GBTA预测：2026年欧洲商务旅行支出将达4040亿欧元

VIENNA, AUSTRIA – European business travel spending will reach a forecast 404.0 billion euros ($453.9 billion) in 2026. This represents a 7.0% year-on-year increase, despite a complex business environment. Meanwhile, European-based organisations will generate approximately 600 million business trips.

However, spending growth will significantly outpace growth in trip numbers. European business trip volume will increase by just 0.7% in 2026. By comparison, global business travel spending will grow by 7.2%, while trip volume rises 1.3%.

Globally, business travel spending will reach a forecast 1.52 trillion euros ($1.71 trillion) this year. Europe will account for 27% of global spending, matching North America’s share. Furthermore, European business travel spending will continue growing beyond 2026.

The regional market will reach 425.0 billion euros ($477.5 billion) in 2027. By 2030, spending will rise to a projected 471.0 billion euros ($529.1 billion).

Business travel also generates substantial economic benefits for destinations. In London, business travellers spent £11.2 billion ($15.0 billion) directly in 2024. This spending supported £17.9 billion ($24.0 billion) in total economic output. It also contributed £4.8 billion ($6.4 billion) to GDP and supported 98,051 jobs.

These findings come from regional research shared at the GBTA + VDR Europe Conference 2026 in Partnership with ABTA.

“Europe’s business travel sector continues to show remarkable strength and staying power. Even as companies navigate a complex business environment, the forecast shows they continue to place significant value on bringing people together for both external and internal meetings,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA. “At the same time, the gap between pace of growth in spending versus trip volume means companies and corporate travel managers are increasingly focused on ensuring that every trip delivers value.”

Europe accounts for more than a quarter of global spending

According to 2026 GBTA BTI forecasts, Western Europe will generate €354.9 billion ($398.7 billion) in business travel spending. Meanwhile, Central and Eastern Europe, classified as “Emerging Europe” in the GBTA BTI, will contribute 49.1 billion euros ($55.2 billion).

Western Europe accounts for most regional spending. However, Central and Eastern Europe will record faster growth in 2026. Its spending will increase by 10.8%, compared with 6.5% in Western Europe.

Europe’s approximately 600 million business trips will represent 33% of the 1.84 billion trips forecast globally. This places Europe ahead of North America, which will record 492 million trips.

Meanwhile, five major origin markets will account for approximately 62% of Europe’s forecast business travel spending in 2026.

• Germany: 79.9 billion euros ($89.7 billion), representing 19.8% of European spending.
• United Kingdom: £50.0 billion ($66.7 billion), representing 14.7%.
• France: 45.0 billion euros  ($50.6 billion), representing 11.1%.
• Italy: 39.5 billion euros  ($44.4 billion), representing 9.8%.
• Spain: 26.5 billion euros ($29.8 billion), representing 6.6%.

How and why Europeans travel for business

European business travellers also expect sustained activity throughout 2026. Seventy-four percent expect the same or more frequent business travel than in 2025.

In 2025, 53% took one to two business trips of at least 80 kilometres. Meanwhile, 36% completed between three and 10 trips. Cross-border travel also represents a significant part of the regional market. Thirty-seven percent of European business travellers reported international work trips in 2025. The remaining 63% travelled domestically. Additionally, 57% of trips included an overnight stay, while 43% involved same-day travel. European overnight business trips averaged 3.6 nights.

Also read → GBTA forecasts 7.2% rise in 2026 business travel spending

Client, sales or account management meetings ranked as the leading reason for business travel. Training, project work, and conferences or conventions followed. Ground transport also plays an important role in European business travel. Among surveyed travellers, 43% used cars during their 2025 trips. Meanwhile, 34% travelled by air and 25% by rail. Among air travellers, economy ranked as the most commonly reported cabin class, at 31%. Furthermore, 58% used a full-service or legacy airline on their last business trip.

Blended travel and corporate payment trends

Business and personal travel increasingly overlap for European travellers. More than half, or 55%, expect to add a personal travel element to a business trip in 2026.

Payment and expense management practices also continue to evolve. Forty-three percent of European business travellers use an expense-management system. In addition, 64% say their companies provide corporate cards. Among travellers with corporate cards, 61% charge at least half their travel spending to them. Furthermore, 57% have added their corporate card to a mobile wallet.

Business travel supports economic growth across European cities

GBTA’s economic impact study examines 25 major global cities. It shows how business traveller spending supports destination economies. The benefits reach businesses serving travellers, as well as suppliers, workers and public revenues. The analysis measures direct, indirect and induced impacts across several economic indicators. These include local economic output, GDP, employment, labour income and tax revenues.

Several major European destinations demonstrate the scale of this contribution. The study identifies the top five European cities for business travel spending. It uses the latest available data, from 2024.

Ultimately, business travel generates value beyond airfares, hotel rooms and meeting costs. Traveller spending circulates through destination economies. As a result, it supports suppliers, employment, wages and tax revenues.

The article European business travel spending to reach 404bn euros in 2026 first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.