GBTA: The Business of Travel
GBTA BTI Global Highlights
Why It Matters
Understanding the BTI’s growth outlook helps travel managers and finance leaders plan budgets, negotiate supplier contracts, and align technology investments. The shift toward mandatory corporate‑card use and reward‑focused payments signals a chance to improve spend compliance, reduce administrative costs, and enhance traveler satisfaction across a market projected to exceed $1.7 trillion in the next two years.
Key Takeaways
- •2025 business travel spend forecast $1.6 trillion, 6.1% CAGR.
- •US overtakes China as largest business travel market 2025.
- •APAC accounts for 40% of global travel spending.
- •69% travelers have corporate cards; only half mandated usage.
- •Two‑thirds comfortable booking travel via AI, especially in APAC.
Pulse Analysis
The latest Business Travel Index (BTI) projects global business‑travel expenditures to reach roughly $1.6 trillion in 2025 and $1.7 trillion by 2026, reflecting a 6.1% compound annual growth rate. The forecast highlights a shift in regional dynamics: the United States now tops China as the world’s biggest spend market, while the Asia‑Pacific region commands about 40% of total spend. Analysts attribute this resilience to post‑pandemic recovery, despite headwinds from oil prices, trade‑policy uncertainty, and inflationary pressures that could temper growth.
Corporate credit‑card penetration continues to rise, with 69% of surveyed travelers reporting access to a company‑issued card—up 61% year‑over‑year. Yet only half are required to use the card, indicating significant room for policy tightening and cost‑control improvements. North America leads with roughly 70‑75% card ownership and a higher mandate rate, whereas Latin America lags at 57%. Rewards such as lounge access, airline miles, and shopping discounts are increasingly viewed as essential perks, blurring the line between consumer and commercial payment experiences and opening avenues for greater compliance and data‑driven spend management.
Traveler motivations and technology adoption also evolve. Seminars and training dominate global travel purpose, while consulting engagements drive North American trips. About two‑thirds of respondents feel comfortable booking through AI‑powered platforms, with the Asia‑Pacific region showing the strongest enthusiasm. Digital wallet integration is expanding, especially in APAC, signaling a broader shift toward the consumerization of B2B payments. These trends suggest travel managers must balance traditional cost controls with emerging digital tools, leveraging AI and card‑based incentives to enhance efficiency, compliance, and traveler satisfaction.
Episode Description
In this episode of GBTA's The Business of Travel, Chris Ely, Research Director, GBTA, sits down with Edward Galvin, Head of Visa Commercial Solutions, North America, to unpack what the latest GBTA Business Travel Index (BTI) forecasts about the state of business travel worldwide.
From the big-picture forces driving global spend to a closer look at how key regions are performing, they break down the numbers behind the headlines and what they mean for travel programs and suppliers. The conversation also explores how technology and AI are reshaping everything from the traveler experience to payments and program management, before closing with a clear-eyed outlook on where business travel spending might head next.
Music track is Space Jazz by Kevin MacLeod
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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