Spain to consolidate its position among the major European corporate travel markets by 2026

Expenditure on business travel in Europe will continue to rise over the next few years, reaching 389.9 billion euros in 2026, according to forecasts by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). The conclusions of the latest Business Travel Index Outlook – Europe anticipate a growth of 8.2% compared to 2025 and confirm the full recovery of the sector on the continent.

The report notes that Europe will remain one of the global drivers of business travel, with spending expected to reach 414.5 billion euros in 2027 and 441.6 billion euros in 2028, if current macroeconomic conditions continue.

Despite geopolitical tensions and persistent inflation, forecasts point to a consolidation of the market driven by the dynamism of European companies, the return of large face-to-face events and the increasing professionalization of mobility policies.

Western Europe will account for nearly 88% of total spending, compared with 12% expected for emerging Europe. In this context, the six main markets —Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Netherlands and Spain— will add up to around 241.5 billion euros in 2025, equivalent to 17.7% of global spending estimated by GBTA for that year, which will reach 1.36 trillion euros.

Spain, along with Germany, France and the United Kingdom, will be among the countries with the greatest contribution to the region's growth, driven by the strength of its network of air and rail connections, the increase in foreign investment and the dynamism of the MICE sector.

Spanish business travel will continue to grow as companies consolidate international expansion strategies and strengthen the mobility of their sales teams and executives. The evolution of the Spanish economy, which is expected to maintain growth above the average for the euro zone, will act as a catalyst for the demand for corporate travel.

According to GBTA's analysis, the average cost of an overnight business trip in Europe will be around 850 euros, with an average duration of 3.1 nights. The main reasons will continue to be internal meetings, attendance at conventions, congresses or trade fairs, and training and professional development programs.

In this area, Spain stands out as one of the best-positioned destinations for its hotel and conference facilities, the quality of its infrastructure and the wide availability of meeting and event venues in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville and Málaga, which will continue to be attractive for holding international meetings.

The study also anticipates a change in travel patterns, in line with the sustainability strategies being adopted by European companies. Across the continent as a whole, more than a thirdof business travelerschoose train over air travel for medium-haul journeys, a much higher proportion than that observed in North America.

This behavior will be especially visible in markets with high rail density, such as Spain, where the liberalization of high-speed transport and the entry of new operators will offer competitive alternatives with low environmental impact.

The GBTA stresses that environmental factors, together with the traveler experience, will gain prominence in corporate mobility decisions. Sustainability will cease to be an added value and become an operational requirement. In this sense, Spanish companies, especially large ones, will continue to incorporate emission measurement and offsetting tools into their travel programs, as well as evaluation criteria based on employee wellbeing and travel efficiency.

The study presented in Hamburg also includes a reading on the European traveler's own perception. Eight out of ten professionals believe that travel will continue to be essential to achieve business objectives, and three out of four expect to maintain or increase their frequency of travel compared to 2019 levels. This willingness, together with the recovery of the international trade show and event calendar, will be a determining factor in maintaining the growth rate forecast by GBTA.

They will be able to maintain or increase their travel frequency.