Business travel grows post-pandemic, with these cities seeing highest hotel bookings

Delray Beach, Fla. (September 6, 2023) – Hickory Global Partners, a global corporate travel alliance that serves corporate travel agencies, corporate travel departments and corporations, has announced the most popular cities for domestic and international business travel as of second-quarter 2023 based on member bookings through Hickory’s platform and average daily rate of spend.

The top ten cities in the United States for business travel, beginning with the most popular, are: Houston, Texas; San Diego, California; New York, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Atlanta, Georgia; Orlando, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina; Austin, Texas; Las Vegas, Nevada; and San Antonio, Texas.

For international business travel, the top ten most popular locations are: London, England; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Stockholm, Sweden; Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Tokyo, Japan; Singapore; and Sydney, Australia.

“While the majority of the top cities for business travel, both domestically and internationally, have previously been identified as corporate travel hubs, many cities including Houston and Orlando, have since increased in popularity due to new construction, reemerging conferences, or progressing business landscapes,” said Chris Dane, President of Hickory. “Meanwhile, new cities that have made our most recent list – like Mississauga, for example – have come as a surprise.”

Hickory has over 2,500 members spread across approximately 74 countries to ensure efficient business travel bookings with over 51,000 hotel partners. This allows the company to provide members with the best rates, incentives and opportunities available by helping corporate travel agencies and other departments increase buying power and earning potential, while also offering enhanced benefits and technology otherwise not possible without its in-place partnerships.

“The booking and rate of spend data represent high demand driven by a shifting workforce, new infrastructure, inflation impact, and the reopening of some spaces and industries across the globe,” said Dane. “Undoubtedly, the business travel sector has changed since the pandemic, and with in-person conferences and exhibitions coming back stronger than ever, new locations are emerging as business travel hubs.”

Of the ten domestic cities mentioned, six are in the Southern region, which has seen the highest population growth in recent years. Mild climates and warmer weather year-round make it ideal for travelers who like to make the most out of their business trips and conferences. Additionally, the region is home to over 100 Fortune 500 companies, making it convenient to host conferences, exhibitions, and training. The remaining four cities not surprisingly include Chicago and New York, the financial centers of the Midwest and Northeast, respectively, as well as Las Vegas and San Diego. These cities are regarded as economic and innovation hubs with strong hospitality options and/or efficient public transportation systems.

As for the ten international cities, four are located in Canada, primarily due to proximity to the United States where most of Hickory’s members reside. Additionally, many multinational companies have a significant presence in both the U.S. and Canada. Three locations on the list (Tokyo, Dubai and Singapore) are located in the Middle Eastern and Asian regions. They are globally recognized as economic and innovation centers and popular business travel destinations due to their world-class infrastructure and business-friendly environments. London ranks the highest for average daily rate of spend out of all the cities on the list at $401.02, while Stockholm and Sydney are considered two of the safest cities to visit.

With business travel increasing again after lows caused by the pandemic, Hickory is confident that the industry will continue to grow.

About Hickory Global Partners

Founded over 40 years ago, Hickory Global Partners is an industry-leading global alliance for corporate travel agencies, corporate travel departments and corporations that delivers unparalleled negotiated discounts and commissions, resources, support, and value that significantly benefits its members, and ultimately, their clients. Hickory Global Partners bridges the gap between members and suppliers and raises the bar on what being a global corporate travel alliance is all about. Its visionary hotel program, robust air program, one-of-a-kind ground transportation program, comprehensive ancillary portfolio and cutting-edge technology and tools, make Hickory Global Partners an important strategic partner in the corporate travel industry. For more information, visit www.hickoryglobalpartners.com.