by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 5:00 PM ET, Mon May 5, 2025
The Canada Conference for the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) was held in Toronto, April 28-30 in Toronto.
As a $37.6 billion industry, business travel deserves attention. A key point of discussion at the conference was the milestone success reached in 2024. Last year was marked by 15 percent year over year growth, bringing the numbers to 102 percent of pre-pandemic spending.
Based on data from the GBTA Business Travel Index (BTI) Outlook report, in 2024 Canada ranked as the 13th largest global business travel market and growth was expected for 2025.
SInce the report was published in 2024, things have changed substantially on the world stage. GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang acknowledged that optimism may need to be tempered, saying “But just as we are now seeing globally, Canadian business travel professionals are feeling the pressure of U.S. trade uncertainty, shaping a more cautious outlook for the year ahead.”
Hospitalitynet reports “analysis from GBTA’s global industry poll last month reveals that 71 percent of Canadian travel buyers surveyed expect a decrease in their company’s business travel spending for 2025, and 53 percent anticipate volume decreases, driven by factors such as U.S. government actions, economic headwinds, rising travel costs and increased travel administration such as documentation and visas.”
In addition to the uncertainty the poll revealed, other revealing facts about business travel uncovered by the 2024 BTI survey were shared at the conference, including:
- Canadian business travellers spent more than the global average of $834 USD per trip at $1,760 CAD.
- Canada business traveller trips average 3.5 nights compared to the global average of 3.1 nights.
- Canadians travelled for a convention/conference (23 percent), seminar/training (20 percent) or sales/account management/partner meetings (12 percent), based on the last time respondents travelled for business.
- “Bleisure” travel—combining business and leisure—is popular, with 55 percent of Canadian business travelers extending work trips for personal time.
- 84 percent agree business travel is worthwhile to achieve business objectives.
Next year’s conference will take place April 27-29, 2026, in Toronto.
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