition, the GBTA BTI™ also includes survey data and analysis from 7,300 business travelers across five global regions, representing insights from employee travelers regarding their business travel preferences, behaviors and spending.  Key findings from the research include:

Global forecast for business travel spending 

• Global spending is expected to reach a record $1.57 trillion USD by the end of 2025.
• Moderate year-over-year growth is anticipated due to trade tensions, policy uncertainty and economic pressures.
• Global spending is projected to surpass $2 trillion by 2029 ─ one year later than anticipated a year ago ─ driven by structural shifts in trade, investment, and corporate travel behavior.

Industry drivers, factors and business traveler behavior 

• The outlook for growth presents a balance of both potential upside factors and downside risks. 
• Business travel is seen as valuable—86% of global travelers rate their trips as worthwhile.
• Most travelers (74%) took between one and five trips in the past year.
• Business travelers estimate their spending averaged $1,128 USD per person based on their last business trip.  

*The Executive Summary from the GBTA BTI™ Report is broadly available; download here.
Access to the full BTI Report is an exclusive benefit only for GBTA members and available in the GBTA Hub.  

Read the 2025 GBTA BTI Forecast launch announcement here. Watch the launch video featuring insights from Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA; Jon Gray, Principal, Rockport Analytics; and Michael Brown, Principal U.S. Economist, Visa.