Chicago ranked as the top US city for business travel in 2025, according to a new report from FCM Travel, the large market business travel division of Flight Centre Travel Group.  Chicago was followed by Dallas, Boston and New York.

Phoenix rounded out the Top 5, making a significant jump after placing ninth in 2024. Santa Barbara, California,  recorded the highest year-over-year growth among US destinations, followed by Greensboro, North Carolina; Spokane, Washington; and Columbus, Ohio.

The rankings, said the report, are based on a strategic analysis of total US flight bookings made throughout the year by FCM Travel, offering a comprehensive snapshot of the business travel landscape across the country. 

Billy McDonough, FCM president, Americas, said, “It’s been another promising year for the industry, with more companies continuing to invest in their business travel programs.” The growth his company has seen across cities nationwide, he said, “is a testament to the value business travel delivers.” As the industry evolves, said McDonough, “I expect companies to increasingly prioritize travel as a true driver of growth.”

Internationally, London led the rankings as the most traveled-to business destination from the US, followed by Tokyo, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Singapore. Dubai emerged as the fastest-growing international business travel destination in 2025. 

The analysis also identified peak travel periods throughout the year. Driven by a range of macroeconomic and industry factors, said the report, the busiest day for business travel in the US was Sept. 8, followed by Sept. 15 and May 12.