Utrecht, Netherlands – According to BCD Travel City & Trend Europe 2023 Edition, Amsterdam and New York are the most visited cities by European business travelers. The most popular countries are Germany and America. This report is based on BCD flight and car rental data for various European markets in 2023.1.
Top 10 Business Travel Cities
Overall, European business travel spending in 2023 recovered to 96% of pre-pandemic (2019) levels. Recovery will vary by region and country and will depend on geopolitical developments, supplier inventories and other factors. Consistent with GBTA's 2023 findings, Western Europe has a clear lead among the top 10 European cities due to the resumption of in-person meetings and events, and the return of international business travel capacity and volume. . Recovery in other parts of Europe has been delayed due to the effects of the war in Ukraine and other factors.
In the list of intercontinental cities, the US has seven cities in the top 10, with Dubai doing very well in third place. The emirate is focused on growth and plans to become the most visited destination in the world. Other cities in the top 10 are Singapore and Shanghai.
While business travel is recovering globally, the pace of recovery in China is more gradual.
Jonathan Cao, Managing Director for North Asia, said: Beijing has fallen from 8th place in 2019 as the most visited intercontinental city by European business travelers, while Shanghai has dropped from 2nd to 10th place. Nevertheless, we are encouraged by the recent visa exemptions for travelers from certain European countries and more lenient visa procedures overall. We expect business travel to China to return significantly in 2024, as evidenced by the early increase in travel volumes in the first two months of 2024.
Top 5 countries for business travel
Germany is the most visited country in Europe, followed by the United Kingdom, which has dropped from first place in 2019 to second place in 2023. After Brexit, EU and Swiss nationals will need a valid passport to travel to the UK and will no longer be able to enter the country freely. National ID cards have been issued since October 2021. Despite this, the UK remains a top destination for business travel. The Netherlands, France and Italy follow her in third, fourth and fifth place respectively.
The United States leads the continental ranking, followed by the United Arab Emirates, India, and China. This shows the strong trade links between Europe and Asia. Canada finished the ranking in 5th place.
Risks such as geopolitics, rising crime, new sustainability laws and remote work continue to impact the amount of business travel and where travel budgets are allocated.
Michelle Laurie, President of BCD Europe, said: Airline capacity, which was once sufficient, may become insufficient. Destinations that were once safe may now be dangerous for travelers. These are examples of why travel programs need to quickly adapt to new circumstances. We support our corporate clients by keeping abreast of developments, advising on supplier negotiations, managing risk and providing traveler-friendly tools.
Top 10 business trip routes
Most frequently used routes2Intercontinental flights from Europe depart from London and Frankfurt, which together occupy 8th place in the top 10. Amsterdam and Paris complete the list of European departure hubs in his 9th place and his 10th place.
The top 10 destinations for intercontinental flights are primarily located in the United States, with New York City being the most popular. Shanghai is his only APAC arrival hub on the list.
cabin class
Looking at the cabin class of European travelers booking intercontinental flights in 2023, business class was the most common at 47%, followed by economy class at 42%. Premium Economy is 10% and First Class is only 1%. This differs slightly from the results of an upcoming report summarizing insights about U.S. travelers. Business class and economy class account for 53% and 36% of intercontinental flights, respectively.
Flight type
When traveling to Europe for business, 84% of flights booked are direct and only 16% are connecting flights. However, for intercontinental travel, the breakdown is about the same: 51% of booked flights are nonstop and 49% are connecting flights.
The class of service you choose, the type of flight, and even the route have a direct impact on your CO2 emissions.
Mr Rowley added. For example, direct flights have shorter routes and use less fuel during takeoff and landing compared to connecting flights. By analyzing emissions data, companies can target what actions and policies they want to influence or change to support smart, purposeful travel.
rental car
In 21% of all European airline bookings, travelers book rental cars for an average of four days. Germany ranks in the top 10 for car rentals, with five cities in the list: Munich, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Hamburg, and Berlin. Other top 10 rental car cities include Paris, London, Amsterdam, Milan, and Barcelona.
According to a recent BCD Rental Car survey of more than 900 business travelers around the world, most business travelers travel to company offices, meet with customers, or provide on-site services. I am renting a car. The most common reasons for renting a car over other transportation options are convenience, speed, lack of alternatives, and price. Medium/regular cars are the most commonly rented cars, followed by small/economy cars. Click here for more information on car rental findings.
Complete City & Trend Europe 2023 Report For more European traveler insights, click here.
reference. 1: Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
reference. 2: Top routes combines data from multiple airports in the following cities: London (Heathrow, London Gatwick, London City). Paris (Charles de Gaulle and Orly); New York City (John F. Kennedy, Newark, LaGuardia); Shanghai (Shanghai Pudong and Shanghai).
About the report
Business travel can be a seismometer for economic growth. Increases and decreases in the number of business travelers reflect the level and health of economic activity in a region or country. Latest information on BCD City & Trends 2023 European Edition provides insight into the top destinations for business travelers in Europe and how to travel there. The findings are based on his BCD flight and car rental data in various European markets in 2023.from now on City & Trends 2023 US Edition will be published soon. Reports are produced annually.
About BCD Travel
BCD Travel helps businesses travel smarter and achieve more. We drive program implementation, cost savings and talent retention through digital experiences that simplify business travel. Our 13,000 dedicated team members serve customers in more than 170 countries and are shaping the sustainable future of business travel. For more information, please visit www.bcdtravel.com.
