Germany retains top spot for business travel in Europe
BCD Travel report highlights 2024 trends, with U.S. leading globally and Italy showing strong growth
Germany continues to lead as the top business travel destination within Europe, according to BCD Travel’s *Cities & Trends 2025 Europe Report*. Based on 2024 flight and car rental data, the report highlights the most frequented cities, countries, and routes by European business travelers. While the geopolitical landscape remains volatile, the global economy performed better than expected in 2024, supporting stronger-than-anticipated business travel growth. The United States continues to top intercontinental travel rankings, with London maintaining its role as a key travel hub for European and global routes.
Key takeaways
- Germany remains #1 among European countries for business travel, reflecting its continued importance as a business hub.
- The U.S. leads globally as the top intercontinental destination for European business travelers.
- Italy sees the strongest growth in inbound business travel within Europe, boosted by economic recovery and expanded airline operations.
- Stockholm rises in city rankings, overtaking Brussels to enter the top 10.
- London dominates air travel routes, featuring in eight of the top ten European flight pairs and topping the intercontinental list with the London–New York City route.
- U.S. cities dominate international arrival hubs, with New York City at the top.
- Global business travel outperformed expectations in 2024, setting a positive tone for 2025 despite geopolitical uncertainties.
- Sectoral growth in business travel was driven by real estate, arts, entertainment, and recreation.
Download the full report at BCD Travel