Major events, such as sports, concerts, festivals and cultural happenings are shaping the business travel landscape as companies seek new ways to strengthen client relationships and drive business growth, according to the latest Amex Trendex: Business Travel Edition. 

Amex surveyed 1,000 US business travelers and 500 US business travel decision makers, finding that 9 out of 10 (93%) business travelers say they will attend major events while traveling for business in 2026 to build new relationships and stand out from competitors.

Amex also unveiled its annual list of emerging US and international business travel destinations. The top five US destinations include: St. Louis; Providence (R.I.); Tempe (Ariz.); Fort Lauderdale; and Reno (Nev.). The top three international destinations are: Hyderabad, India; Manchester, England; and Adelaide, Australia.

Key insights included:

• Major events are fueling business outcomes: 85% of business travelers and decision makers agree that bringing clients or prospects to major events can be more effective for building relationships than traditional business activities like dining. More than 4 in 5 (82%) business travelers agree they are more likely to win new business after hosting a client or prospect at a major event.
• There is a hidden cost of disconnected travel and expense: Finance teams report spending an average of 15 hours per month manually updating, reviewing, correcting or reconciling travel-related data across disconnected systems, while nearly half (49%) of business travelers say they spend at least one hour per trip on manual tasks. 
• Mobile and AI tools are streamlining T&E, with AI agents poised to simplify even further: Three-quarters (75%) of travelers view mobile travel tools as an expectation, not a bonus, and 65% of decision makers say they plan to increase mobile and contactless tool investments over the next year. Business travelers reported use of AI travel tools has nearly doubled over the last year (to 32%, up from 18%). However, 90% of decision makers say the ability to review, approve or change an AI agent’s recommendations before anything is booked or changed is very important.