Before the advent of digital nomadism and work from anywhere policies, choosing where to travel for business was out of the question. As remote teams are now commonplace, the selection of where to travel for business meetups, conferences and any other type of meeting is now real. With the expected expansion of the business travel market from $689.7 billion in 2021 to $2.1 trillion by 2031 (Travel and Tour World), it’s time to start thinking about your next meeting destination.
Thanks to the growing popularity of bleisure travel, technological innovations, and the expansion of the MICE segment, and with businesses growing more global and interconnected, the need for business travel services will continue to thrive, driven by investments in infrastructure and innovations in travel technologies. We’ll look at the best upcoming business travel destinations for 2025, as well as what makes them great so that you can be sure to make a well-informed decision when it comes time to plan your next business trip.
Which destinations in Asia-Pacific to put on your list
According to Expedia’s Travel Insights report, Asia Pacific (APAC) is the fastest growing region based on search volume, increasing 35% year-on-year. With a flourishing economy, and a wide range of prices for hotels, it’s no wonder business travelers love APAC.
Singapore tops the list of the Asia-Pacific region, closely followed by Bangkok and Sydney. Tokyo, Melbourne and Seoul are also popular meeting destinations, with Kuala Lumpur, Bali, Phuket and Shanghai rounding out the top ten in the region.
If you’re traveling to APAC soon, then don’t forget to check out our APAC business etiquette guide.
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Singapore a top destination in APAC
As a multi-cultural society, Singapore offers an exciting melting pot of Chinese, Eurasian, Indian and Malay cultures. This progressive Asian hub is home to more than 40% of Fortune 500 companies’ headquarters. Thanks to its excellent infrastructure, stable political environment, and great connectivity, Singapore makes a great choice for your next business trip.
Where to travel for business in Europe
Europe is a popular choice for business travelers, with great connections with the world. London is the top choice for international business travel planners, thanks to being one of Europe’s financial capitals. However, after Brexit, those from continental Europe may favor a Schengen country or a destination where a passport isn’t needed to travel.
Barcelona is a great meeting and events location
Barcelona is the second most popular meeting destination with great infrastructure, a range of meeting venues, and is well connected to the rest of Europe and is on major intercontinental routes. The city can easily be reached from the airport in around 20 minutes. It is already host to annual events like Mobile World Congress, IBTM World, and the World Congress of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.
Another Spanish capital worth a visit: Madrid
Madrid is in third place as Europe’s top meeting destinations, behind London and Madrid, moving up above Paris. In 2023, the Spanish capital hosted 20 major conferences, bringing in an economic impact of 88 million euros. Madrid scores points for its central location and excellent connections to other European cities as well as to Latin America and North America.
Dubai and Istanbul are popular destinations in Middle East & Africa region
Dubai is an important hub between Europe and Asia with Emirates operating over 3,000 flights every week across its network of 137 destinations in 77 countries across six continents. It has one of the busiest international airports, handling over 86.4 million passengers a year. It’s also an extremely popular destination for international business travel. Its strategic location positioned between Europe, Asia and Africa serves as a link between the East and West. It has a very business-friendly environment and advanced infrastructure. The World Bank’s “Ease of Doing Business” report ranked the UAE 16th globally thanks to efficiency and effectiveness.
Istanbul is another great destination for business travel in 2025, receiving around 6 million business travelers last year. With modern infrastructure, well- developed transportation and great accommodations, it is a great choice for your next business trip.
Popular business travel destinations in the Americas
In North America, Orlando is a popular event destination. Planners prioritize Orlando because it has good venues, accommodations, dining, entertainment and services. Las Vegas is another popular choice for conferences and meetings thanks to its world-class amenities. It also has some of the largest and most modern convention centers in the U.S, such as the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Sands Expo, which can accommodate large events.
check out our guide
Bogotá, a top business travel destination in South America
Bogotá, Colombia was voted South America’s leading business travel destination for ten consecutive years by the World Travel Awards since 2014. 40% of the country’s events take place in the Colombian capital city of Bogotá. With 36 direct flight connections to main cities in the world, 17,000 rooms in four and five star hotels, and over 170 options of venues for events and conventions. This must be why it’s always among the top 10 cities in Latin America for doing business.
Where to do business 2025
When it comes time to do business in 2025, you really can’t go wrong. Each region has its own business travel allstar destination. The important thing to keep in mind when choosing where to host your next meeting is the infrastructure, accommodations, and the connectivity with other world destinations.