Business travel within and to the US continues to be a major engine powering the nation’s economy and growth, generating $623.8 billion in total gross domestic product (GDP) impact as related travel spending reached $538.5 billion, according to a new study released by GBTA.
According to GBTA, the report is based on comprehensive analysis of 2024 data and reveals the far-reaching impact of business travel across industries, employment, public finances and regional economies across all 50 states. That includes business travel accounting for 2.1% of GDP and $148.6 billion in US tax revenue. The segment, said the report, supports 6.7 million jobs nationwide and is linked to 1 in every 24 US jobs.
The new findings also show that nearly 488 million business trips were taken across the US in 2024, underscoring the scale and reach of business travel activity to, within and across US states.
Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA, said, “Business travel delivers value that reaches well beyond companies and travelers — it’s also about direct economic impact in communities across the country.” She continued, “From supporting millions of jobs to funding public services, the data shows how deeply business travel is connected to US economic resilience, growth and competitiveness.”
Business travel spending in US destinations reached a record $538.5 billion in 2024 (up from $501.1 billion, or almost 7.5%, since 2023) and includes:
- $270 billion from domestic travel
- $50.7 billion from international inbound travel
- $217.8 billion from meetings and events delivery and management
The data also underscores the industry’s strong multiplier effect across the US economy, revealing that each dollar invested in business travel in 2024 generated $1.16 in GDP. Business travel is inherently location-focused, said the report, so increased travel spending translates directly into domestic growth, jobs and tax revenue at those locations.
Meetings, conventions and events drove $217.8 billion in US business travel spending, representing 40.4% of total spending in 2024 and highlighting the expanding role of in-person group meetings in the sector’s total economic impact.
Business travel generates economic activity that reaches every corner of the US, said the report, connecting cities, regions and industries nationwide. Spending is concentrated in major economic hubs — the Top 5 states are California ($40.6 billion), New York ($30.2 billion), Florida ($26.2 billion), Texas ($23.7 billion) and Illinois ($13.3 billion). The Top 10 states account for over half (57%) of total US business travel spending.
The report also highlights the diversity of business travel and traveler activity:
- 59% of business trips were taken for transient business purposes such as sales meetings, client services engagements or government and military travel.
- 41% were for group travel purposes, such as conventions, trainings and seminars.
- The most common trip length was three to four nights (30.5%), while trips lasting more than four nights accounted for 18.6% of all overnight business travel.
- Blended travel, where business and leisure purposes are combined in the same trip, made up nearly a third of all US business travel (31.3%), with travelers staying for 4.2 days on average during blended trips.
Neufang added: “While 2024 marked a strong year for business travel and its economic impact, 2025 and 2026 have presented new and complex challenges shaped by rising geopolitical tensions, cost pressures and cross-border uncertainties. Delivering economic and industry insights is central to GBTA’s mission, and we will continue to monitor these shifts and report on how evolving dynamics are affecting the business travel industry.”
