GBTA forecasts 2026 European business travel spending at €404 billion

On November 4, 2026, GBTA released a forecast stating that 2026 European business travel spending will reach €404 billion ($453.9 billion), up 7.0% year on year; business travel trips originating in Europe will be about 600 million, growing only 0.7%. Over the same period, global business travel spending is expected to grow 7.2% to €1.52 trillion, with trips growing 1.3%, and Europe accounting for 27% of global business travel spending. By country, Germany ranks first in Europe with €79.9 billion, followed by the UK, France, Italy and Spain; the five countries together account for about 62% of 2026 European business travel spending. The above are GBTA forecast data for 2026, not realized statistics. A November 5 report said that the GBTA and VDR Europe Conference 2026 was held in Vienna from November 2 to 4, with nearly 1,400 delegates from 41 countries attending, including 350 travel buyers, 75 exhibitors and 130 speakers; the report also mentioned the above 2026 European business travel spending forecast.