Global Business Travel to Hit $1.18 Trillion in 2014
According to a GBTA Foundation report, China leads growth of all 75 countries in the report, having grown from $32 billion in 2000 to $225 billion in 2013.
A Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) report predicts that global business travel spending will hit a record $1.18 trillion in 2014. This number shows a 6.9% increase from last year.
Although the Asia Pacific region has the largest share of the business travel spend market, China is still leading out of all the 75 countries in the GBTA’s report. China has grown from $32 billion in 2000 to $225 billion in 2013. This accounts for an average of 16.2% each year compared to business travel spending from the U.S., which has grown at an annual rate of just 1.1% since 2000, according to the report.
Other findings in the report showed that travel spending in the U.S. and Western Europe will grow on a slower rate than China. GBTA predicts the Asia Pacific region will have gained another five percent in market share, while the U.S. and Western Europe will lose three percent and two percent.
“This report underscores that China, along with the other BRIC countries of Brazil, Russia and India are leveraging their business travel expenditures into more economic opportunities,” said GBTA Executive Director and COO Michael W. McCormick. “We expect to see this shift in business travel spending to continue.”
Unlike China, the GBTA predicts Russia may see a drop in business travel due to the instability in Ukraine. In 2014 business travel spending is expected to drop more than five percent, according to GBTA.
Read the full press release here.
More Rental Operations

The Desk Upsell Is Costing Operators More Than it Earns
Counter upsells generate revenue, but they can also slow transactions, erode trust, and cost repeat business. Fully inclusive pricing may offer operators a better path to long-term value.
Read More →
U-Save Expands Indian Ocean Presence with New Master Franchise for Mauritius
The franchise has been acquired by Mauritian travel entrepreneur Umarfarooq Omarjee, an established figure in the island's tourism and mobility sector.
Read More →
Global Carsharing Fleet Projected to Reach 768,000 Vehicles By 2030
A new Berg Insight forecast outlines several business models driving the projected growth in public carsharing worldwide through 2029.
Read More →
Rental Car Fleet Sales Show Mid-Year Strength
June gains ensured rental fleets closed out the first half of 2026 in positive territory.
Read More →
Surprice Mobility Opens Corporate Rental Station at Milan Malpensa Airport
The Milan opening is part of Surprice Mobility's broader strategy to expand its corporate operations while increasing the use of technology across its network.
Read More →
Brazilian Executive MBA Targets Growing Domestic Rental Car Industry
Rental car companies face a unique combination of challenges that are rarely addressed in traditional programs.
Read More →
Green Motion Expands Into Japan With Master Franchise Agreement
Japan's tourism industry, business travel market, and demand for vehicle rental services are reasons the country represents an important market for the company.
Read More →
ACRA Carrying Fuller Industry Load As AI and EVs Lurk In Future
The leading car rental professional business group details an active legislative, regulatory, and macro-trends agenda affecting car rental operators.
Read More →
World Cup Travel Data Shows Longer Car Rentals and More One-Ways
A recent analysis of FIFA bookings found varied demand patterns that influenced rental car pricing.
Read More →
A Leveling Force: AI Morphs Into A Rental Car Profit-Seeker
Revenue managers can’t match the emerging AI tools gobbling lots of data that could counter the competitive race to the rate bottom.
Read More →
