UTRECHT, Netherlands – According to BCD Travel Cities & Trends 2023 United States edition, Europe accounts for seven of the ten most visited intercontinental cities by American business travelers, with London being the most popular. The report is based on BCD's 2023 U.S. flight and car rental data.
Top 10 Cities for Business Travel
The list of most visited domestic cities for business travel is led by Atlanta. Home to many Fortune 500 companies such as Delta Air Lines and Coca-Cola, Atlanta is also recognized as the city with the fastest growth in the number of people starting new businesses. Dallas-Fort Worthwith a strong network of large companies and head offices, and Chicagowith a growing reputation as a technology hub, follows in second and third place.
Europe is clearly in the lead with the top 10 intercontinental cities. According to European Commission, the EU and the United States have the most important trade and investment relations in the world. Together, the two economies account for a third of global trade in goods and services. Besides business hotspot London in first place, other European cities on the list include Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Munich, Zurich and Dublin. The ranking also includes three Asian cities: Tokyo, Seoul and Dubai.
Top 5 States and Countries for Business Travel
Texas leads the nation's top five states for business travel. Without corporate or personal income tax, Texas is an attractive option for both businesses and employees. In recent years, the state has attracted numerous corporate relocations from Silicon Valley, including high-profile companies such as Tesla and Hewlett Packard. Nonetheless, California, which ranks second, remains one of the best states for doing business.
Once again, the intercontinental ranking with the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and France demonstrates the strength of trade relations with Europe.
Globally, business travel has returned to 90% of its pre-pandemic levels (2019). Factors such as economic conditions, remote working and sustainability developments will continue to impact business travel. For example, in 2024, a fifth of offices in the United States will be empty, as 60% of companies allow remote work. But everyone on a team made up of remote workers will need to meet in person from time to time. Companies are responding to this shift by encouraging remote teams to meet at headquarters or other convenient meeting locations. As yesterday's commuter becomes tomorrow's business traveler, remote working could potentially lead to more travel. Craig Bailey, BCD President of the Americas
Top 10 Business Travel Itineraries
New York City is the most commonly used departure hub for intercontinental flights. routes1with flights to London, Frankfurt and Paris.
The top 10 arrival hubs for intercontinental flights are all in Europe and dominated by London and Frankfurt, which together occupy eight places in the top 10. Amsterdam and Paris complete the list.
Cabin class
When booking intercontinental flights in 2023, U.S. business travelers primarily chose business class (53%) and economy class (36%). Premium economy (10%) and first class (1%) were the least booked.
Type of flight
When traveling for business in the United States, 80% of flights booked were direct and only 20% were connecting flights. For intercontinental travel, the distribution is almost equal: 47% of flights booked were direct, 53% were connecting flights.
Travelers typically choose their flight and cabin class based on their company's policy, schedule, and personal preferences. If travelers want to reach their destination sooner, they tend to book a direct flight. If they don't have a time limit and want to save money, they can opt for a connecting flight. For intercontinental flights, they also rely heavily on the availability of direct flights to their destination.
Car rental
For 44% of all U.S. airline bookings, business travelers booked a rental with an average length of four days. Dallas-Fort Worth tops the rankings for car rental cities, followed by Chicago and Atlanta.
When traveling for business, especially in a sprawling city like Dallas-Fort Worth, renting a car is a convenient and flexible way to get around,
» added Bailey. It offers the freedom to create your own schedule, without having to rely on public transportation, taxis or ride-sharing services.
According to a recently conducted global car rental survey by BCD, 83% of U.S. business travelers said they never rent an electric car during their business trips. This is mainly due to complex logistics, low availability at the rental location and short range. Those who lease electric cars are primarily motivated by sustainability or their desire to try an electric vehicle. Click on here for more car rental survey results.
Full 2023 US Cities and Trends Report with information on American business travelers can be found here.
Ref. 1: Top routes combine data from multiple airports for the following cities: London (Heathrow, London Gatwick and London City); Paris (Charles de Gaulle and Orly); New York (John F. Kennedy, Newark and La Guardia) and Dallas-Fort Worth (Dallas-Fort Worth International, Love Field and Addison).
About the report
Business travel can be a seismograph of economic growth. The increase and decrease in business travel volumes reflect the level and health of economic activity within a region or country. The latest from BCD Cities & Trends 2023 United States edition features the top destinations for U.S. business travelers and provides insight into how they travel. Results are based on BCD flight and car rental data from 2023 in the United States. This report follows the recently published report. Cities & Trends Europe 2023 edition. Reports are produced annually.
About BCD Voyages
BCD Travel helps businesses travel smart and achieve more. We drive program adoption, cost savings and talent retention through digital experiences that simplify business travel. Our 13,000 dedicated team members serve customers in more than 170 countries as we shape a sustainable future for business travel. For more information, visit www.bcdtravel.com.
About BCD Group
BCD Group is a market leader in the travel industry. The privately held company was founded in 1975 by John Fentener van Vlissingen and consists of BCD Travel, its subsidiaries BCD Meetings & Events and Advito, as well as Park “N Fly. For more information, visit www.bcdgroup.com.
