Despite ongoing global economic challenges and political uncertainty, business travel in Europe continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience and growth. According to regional findings released from the latest GBTA Business Travel Index (GBTA BTI) Outlook, business travel spending is projected to reach €389.9 billion ($448.2 billion) in 2026, marking a significant 8.2 percent increase from 2025. This positions Europe as a key driver of global business travel recovery, accounting for a substantial share of total global spending.
Looking ahead, the forecast for Europe remains broadly optimistic. In 2027, European business travel spending is expected to climb to €414.5 billion ($476.5 billion), underscoring the region’s steady momentum. In 2028, European business travel spending is expected to reach €441.6 billion ($507.6 billion).
“The data confirms for Europe what many in the industry are experiencing firsthand—organizations are continuing to invest in business travel as a catalyst for growth, innovation and connection, even in the face of economic and geopolitical uncertainty,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA. “At the same time, sustainability and traveler experience are no longer optional—they’re essential. European companies and business travelers are leading the way in demanding responsible, productive and impactful journeys.”
This latest GBTA BTI forecast data for Europe was unveiled at the GBTA + VDR Conference 2025—the premier European event for the business travel industry—taking place in Hamburg from November10–12.
In 2025, Western Europe is estimated to account for 88 percent of total European business travel spend, while Emerging Europe represents 12 percent. The top six Europe business travel markets in 2025 ranked by annual origination spending—Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands—collectively represent just over €241.5 billion ($277.6 billion). This represents 17.7 percent of the total global spending of €1,36 trillion ($1.57 trillion) estimated for 2025.
Top Reasons for Business Travel in Europe
The GBTA BTI survey of business travelers finds their top reasons for business travel in Europe are seminars/training, conventions/ conferences, and internal company meetings.
As self-reported by European business travelers, the average cost of a business trip in Europe is €850.7 ($977.82), with lodging cited as the largest expense, followed by food and beverage, and air travel. Notably, business travelers in the U.K. spend the most per trip at almost €1,305 ($1,500), while Poland and Sweden have the lowest average spend of about €639–€646 ($735–$743) per trip.
European Traveler Expectations Are Evolving
European business travelers continue to see value in their travels, with 83 percent agreeing that business travel is worthwhile for achieving business objectives. Three in four (77 percent) report traveling the same or more in 2025 than in 2019, and the average length of an overnight business trip is 3.1 nights.
When it comes to technology use, 40 percent of European business travelers say they are comfortable with using AI to book their trips—the lowest of any region globally.
Loyalty programs are important to European travelers (81 percent) when selecting transportation and lodging.
They are also less likely (57 percent) than travelers from other regions (North America 68 percent, Asia Pacific 70 percent, for example) to combine business and personal travel now versus years prior.
European travelers are more likely to use rail on business trips than those in other regions—38 percent report using rail on their last trip, compared to just 8 percent in North America and 4 percent in Latin America.
A third (32 percent) of European travelers surveyed said they work at companies with a dedicated corporate travel manager or team.
For more information, visit www.gbta.org.
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