Domestic business travel within the United States witnessed a significant upswing, with a 5% year-over-year increase recorded from March to May 2025, according to newly released data from Flight Centre Travel Group. This growth emphasizes the persistent and essential role that corporate travel plays in driving economic recovery and sustaining business operations nationwide.
Flight Centre’s detailed report, compiled from data collected through its corporate brands Corporate Traveler and FCM Travel, underscores an increasingly optimistic outlook among businesses despite the broader economic uncertainties. Companies appear determined to leverage in-person interactions as vital tools for economic revival and market competitiveness.
A spokesperson for Flight Centre highlighted, “Despite recent uncertainties, it’s clear that the relationship between corporate travel and economic strength is very robust. Companies across various sectors in the United States continue to invest significantly in business travel, recognizing its pivotal role in fostering growth, client relationships, and internal collaborations.”
Stronger-than-Expected Domestic Travel Rebound
This 5% growth rate marks a notable acceleration compared to the earlier reported 2% growth rate in April 2025. Analysts suggest that factors contributing to this increase include renewed corporate confidence, strategic corporate events, trade fairs, industry conventions, and overall improvements in domestic travel infrastructure and convenience.
The sectors most actively driving this growth include technology, finance, healthcare, and energy, each recognizing travel as essential for maintaining effective corporate relationships, engaging in strategic industry partnerships, and promoting innovation.
Key Cities Fueling the Business Travel Boom
Flight Centre’s data spotlighted several major cities as prime destinations, reflecting their status as hubs of commerce and industry events:
- New York City: Remaining a top destination due to its central role in global finance, media, technology, and professional services sectors.
- Chicago: A major hub for trade shows and conventions, benefiting from its geographical centrality and robust infrastructure.
- Boston: Known for its strong healthcare, biotechnology, and education sectors, attracting numerous industry conferences and corporate visits.
- Dallas: Recognized for its vibrant technology, aerospace, and energy sectors, boosting its appeal to business travelers.
- Las Vegas: Evolving beyond leisure tourism to become a significant business convention and corporate events center.
Las Vegas Emerges as a Business Travel Hotspot
Among the listed cities, Las Vegas experienced the most remarkable growth in business travel bookings, showing an impressive 26% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. This growth highlights Las Vegas’ strategic efforts to diversify its visitor base by enhancing its reputation as a premier destination for business events and conventions.
The Las Vegas Convention Center’s expansion and a consistently packed calendar of large-scale conferences significantly contribute to this momentum. Additionally, the city’s hospitality sector continues to innovate by offering specialized corporate facilities and bespoke business services.
Orlando and Nashville Showcase Significant Growth
In addition to Las Vegas, other cities experienced robust increases in business travel. Orlando reported a substantial 19% rise, benefiting from expanded convention facilities, hotel development, and its strategic push to attract major corporate events and meetings beyond its traditional tourist base.
Nashville’s bookings surged by 17%, reflecting its evolving economic landscape driven by growth in healthcare, entertainment, and technology industries. The city’s attractive business climate, complemented by its vibrant cultural scene, is steadily transforming it into a preferred location for corporate conferences and meetings.
Broader Economic Impacts and Industry Insights
This increase in domestic business travel has broader positive economic implications. Higher business traveler traffic supports hotels, restaurants, local transportation providers, and various other service sectors in these cities, strengthening local economies and supporting employment.
The U.S. Travel Association emphasizes that business travelers typically spend more daily compared to leisure visitors, underscoring their crucial economic contribution. This trend provides crucial stability and revenue generation for urban centers recovering from recent economic disruptions.
Flight Centre’s Strategic Approach
As a global leader in corporate travel management, Flight Centre continues innovating by enhancing its technological platforms. The company recently incorporated advanced AI tools to streamline travel planning, manage employee safety through improved duty-of-care practices, and provide robust booking systems to optimize travel efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Future Outlook: Optimistic but Cautious
While the growth is promising, Flight Centre and industry analysts recommend cautious optimism for the remainder of 2025. Potential influencing factors include ongoing geopolitical developments, fuel price fluctuations, and broader economic conditions.
Nevertheless, the sustained investment by U.S. companies in domestic travel is likely to maintain a positive trajectory, reinforcing corporate travel’s integral role in economic recovery and expansion.
