News to Know

Global Business Travel Spending to Hit Record $1.71 Trillion in 2026, While Trips Reach 1.84 Billion, Says GBTA Forecast

Global business travel spending is forecast to reach a record $1.71 trillion USD in 2026, with the number of business trips worldwide expected to surpass 1.84 billion. The forecast highlights how rising transportation and travel costs are increasingly driving higher industry prices, ahead of the number of trips.

This is according to the just-released 2026 GBTA Business Travel Index (“BTI”) Annual Global Report and Forecast which projects global business travel spending to increase 7.2% in 2026. The report’s first-ever analysis of worldwide business travel volume projects approximately 1.84 billion trips for work will be taken in 2026.

Unveiled by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) during its 2026 Convention in Chicago, the 18th edition of the BTI—made possible again this year by Visa—represents the industry's most comprehensive outlook on business travel.

“The big story this year is that companies haven't stepped away from travel, but they are increasingly more selective and productivity-focused,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA. “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 organizational impact.

“Companies are placing greater emphasis on the value of every journey. Organizations need greater visibility, control and flexibility to manage rising travel costs and measure ROI,” said Edward Galvin, Vice President and Head of North America Visa Commercial Solutions.

Key takeaways from the 2026 BTI forecast include:

• Four forces are shaping the outlook for 2026: resilient economic growth, strong business investment, heightened geopolitical uncertainty and elevated transportation costs.
• Business travel volume in the Middle East is forecast to decline 12.3% in 2026 as regional conflict weighs on activity, while Asia and Europe face increasing pressure from disruptions to air travel and energy markets.
• The top 15 markets for global spending account for $1.43 trillion, or 84%. The U.S. and China together represent about 48% of total spend, with Brazil, Australia, South Korea, Türkiye and Japan ranked among the fastest rising markets for spending growth.
• Nearly three-quarters of the 4,700 global business travelers surveyed report traveling as much or more than in previous years.
• More than 65% say their companies require or encourage bookings through a travel management company (TMC) or corporate online booking tool.
• More than two-thirds of travelers have a corporate credit card, and 63% say they can also collect personal benefits from using their card for business travel.

Read the full announcement and download the Executive Summary from the 2026 GBTA Business Travel Index.

GBTA members can exclusively access the full report on the GBTA Community+ platform here.

To learn more about GBTA Research or to inquire about GBTA BTI, visit the GBTA webpage or email research@gbta.org.

Industry Spotlight

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