GBTA Projects 2026 Spending Growth as Business Travel Volume Lags

August 4, 2026 - 05:45

The Global Business Travel Association is predicting a strong year for spending in 2026, with outlays expected to climb more than seven percent compared to 2025. The group points to steady economic growth and renewed corporate investment as the main drivers behind the optimistic forecast.

That projection comes even after 2025 ended up beating the association's earlier expectations. Spending last year was higher than initially estimated, though the number of actual trips taken did not grow at the same pace. That gap between dollars spent and trips booked is a trend the industry is watching closely.

According to the GBTA's latest outlook, companies are paying more per trip, driven by higher airfares, hotel rates, and ground transportation costs. But the overall volume of business travel remains below pre-pandemic levels. The association says this suggests a lasting shift in how companies approach travel, with fewer but more purposeful trips being taken.

The report notes that while the economic picture looks positive, there are still risks that could slow the recovery. Geopolitical tensions, labor shortages in the hospitality sector, and the lingering effects of inflation on corporate budgets all remain potential headwinds. Still, the GBTA expects total global business travel spending to reach a new high in 2026, even if the number of travelers does not fully bounce back.