Inside the 2025 business travel forecast – UK inbound trips, AI-driven bookings and the rise of bleisure
Predictions have revealed that global business travel spend will reach $1.57tn in 2025, as the industry continues on its upward trajectory post-pandemic.
Experts at the ground transportation platform Mozio, have analysed global data to reveal 46 business travel trends and statistics, covering spending, demographics and more.
According to Mozio’s research, over half (55%) of business travelers see work trips as a perk that makes their jobs more interesting and rewarding. So, what else did the research reveal?
You can view the statistics here – https://www.mozio.com/blog/business-travel-trends-statistics
10 key business travel statistics for 2025
The UK will welcome 5.1 million business visitors in 2025, making up 16% of total inbound trips and 19% of the UK’s total inbound spending.
Business travelers in the UK spend 15% more per day than holidaymakers. On average, business travellers spend £184 per day, compared with £160 for holidaymakers.
Over one-third of UK inbound business visitors are women attending conferences, exhibitions and training.
The Amsterdam-London air corridor is the most popular business route in Europe, highlighting London as a financial centre and Amsterdam as a European business gateway.
In 2025, the US is expected to be the world’s largest spender on business travel, with some forecasts predicting expenditures of up to $395.4bn.
The bleisure market will grow from $933bn in 2022 to $2.3tn by 2030, with 42% of UK business travellers adding leisure days to at least one of their work trips.
Gen X finds business travel less stressful than Gen Z, with 47% of UK business travellers citing stress compared to 43% of Gen X.
One in three companies will apply AI to their travel programmes in significant ways, whether that be through smart booking tools or automated traveller support.
The average cost-per-attendee at meetings and events will rise to $168 per day in 2025 and is expected to rise to $172 in 2026.
More than one-third of companies are adding sustainability measures to travel programmes in 2025. 28% plan to adopt technology or services geared towards hitting sustainability targets.
Nicole Kerr, CEO of Mozio, reflects on these statistics and what the trends revealed mean in practice for corporate travel managers and business partners in the wider industry.
“Statistics on their own are just numbers. The real value comes from how travel managers and partners apply them. The trends we’ve highlighted here point to a clear set of priorities: keep costs under control, protect travellers, and adapt quickly to changing expectations.”
“”Take rising hotel and transport costs, for example. Higher ADRs and air fares mean advance agreements and centralised booking are more important than ever. When you know rates are climbing, locking in partnerships early with hotel chains and ground transportation platforms gives you an edge over competitors negotiating too late.”