Business travel in EMEA to see ‘strongest’ increase in 2025

Business travel activity is set to increase in 2025, with rises in both travel volumes and spending, according to a new study by the Flight Centre Travel Group.

The group’s first ‘State of the Market’ survey – fielded between June and July to more than 560 clients of its TMC brands Corporate Traveller and FCM Travel – revealed business travel in Europe, the Middle East and Africa is expected to see the biggest gains in the 2025 fiscal year (July 2024 to June 2025).

According to the survey, 46 per cent of EMEA based businesses plan to increase their travel in 2025, with 15 per cent of respondents planning to increase the number of their business trips by more than 20 per cent.

More than 50 per cent of corporates in EMEA also plan to increase travel spend, with 9 per cent looking to extend budgets by more than 20 per cent.

Overall, 40 per cent of businesses plan to increase their travel in FY25, while 42 per cent of intend to increase their travel spend.

Ten per cent of all travel managers surveyed intend to increase travel volumes by more than 20 per cent year on year, and 30 per cent are planning for increases of up to 20 per cent. Meanwhile, 35 per cent believe travel volumes will remain the same, and only 10 per cent of respondents anticipate taking fewer trips next year.

As for spend forecasts, 6 per cent of respondents globally plan to increase travel spend by more than 20 per cent in 2025, while 36 per cent expect to see spend increases of up to 20 per cent. Additionally, 31 per cent anticipate spend will remain on par with 2024, and only 11 per cent expect a reduction.

Commenting on the results, Steve Norris, EMEA managing director at Flight Centre Travel Group, said: “Out of all the regions globally, EMEA is seeing the strongest increase in intentions to travel for business, which really highlights the opportunities that are in front of us as an industry.

“The results of this survey illustrate that business travel is absolutely a non-discretionary spend for corporations. We can see from our clients, which range from SMEs to larger multinational organisations, that business travel is a vital component to help drive growth, build relationships, and seize opportunities.”

In financial results posted last month, Brisbane-based FCTG reported its corporate travel arm is now “a materially larger business than pre-Covid”, with total transaction value from corporate travel coming in at AU$12.1 billion, marking a 10 per cent year-on-year increase and close to 35 per cent above FY19.