A thousand business travellers – 1006 to be exact – were surveyed by American Express as part of the Amex Trendex survey. This serves to identify the major trends in business travel, at least on the American market, as the sample was limited to the United States.
Among the lessons to be learned from this study, the payment methods specialist has notably identified the destinations where business travel is experiencing the strongest growth, both in the United States and internationally. According to American Express, one European destination stands out in particular: ManchesterThe capital of Northern England is riding high on its appeal in terms of AI: " Driven by a booming regional economy and a growing reputation as an artificial intelligence hub, Manchester is establishing itself as the economic and technological engine of northern England » summarise the report's authors. The latter also point to the role of the infrastructure being developed in the Mancunian city: " With public investment supporting a new science and innovation campus, as well as the transformation of its international airport, the region is ideally positioned for sustainable business travel growth ".
Hyderabad and Adelaide are the two other business destinations that stand out in this report on an international scale. "Cyberabad" is also benefiting from the role of new technologies and the modernisation of transport infrastructure: " This momentum is built on continuous investment in technology and the life sciences — including the establishment by a major American biotechnology company of its first international location outside the United States — as well as significant state-backed innovation and urban development initiatives. To support the growth in domestic and international business traffic, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is expanding, with a new passenger terminal and an additional runway planned. , summarise the study's authors. As for Adelaide, the Australian destination is playing the MICE card to attract American business travellers: " Backed by major commercial real estate investments and a thriving MICE sector driven by new luxury hotels, the South Australian capital is ideally positioned for sustainable international business travel growth ".
Finally, on the domestic market, St. Louis, Providence, Tempe, Fort Lauderdale and Reno stand out in 2026 according to American Express to round out this top 8 of destinations to watch on the business travel market.
