Germany Leads, Italy Expands, and U.S. Stays #1 for European Business Travelers

Flight and car rental data indicate that European business travelers were most commonly bound for Germany last year, while the U.S. remained the biggest intercontinental destination for expense account travelers.

That’s according to BCD Travel, which has drawn on client data to produce its Cities & Trends 2025 Europe Report. The Dutch company is Europe’s second-largest travel management firm behind Amex GBT.

Italy Grows in Business Travel

It’s little surprise that Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is the biggest magnet for European business travelers. It was followed by the United Kingdom, which has retained its second-place position despite Brexit increasing friction at borders for visitors from the continent. The Netherlands attracted the third most travelers.

Italy retained its fifth position but saw 21 percent growth in inbound business travel from Europe, driven by its economic recovery and improved airline connectivity.

Photo: Courtesy of SEA / Milan Linate Airport

“The expansion of airlines’ operations in Italy has improved connectivity, making it more convenient for business travelers to reach Italian cities,” said Edoardo Priori, managing director for BCD’s operations in the country.

Low-cost carriers Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizzair, Eurowings, and Norwegian all added new European routes to Italian business hubs Milan (MXP and BGY) and Rome (FCO) last year. Meanwhile, Lufthansa’s €325 million deal to take a 41 percent stake in Italian flag carrier ITA has the German carrier poised to boost its presence on the peninsula this year.

Photo: Courtesy of Lufthansa

Under the terms of the deal reached with the European Commission, Lufthansa and ITA have yielded slots at Milan Linate (LIN) to EasyJet, which will expand operations at the urban airport, the hub closest to the city’s Porta Nuova business district.

Italy has also benefited from the increased popularity of trips that combine business and leisure, known as “bleisure travel.”

“Italy’s rich cultural heritage and diverse attractions make it an ideal destination for professionals seeking to combine work with leisure,” Priori said.

Top European Countries for Business Travel

Amsterdam and London

Amsterdam (AMS) was the top European city for BCD travelers last year, a result perhaps influenced by the Dutch company’s location in nearby Utrecht.

London (LHR) came second, its position as Europe’s financial capital un-dented by Brexit. It was also the top arrival and departure for European flights: eight of the top 10 most popular intra-European routes originated or landed in one of the city’s six airports.

One of the many terraces at Leidseplein, in the center of Amsterdam, the Netherlands / Photo: Harry Beugelink

The most trafficked routes in Europe were the 1-hour and 10-minute hops from Amsterdam to London and back again.

German business hubs Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) were the third and fourth biggest destinations, followed by Paris (CDG) in fifth place.

The only change in the city rankings from last year was Stockholm’s leap into ninth place, overtaking European capital Brussels (BRU).

BCD cited major upgrades at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport (ARN), including new technology at security checkpoints such as advanced CT scanners, and an airside walkway between Terminals 4 and 5, which have made business travelers’ experiences “more efficient and pleasant.”

Stockholm / Photo: Ian Dagnall/Alamy Stock

Overall, business travel in Western Europe was up, primarily driven by the real estate sector, although arts, entertainment, and recreation businesses also increased travel spending last year.

Top European Cities for Business Travel

Top European flight routes

U.S. Leads for Business Travel from Europe

Meanwhile, the United States was the most common destination for business travelers with more miles on their odometers. Unsurprisingly, the United States also dominated the list of top cities for business travel, with eight destinations, including first-place New York (JFK) and second-place Chicago (ORD).

New York City / Photo: Adobe Stock/jonbilous

However, foreign travel into the U.S. is widely expected to tumble in 2025, as Trump’s tariffs impact international business deals and tourists express their opposition to his administration and dodge increasingly tough questioning at the border.

Research firm Tourism Economics anticipates that inbound travel to the U.S. will decline 5.5 percent this year. Should trade wars intensify, the drop could be sharper, up to 15.2 percent.

Photo: Dubai, UAE. Courtesy of Wael Hneini / Unsplash

The United Arab Emirates and India followed the U.S. as the top countries for European business travelers. China remained in fourth place but saw a strong recovery in its business travel sector, which BCD attributed to relaxed travel restrictions, pent-up demand, and an overdue post-pandemic economic upswing.

On these longer flights, companies were more likely to foot the bill for a better class of travel for employees. Around 44 percent of business bookings on intercontinental flights were in business class, compared to just 7 percent on European flights.

Top Intercontinental Countries for European Business Travelers

Top Intercontinental Destinations for European business travelers