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New York changes the game alongside Atlanta, Dallas and more US cities, rapidly becoming American strongest business travel hubs that are driving the corporate tourism economy. The new update reveals why business travel is accelerating, how corporate spending is rising, and everything you need to know about the cities powering the next phase of America’s travel industry.
New York is changing the game, while Atlanta, Dallas and more US cities are emerging as the American strongest business travel hubs driving the corporate tourism economy. This new update highlights everything you need to know about the remarkable surge in corporate travel across the United States. As companies increase spending on meetings, conferences, client visits and executive travel, these cities are attracting greater investment, boosting airlines, hotels, restaurants and convention centres. Moreover, stronger business confidence and growing international connectivity are reinforcing demand. Consequently, corporate tourism is becoming a major economic engine, positioning America’s leading business destinations for sustained growth.
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Corporate travel across the United States is showing renewed momentum, with New York, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco and Seattle emerging as some of the country’s strongest business travel hubs, which is somehow inclined towards new American Express’ latest financial results. The company’s second-quarter performance revealed that spending by its U.S. commercial customers increased by 5% year-on-year, while travel and entertainment (T&E) expenditure climbed 8%, marking the strongest growth across its network in three years.
The latest figures point to sustained confidence among businesses investing in face-to-face meetings, conferences, client engagements and international expansion despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. American Express also reported a 10% rise in airline spending, 10% growth in restaurant expenditure and 5% higher spending on lodging, indicating that the broader travel ecosystem continues to benefit from robust corporate activity.
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Although American Express did not publish city-specific spending figures, the nation’s largest business, finance, technology and aviation centres are expected to account for a significant share of this growth, reinforcing their importance to the U.S. travel and tourism economy.
New York remains the country’s foremost business travel destination, supported by its concentration of multinational headquarters, financial institutions, media companies and professional services firms.
The city attracts millions of corporate travellers each year for meetings, investment conferences, legal proceedings and international business negotiations. With John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and nearby Newark Liberty International Airport providing extensive domestic and international connectivity, New York continues to serve as America’s principal gateway for corporate mobility.
The increase in airline and restaurant spending reported by American Express aligns closely with New York’s vibrant hospitality sector, where business travellers contribute significantly to hotel occupancy, premium dining and conference-related tourism. As companies continue prioritising in-person collaboration, the city is expected to remain one of the biggest beneficiaries of renewed commercial travel demand.
Chicago remains one of North America’s leading destinations for corporate meetings and exhibitions, with McCormick Place continuing to host some of the world’s largest trade shows and business events.
The city’s diversified economy spanning manufacturing, healthcare, finance, logistics and consulting generates consistent business travel throughout the year. O’Hare International Airport, one of the busiest airports globally, supports thousands of corporate journeys every day, connecting businesses across the United States and international markets.
The latest American Express data suggests that business travellers are once again increasing spending on flights, restaurants and accommodation, trends that directly support Chicago’s convention hotels, event venues and tourism economy. The city’s ability to attract large-scale conferences continues to reinforce its importance within the national business travel landscape.
Dallas has become one of America’s fastest-growing corporate centres, attracting major headquarters relocations and significant investment across finance, technology, telecommunications and energy sectors.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport provides extensive connectivity to domestic and international destinations, making the city a critical hub for business travellers moving across North America.
The reported increase in commercial travel spending reflects growing corporate confidence, particularly among companies expanding operations across Texas and neighbouring states. Business visitors continue to generate demand for hotels, meeting facilities, restaurants and local transportation services, supporting Dallas’ broader visitor economy.
The city’s expanding convention calendar and growing presence of Fortune 500 companies further position Dallas as a leading destination for commercial travel in the years ahead.
Atlanta remains central to the U.S. corporate travel network thanks to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest passenger airport, and its position as the primary hub for Delta Air Lines.
The city hosts major headquarters across logistics, consumer goods, financial services, healthcare and technology, creating continuous demand for executive travel and client meetings.
American Express’ findings that airline spending increased by 10% and travel and entertainment spending rose by 8% reflect the type of business activity that has long characterised Atlanta’s economy. Conferences, regional meetings and international corporate connections continue to support steady visitor arrivals throughout the year.
Atlanta also benefits from a mature hospitality infrastructure, offering thousands of hotel rooms, convention facilities and business-friendly services that cater specifically to corporate travellers.
San Francisco and the wider Silicon Valley region remain among the world’s most influential technology centres, generating significant volumes of domestic and international business travel.
Executives, investors, entrepreneurs and technology professionals frequently travel to the region for product launches, venture capital meetings, research partnerships and international collaboration.
The rise in airline, restaurant and accommodation spending reported by American Express closely reflects the travel patterns typically associated with the technology industry, where business trips often involve premium air travel, extended hotel stays and client entertainment.
International commercial spending increasing by 12% is particularly relevant for San Francisco, whose companies maintain extensive global partnerships across Europe, Asia-Pacific and other major markets. Continued investment in innovation is expected to sustain strong corporate travel demand throughout the coming quarters.
Seattle continues to strengthen its role within America’s business travel network through its concentration of global technology, aerospace and cloud computing companies.
The presence of multinational corporations including Amazon, Microsoft and Boeing generates substantial domestic and international travel throughout the year. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport provides direct access to numerous destinations across North America, Europe and Asia, supporting both corporate and international business mobility.
The city’s growing importance in artificial intelligence, software development and advanced manufacturing continues to attract conferences, executive meetings and industry events that contribute significantly to the local visitor economy.
American Express’ latest results suggest that companies remain willing to invest in strategic travel despite wider geopolitical challenges, with Seattle expected to remain one of the country’s strongest performers in commercial travel activity.
Beyond individual cities, the American Express results offer a positive outlook for the wider U.S. travel and tourism industry. Corporate travel supports airlines, airports, hotels, restaurants, conference organisers, ground transport providers and countless local businesses that rely on business visitors throughout the year.
The company also reported that international commercial customer spending increased by 12%, while total billed business across its network rose 9%, representing the strongest performance in three years. At the same time, U.S. consumer travel and entertainment spending increased 13%, highlighting continued resilience among leisure and premium travellers.
American Express executives acknowledged that travel involving the Middle East has experienced some disruption due to geopolitical developments. However, they emphasised that global travel demand has continued to expand, with no evidence of a broader slowdown across the wider travel market.
For destinations such as New York, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco and Seattle, these trends reinforce their role as America’s leading corporate travel gateways. Their extensive airport networks, concentration of global businesses, world-class convention facilities and mature hospitality sectors position them to continue benefiting from rising commercial travel expenditure.
As companies increasingly balance digital communication with the value of face-to-face engagement, business travel remains a vital driver of economic activity. The latest American Express results indicate that corporate mobility is not only recovering but entering a new phase of sustained growth, providing renewed confidence for airlines, hotels, tourism organisations and destinations that depend on business travellers to fuel year-round demand.
American Express has reported its strongest commercial spending growth in three years, signaling renewed momentum for the global business travel industry. During the second quarter of 2026, U.S. commercial customers increased their overall spending by 5% year over year, while travel and entertainment (T&E) expenditure climbed 8%, reflecting growing confidence among businesses to invest in corporate travel despite ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainties. The financial services giant also reported robust international commercial spending and double-digit growth in airline and restaurant purchases, reinforcing the resilience of both business and leisure travel markets.Metric Q2 2026 Total Billed Business Growth +9% YoY U.S. Commercial Customer Spending +5% YoY U.S. Commercial Travel & Entertainment (T&E) +8% YoY Goods & Services Spending +4% YoY International Commercial Spending +12% YoY U.S. Consumer T&E Spending +13% YoY Airline Spending +10% YoY Restaurant Spending +10% YoY Lodging Spending +5% YoY Net Income $3.11 billion
American Express Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Squeri said the company recorded its highest spending growth across its network in three years, highlighting a significant rebound in corporate travel activity.
The company’s latest earnings showed that U.S. commercial customers increased travel and entertainment spending by 8% during the second quarter, two percentage points higher than the previous quarter. Spending on goods and services also remained positive, increasing 4% year over year, resulting in an overall 5% increase in commercial spending.
The figures suggest that companies are once again prioritizing face-to-face meetings, conferences, client engagement, and business development activities after several years of cautious corporate travel budgets.
American Express reported particularly strong momentum among international commercial customers, whose total spending—including travel, entertainment, goods, and services—increased 12% compared with the same period last year.
The stronger international performance reflects growing cross-border business activity, increased global corporate travel, and continued expansion by multinational companies. As international trade and investment continue to recover, corporate travelers are increasingly returning to overseas meetings, industry events, and international client visits.
Overall billed business across the American Express network increased 9% year over year, marking the company’s fastest growth rate in three years.
The latest spending trends highlight continued strength across key sectors of the travel industry.
American Express reported that spending on airlines increased 10% during the second quarter, matching the 10% growth recorded for restaurant spending. Hotel and lodging expenditure also continued to expand, rising 5% year over year.
The results indicate that both business and affluent leisure travelers continue to prioritize travel experiences despite higher travel costs and ongoing economic uncertainty. Airlines, in particular, continue benefiting from increased demand for corporate travel, while restaurants remain one of the largest beneficiaries of business trips and premium leisure travel.
Hotels also maintained positive growth, although at a more moderate pace than airlines, reflecting a balanced recovery across the accommodation sector.
During the company’s earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Christophe Le Caillec acknowledged that travel involving the Middle East had experienced some disruption due to geopolitical tensions. However, he emphasized that these impacts remain largely regional rather than global.
According to Le Caillec, overall global travel spending increased approximately 10% during the quarter, representing the strongest performance seen in the past six quarters. Outside the Middle East, the company has not observed evidence of a broader slowdown in travel demand, suggesting that travelers and businesses continue to maintain their travel plans across most international markets.
This resilience reflects sustained confidence among both corporate clients and consumers despite an evolving global geopolitical environment.
American Express also reported strong spending among its U.S. consumer cardholders.
Travel and entertainment spending by U.S. consumers increased 13% year over year, underscoring continued demand for vacations, dining, premium travel experiences, and luxury hospitality. The company’s customer base, which includes a large proportion of affluent travelers, has remained resilient despite inflationary pressures and higher interest rates.
The combination of rising consumer travel expenditure and accelerating business travel has contributed to broad-based growth across the American Express network.
American Express reported net income of $3.1 billion for the second quarter, supported by robust spending across commercial and consumer segments.
The company’s latest results provide another positive indicator for airlines, hotels, travel management companies, airports, and tourism businesses that rely heavily on corporate travel demand. With commercial travel spending reaching its strongest growth in three years and international business activity continuing to expand, the outlook for the global travel and tourism industry remains encouraging as companies continue investing in business mobility and face-to-face engagement.
The latest business travel data confirms that New York, Atlanta, Dallas and more US cities are playing an increasingly influential role in shaping America’s corporate tourism landscape. As companies restore face-to-face meetings, expand international operations and invest in business development, travel demand continues to strengthen across key commercial destinations. Airlines are benefiting from higher corporate bookings, hotels are welcoming more business guests, restaurants are experiencing increased executive dining, and convention centres are hosting a growing number of industry events.
This renewed momentum is creating a ripple effect throughout the wider tourism economy. Local businesses, transport providers, airports, event organisers and hospitality operators are all benefiting from stronger corporate visitor spending. Unlike leisure travel, business travellers typically spend more per trip, stay in premium accommodation and contribute significantly to local economies, making them highly valuable for destination growth.
The latest figures also demonstrate that business travel remains resilient despite geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing economic challenges. International corporate spending continues to outperform domestic growth, while travel demand outside isolated conflict-affected regions remains robust. This resilience reflects sustained confidence among both multinational corporations and small and medium-sized businesses.
The primary cause behind this growth is renewed corporate investment in business travel, supported by stronger economic confidence and expanding global commercial activity. The answer lies in businesses recognising that in-person meetings, conferences and client engagement continue to deliver strategic value that virtual alternatives cannot fully replace. The reason these cities are emerging as America’s strongest business travel hubs is their world-class airports, extensive airline connectivity, thriving business ecosystems, convention infrastructure and ability to attract major corporate events, collectively driving long-term growth in the corporate tourism economy.
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