BCD Travel reveals the top destinations for US business travellers

BCD Travel’s Cities & Trends 2023 United States edition highlights Europe as the dominant region for US business travellers’ intercontinental destinations, with seven European cities, led by London, making the top 10 list. This insight is drawn from 2023’s flight and car rental data. In the US, Atlanta, renowned for housing Fortune 500 companies and as a burgeoning hub for new businesses, tops the domestic cities for business travel, followed closely by Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago. The significance of the trade and investment relationship between the EU and the US is a major factor in Europe’s prominence on the list of top destinations. Furthermore, Texas stands out as the foremost state for domestic business travel, its appeal bolstered by favourable tax policies and the recent relocation of significant corporations like Tesla and Hewlett Packard. Globally, business travel is back to pre-pandemic levels, with “economic conditions, remote work, and sustainability developments” continuing to impact travel trends, as noted by Craig Bailey, BCD’s president for the Americas. He elaborates on the evolving landscape, stating: “a fifth of offices in the US will be empty” in 2024. This he puts down to the rise of remote working, suggesting a shift towards more travel as remote teams seek face-to-face interactions. In the survey, New York City emerges as the primary departure hub for intercontinental business travel. The report also touches on flight and cabin class preferences, showing a leaning towards Business and Economy classes. Car rental trends are discussed as well, with Dallas-Fort Worth leading in car rental bookings.