GBTA: Global business travel spending to hit record $1.71T in 2026
According to GBTA's latest report, global business travel spending is projected to reach a record $1.71 trillion in 2026, up 7.2% year-over-year, while the number of trips is expected to grow only 1.3% to 1.84 billion, indicating that corporate travel is becoming more selective and productivity-focused. The report, based on a survey of 4,700 business travelers across 66 markets, highlights that rising transportation and travel costs are dampening demand, while AI-related investment in North America is emerging as a significant driver of travel growth. GBTA projects spending to surpass $2 trillion by 2030.
Impact and considerations
Spending growth outpacing trip volume indicates companies are emphasizing value per journey, with significant implications for travel management, hotels, and airlines.
Key points
- Global business travel spending is expected to reach $1.71 trillion in 2026, up 7.2% year-over-year.
- The number of trips is projected to grow 1.3% to 1.84 billion, much slower than spending.
- Rising costs and geopolitical uncertainty are key factors.
- AI-related investment in North America is driving business travel growth.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- Hotel Dive
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 6 Aug 2026, 21:22
- Page published
- 13 Aug 2026, 08:09
- Last updated
- 6 Aug 2026, 21:22
- Original links
- Hotel Dive Feed：Global business travel spending to hit record $1.71T in 2026: GBTA | Hotel Dive (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 6 Aug 2026, 21:22