According to American Express’ recently issued “Amex Trendex: Business Travel Edition,” more than nine in 10 senior business leaders surveyed expect business travel to stay steady or increase over the next 12 months, proving its value during an ever-evolving external environment.

For the first time, American Express also identified five domestic U.S. destinations on the rise for business travel based on year-over-year growth in commercial customer, or hotel and airline transactions: Richmond, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; Boise, Idaho; New Orleans, Louisiana; and the Midwest’s very own Columbus, Ohio, calling it a “Capital City Becoming Known for More than Meetings.” The fast-growing city is establishing itself as a major meeting and convention site. It is home to over 240 startups, and becoming increasingly attractive to the technology and biotech industries, with several research and academic institutions in the area (such as the Ohio Supercomputer Center) helping to drive innovation through AI research.

“Business travel remains a proven growth driver,” says Fernando Iraola, the executive vice president and general manager of Global & U.S. Large Enterprises, American Express. “With travel as a continued priority, we are seeing ongoing travel and business expansion in cities in the U.S. and around the world, bringing business travel to these destinations and helping their communities flourish.”

Based on a survey of 1,000 U.S. business travelers and 500 U.S. business travel decision-makers, American Express also found:

  1. Face time drives growth, keeping travelers out on the road. Business travelers and companies surveyed indicated that growth opportunities are driving business travel, stating that maintaining or getting more time with clients (64%), and new or more business (59%) were the top reasons for business travel to increase or stay the same over the next 12 months. This stands true even with external forces at play, with nine in 10 senior business leaders across decision-makers (92%) and travelers (88%) noting it’s still worth traveling for in-person meetings despite the evolving business environment.
  2. This commitment to business travel is based on its proven value: 93% of companies agree they can attribute business growth to in-person meetings and events, and 87% of travelers say their client relationships benefit more from in-person interactions than virtual meetings. But this is not just anecdotal, as companies track sales (66%) and client feedback (60%) stemming from business travel to measure return on investment.
  3. Even still, nine in 10 companies agree that having greater control over travel spending is increasingly important amid today’s evolving business landscape, with 60% expecting their company’s focus on optimizing budget to intensify further in the next 12 months.
  4. Travel is not only a business driver, but companies also use it to attract and retain talent (80%). Amidst a hybrid work environment, this strategy seems to be working: 84% of travelers consider business travel a perk, with more Gen Z and Millennials in agreement (88%) than older generations (Gen X and Boomers: 78%).
  5. Gen Z and Millennials are also more satisfied with their business travel experience, with 80% rating it four or five stars compared to 64% of Gen X and Boomers. This enthusiasm comes in spite of discomfort: Interestingly, younger generations are more likely to struggle with productivity (46% of Gen Z and Millennials vs. 33% of Gen X and Boomers) and wellness (50% of Gen Z and Millennials vs. 40% of Gen X and Boomers) when they travel for work.

The business traveler survey was conducted among a sample of 1,005 respondents in the U.S. who are employed full time, traveled by air for work two or more times in the past 12 months and submit their own travel expenses. The business travel decision-maker survey was conducted among a sample of 502 respondents in the U.S. who are employed full time as business travel decision-makers for companies with 50 or more employees. Both online surveys were live May 15 to 23, 2025. For more information, visit americanexpress.com.