New centers for business travel – including Orlando and Houston – have emerged, according to new research from Hickory Global Systems, a corporate travel alliance. The conclusion is based on the most popular cities for domestic and international business travel as of second-quarter 2023 based on member bookings through Hickory’s platform and average daily rate of spend.
Chris Dane, president, said that new hubs have increased in popularity due to new construction, reemerging conferences or “progressing business landscapes,” Meanwhile, , he said, new cities that have made the most recent list – like Mississauga [Ontario], for example – “have come as a surprise.”
The top 10 cities in the US for business travel, in order, are: Houston, San Diego, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, Charlotte, North Carolina, Austin, Las Vegas, and San Antonio.
For international business travel, the top 10 most popular locations are: London, Toronto, Montreal, Stockholm, Calgary, Mississauga, Dubai Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney.
Dane said the booking and rate of spend data represent high demand driven by a shifting workforce, new infrastructure, inflation impact, and the reopening of some spaces and industries across the globe. Undoubtedly, he said, the business travel sector has changed since the pandemic, and with in-person conferences and exhibitions coming back stronger than ever, new locations are emerging as business travel hubs.
Of the 10 domestic cities mentioned, six are in the Southern region, which has seen the highest population growth in recent years. Mild climates and warmer weather year-round, said the report, make it ideal for travelers who like to make the most out of their business trips and conferences.
As for the 10 international cities, four are located in Canada, primarily due to proximity to the US where most of Hickory’s members reside. Additionally, many multinational companies have a significant presence in both the US and Canada. London ranks the highest for average daily rate of spend out of all the cities on the list at $401.02, while Stockholm and Sydney are considered two of the safest cities to visit.
Hickory has over 2,500 members spread across approximately 74 countries with over 51,000 hotel partners.
Image: Orlando Terminal
