2025 Kicks Off with Optimism amid Evolving Challenges
03/18/2025
Professionals in the business travel industry look forward to an engaged and productive year, according to the first Business Travel Outlook Poll of 2025, which was recently released by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). While shifting economic conditions, geopolitical concerns and technology-driven changes continue to be areas of uncertainty, the poll results show an overall positive industry trajectory with almost half (48%) of travel buyers expecting their companies to take more business trips in 2025 and nearly 20% more (57%) anticipating increased travel spending this year.
Other findings around new distribution capability (NDC), technology and artificial intelligence (AI) integration, corporate sustainability commitments, workforce and hiring challenges, and developments in workplace expectations point to an innovative and inclusive industry that continues to advance and adapt.
Now in its 36th edition, the poll reflects responses from almost 800 business travel professionals worldwide, offering significant insights into the trends, challenges and future expectations for global business travel. Here are some of the key findings from the 2025 Q1 GBTA Business Travel Industry Outlook Poll:
Looking Back: Business Travel Gains Momentum as a Whole …
2024 was a good year for business travel, with seven in 10 (71%) travel buyers reporting an increase in their company’s business travel bookings compared to 2023. This result is even better than the earlier projections reported in GBTA’s January 2024 Outlook Poll, when nearly three in five (60%) travel buyers expected more business travel in the upcoming year.
Business travel spending was also higher in 2024 than anticipated, with nearly four in five buyers (77%) indicating their company’s spend increased last year. Comparatively, two-thirds (67%) of buyers anticipated an increase when asked at the start of 2024.
Looking Ahead: 2025 Business Travel Predictions
Regionally, anticipated business travel spending varies, but is positive overall with 48% predicting more volume and 57% more spend in 2025 vs. 2024. Asia Pacific travel buyers reflect the most optimism with 63% indicating they are planning to spend “more” or “a lot more” in 2025, followed by North America travel buyers at 57%.
Half of buyers from North America (50%) are optimistic about their company’s business travel volume, and say their company is planning “more” or “a lot more” trips this year.
Travel buyers expect sales and account management trips will account for more than one-quarter (27%) of their company’s travel spend on average. Other anticipated key types of travel include internal company meetings (21%), conferences and trade shows (14%), and service trips (13%).
Key Industry Trends & Challenges for 2025
Even with expected growth in business travel this year, poll results indicate companies remain cost conscious and selective when making business travel decisions. Additionally, the industry continues to prioritize technology and AI integration, while sustainability and workforce-related efforts are shaping corporate travel policies. And although hybrid work remains the dominant travel industry workplace model, in particular for buyer companies, more companies will enforce stricter return-to-office policies in 2025.
A total of 786 responses were received by GBTA from global travel buyers, suppliers and other industry professionals across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific between January 21-31, 2025.
“As business travel continues to evolve, travel professionals must navigate a landscape shaped by technology transformation, geopolitical factors and sustainability imperatives,” according to Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA. “The year’s first poll underscores an optimistic, yet measured approach as companies balance growth with strategic investments in innovation, workforce needs and sustainability efforts.”
View the complete 36th GBTA poll results and key highlights, along with the full series of GBTA Business Travel Industry Outlook polls.
