Business travel to the US: Key markets, cities, and spend

Nearly two-thirds of all international business travel to the United States comes from just 10 countries. Those trips tend to arrive in the same small group of destinations, with a handful of cities and states accounting for the majority of inbound activity. 

These patterns show how concentrated international business travel to the US really is. Understanding where activity is focused provides useful context for planning, policy, and spending decisions.

This report draws on official inbound travel data and global business travel spending figures to provide a clear snapshot of where international business travelers to the US are coming from, which cities and states receive the highest volumes of inbound trips, and how business travel spend is distributed across major economies.

Top source markets: Who is traveling to the US for business?

The data shows that most inbound corporate travel is concentrated in a handful of key markets, shaped by strong business links and regular cross-border activity. (Source: US Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration)

Key takeaways 

• The top 10 countries account for nearly two-thirds (64%) of all international business travelers to the United States.
• India accounts for the largest single share of overseas inbound business visits, at 10%.
• Countries in Asia and Europe make up the majority of US-bound business travel.

1. India accounts for the largest share of international business travelers to the US

India accounts for 10% of all overseas inbound air business visits to the United States. This reflects the scale of business activity between the two countries, particularly linked to trade and commercial engagement across sectors such as electrical machinery and equipment, gems and jewelry, pharmaceuticals, and other manufactured goods.

2. The UK and other European countries remain major sources of US-bound business travel

The United Kingdom contributes 9.6% of inbound business travelers to the US, making it the largest transatlantic source market in the ranking. Long-standing trade links, a shared language, and frequent direct flights between major cities help support regular business travel between the two countries.

Other European countries, including Germany, France, and Italy, also feature in the top 10 and together account for a sizable share of international business travel to the US.

3. Asia-Pacific countries continue to drive high volumes of corporate travel

Several Asia-Pacific countries appear near the top of the rankings, including China, Japan, and South Korea. China alone accounts for 9.5% of overseas inbound business visits to the US, reflecting the size of its corporate sector and its business ties with the American market.

Japan and South Korea also contribute notable volumes of business travel, supported by large international companies and frequent connections between major business hubs.

Learn more with our guide to everything you need to know about international business travel.

The most visited US cities for international business travelers

As with countries of origin, international business travel to the US is not evenly distributed by destination. Rather than being spread across the country, inbound corporate travel is concentrated in a small number of gateway cities with strong international flight connections and large business centers. (Source: US Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration)

Key takeaways 

• International business travel to the US is concentrated at both ends of the journey, with a small number of origin countries and destination cities accounting for the majority of trips.
• New York City receives the highest share of overseas inbound business visitors, at 17%.
• Cities with major international airports and large business hubs account for the bulk of inbound corporate travel.

1. New York City, New York

New York City accounts for 17% of all overseas inbound business visitors to the US, making it the largest single entry point for international corporate travel. Its role as a major center for finance, legal services, and professional industries supports consistent inbound travel across a wide range of sectors.

With several international airports serving the city and surrounding area, New York City has the capacity to handle high volumes of business travel, supporting frequent, short-notice trips linked to meetings, client work, and day-to-day operations.

2. Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles accounts for 13.8% of overseas inbound business visits to the US. Its position as a primary gateway between the US and Asia-Pacific markets supports a high volume of long-haul corporate travel linked to trade and logistics.

This is supported by the city’s transport infrastructure. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and one of the largest port networks in the country make LA a frequent entry point for international business teams arriving from overseas markets.

3. San Francisco, California

San Francisco accounts for 10.8% of international business travel to the US. Its position in the Bay Area, near Silicon Valley, places it close to a high concentration of technology companies and international businesses with global operations.

This concentration supports regular inbound corporate travel linked to meetings, partnerships, and day-to-day operational coordination between US-based teams and international offices.

Find out more with our rundown of global business hotspots.

The most visited US states for international business travelers

At the state level, international business travel to the US is also highly concentrated. Rather than being spread evenly, inbound corporate travel is focused on a small number of states that contain multiple major business cities and transport hubs.

Key takeaways 

• Nearly half (46.9%) of all international business travelers to the US arrive in just three states: California, New York, and Florida.
• Eight of the top ten states for inbound business travel also rank among the largest state economies in the US.
• States that contain multiple high-volume business cities account for the largest share of international corporate travel.

Looking beyond major cities, California and New York retain the top spots at the state level for business travel to the US

California and New York together account for more than a third of all international business travel to the US, with shares of 17.9% and 16.4%, respectively.

This reflects the presence of multiple high-volume business cities within each state, alongside extensive international flight connectivity and a high concentration of corporate activity across finance, technology, professional services, and manufacturing.

The business infrastructure of Miami means Florida ranks as the third most-popular state for corporate travel

Florida receives 12.6% of international business travelers to the US, placing it third overall. Miami accounts for the largest share of this activity, representing 10.6% of all overseas inbound business visits. Other cities, including Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, also attract meaningful volumes of international business travel, at 2.1% and 1.7% respectively.

Florida’s role as a point of connection between the US, Latin America, and the Caribbean, alongside its international airports and port infrastructure, supports regular inbound corporate travel linked to trade, logistics, and regional operations.

Texas draws business travel across several major economic centers

Texas accounts for 6.7% of overseas inbound business travel. Business travel to Texas is distributed across multiple metropolitan areas, including Austin, Dallas, and Houston.

This spread reflects the state’s broad industry base, with heavy investment across aerospace, energy, manufacturing, and technology.

Georgia’s inbound business travel is anchored by Atlanta

Georgia receives 3.7% of international business travelers, making it the only Deep South state to appear in the top ten. Much of this activity is concentrated in Atlanta, which functions as a major center for corporate activity, logistics, and transportation.

This role is reinforced by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the US by passenger volume, which serves as a key entry point for international business travel to the region.

The countries with the highest business travel spend globally

Business travel spending is concentrated in a small number of large economies. These countries account for a significant share of global corporate travel activity, reflecting both the volume of trips and the complexity involved in managing domestic and international travel across large business networks.

1. United States

The United States records the highest level of business travel spend globally, at $395.4 billion. This reflects the scale of corporate travel taking place across both domestic and international routes, spanning a wide range of industries and regions.

The size of the US market means businesses are managing large volumes of travel, likely across multiple cities and states, contributing to higher overall spend.

2. China

China ranks second globally, with business travel spending of $373.1 billion. This level of expenditure reflects the scale of its corporate sector and the volume of outbound and regional business travel linked to international operations and supply chains.

Managing travel across a market of this size involves frequent long-haul and regional trips, contributing to high overall spend.

3. Germany

Germany ranks third, with $80.1 billion in business travel spend. As Europe’s largest economy, it supports a high level of corporate travel both within Europe and internationally.

This includes regular movement between regional business centers, as well as cross-border travel linked to manufacturing, professional services, and international trade.

What these patterns mean for businesses managing international travel

Across the data on countries of origin, arrival cities, destination states, and travel spend, one thing becomes clear for businesses planning international trips to the US: Decisions around routes, budgets, and policies are being shaped by a relatively small set of markets and destinations that carry the most activity. 

That creates opportunities for corporate travel planning with greater consistency, but it also raises the stakes around how travel is managed on the routes teams use most often.

Joshua Wood, Director at Booking.com for Business, shares his perspective: 

“With almost two-thirds of inbound US business travel coming from just ten countries and arriving in a handful of key cities, the data highlights where international travel demand is most predictable. 

“For businesses, knowing which routes and cities carry the highest volumes of inbound trips is more than a nice‑to‑know statistic – it points SMEs to the corridors with the best connections, backup options, and on‑the‑ground facilities, and the ones where they can often secure better fares and rates. 

“When you fold those insights into a simple travel policy and manage trips through a tool like Booking.com for Business, you can help your business travelers have easier, less stressful journeys while controlling your travel budget and benefiting from exclusive rates.”

Methodology

Booking.com for Business is a corporate travel management platform that helps organizations manage business travel in one place, with access to flights, accommodation, and car transport, alongside tools for visibility, control, and reporting.

This research was carried out to provide a clearer view of how international business travel is currently distributed, including where travel demand is concentrated and how business travel spend is spread across markets and destinations. 

By analyzing official inbound travel data and global business travel spending figures, the report offers data-led insight into the countries, cities, and regions that account for the largest share of corporate travel activity.

How the research was conducted

Inbound business travel data for the United States was sourced from the US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration using the 2024 Survey of International Air Travelers (SIAT).

• Table 1 was used to identify business visitors by country of origin.
• Table 23 was used to analyze business visitors by destination state.
• Table 22 was used to examine business visitors by destination city.

Global business travel spending data by country was sourced from the Global Business Travel Association’s Business Travel Index 2025 Executive Summary, and used to identify the countries with the highest levels of business travel spend worldwide.

All datasets were analyzed to produce consistent top 10 rankings across each category, including countries of origin, destination cities and states, and global business travel spend. Where relevant, additional context was added using reputable economic and trade sources.