Research from Corporate Traveler and FCM Travel sees higher bookings to multiple countries
US corporate travelers have started to explore more international markets and identify new business opportunities overseas, according to a detailed analysis of flight bookings made by Corporate Traveler and FCM Travel, the business travel divisions of Flight Centre Travel Group.
Flight bookings from the US in April saw a year-over-year increase to various countries across the globe, including Italy (up 31%), UK (up 7%), Japan (up 6%), Brazil (up 17%), the UAE (up 52%), South Africa (up 53%) and more. With these overseas trips, said the report, businesses have been able to explore alternative sourcing options, diversify their market presence and boost their global reputation.
John Van den Heuvel, president of Corporate Traveler USA, told BTE that domestic bookings remained steady — up 2% in April 2025 compared with April 2024, and noted that “for many of our clients in the SME (small-to-medium-enterprise) space, there is often a strong connection between corporate travel and business growth, even in uncertain economic times.”
So, despite various complexities in the current trade environment, said Van den Heuvel, “we are seeing that the demand for business travel is not necessarily slowing down.” In fact, he said, domestic travel across the US has slightly increased “as our clients continue to embrace the road and find ways to strategically leverage business travel to strengthen their networks and expand their reach.”
As companies learn to navigate the new trade landscape, said Van den Heuvel, “we are beginning to see opportunities develop elsewhere.” Following the introduction of recent tariffs, he said, “we’ve noticed a bit of a shift in demand for international travel, with corporate travelers starting to explore new overseas relationships and tap into emerging markets.” Additionally, said Van den Heuvel, “immersion in diverse cultures and environments can spark innovation and provide valuable market insights, especially for companies in the growth stage.”
