Canadian Business Travel Spending Surpassed Pre-Pandemic Levels in 2024 but 2025 Outlook Tempered by Market Uncertainty
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The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) unveiled new insights and outlooks for the Canadian business travel sector during its 2025 Canada Conference, held April 28-30 in Toronto. Marking a pivotal time for business travel in Canada, GBTA welcomed over 670 registered attendees including corporate travel managers (190), suppliers and other attendees, along with 62 companies exhibiting in the sold-out expo, from across Canada and beyond for this regional event, now in its 21st year.
Held at the Automotive Building at Exhibition Place, the event featured main stage presentations, panel discussions and education sessions, as well as recognition of GBTA’s Canadian volunteers and a charitable initiative benefiting a local food bank.
Canadian Business Travel Spending Exceeds Pre-Covid Levels, but Uncertainty is Ahead
In her main stage presentation, GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang highlighted Canada’s 15% year-over-year spending growth in 2024 but cautioned that optimism overall has waned particularly in Canada versus what GBTA measured in November 2024.
Canada’s business travel sector showed significant growth in spending last year
, said Neufang. 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.
As revealed in data from the GBTA Business Travel Index (BTI) Outlook report, in 2024 Canada ranked as the 13th largest global business travel market, with spending estimated at $36.5 billion CAD—reaching 102% of pre-pandemic levels. That figure was forecast to rise 17.7% to $44.3 billion CAD in 2025, outperforming the global growth average.
However, while Canada outpaced global business travel spending growth in 2024, analysis from GBTA’s global industry poll last month reveals that 71% of Canadian travel buyers surveyed expect a decrease in their company’s business travel
spending for 2025, and 53% 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.
Despite uncertainty, Canadian travel managers and companies are continuing to invest in smart, sustainable and strategic business travel
, added Neufang. The essential role and value of business travel is more important than ever as trade deals and cross-border relationships need in-person interaction. The focus now is on building long-term resilience while adapting to changing expectations and global conditions.
Presented GBTA research also included insights on Canadian business traveler behavior:
- Based on the 2024 BTI survey, Canadian business travelers spent less per trip ($1,760 CAD) than their U.S. counterparts but more than the global average ($834 USD), and 84% agree business travel is worthwhile to achieve business objectives.
- Canada business traveler trips average 3.5 nights compared to the global average of 3.1 nights.
- When asked about their last business trip, most Canadians traveled for a convention/conference (23%), seminar/training (20%) or sales/account management/partner meetings (12%).
- Blended or “bleisure” travel—combining business and leisure—remained strong, with 55% of Canadian business travelers extending work trips for personal time.
Moving the Business Travel Industry Forward Through Community, Learning and Advocacy
The GBTA Canada Conference 2025 embodied the association’s three pillars of Community, Learning and Advocacy to enrich, empower and move the business industry forward. Highlights included:
- Twelve education sessions delivered by leading experts ranging from digitalization and border disruption to sustainable procurement and neurodiversity.
- Main stage sessions featuring top-of-mind thought leadership and inspiration for the industry and professionals. Steve Singh, Managing Director of Madrona Venture Group, discussed the future of corporate travel management through the lens of visionary leadership, innovation and traveler-centric strategy. Tyler Smith, a survivor of the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash, inspired the audience with stories about resilience and the importance of mental health care.
- A special session on tariffs and recent U.S. administration actions featured Sarah Ying, Head of FX Strategy at CIBC, outlining the outlook for the Canadian economy, and GBTA’s Vice President of Government Relations, Shane Downey, sharing GBTA poll results for Canada along with updates on GBTA’s engagement with policymakers on behalf of the industry.
GBTA Welcomes New Advisory Board Leader and Recognizes Members Concluding Their Terms
Changes on GBTA’s all-volunteer Canadian Advisory Board were also announced during the Conference:
- Deanna Ois, Travel Services Manager for the Canadian Forces Morale & Welfare Service (CFMWS) is the new Chair of the Canadian Advisory Board. Sue Spear, Director, Travel Fleet & Facility Services at Cengage, concluded her tenure in that role, but will remain as an advisor until year end.
- GBTA also recognized outgoing Advisory Board members for their dedication to GBTA and Canadian business travel. “We are deeply grateful for the Advisory Board members who stayed beyond their initial terms. They not only led the region through the uncertain times of COVID-19 but were a huge source of support after I joined GBTA last year,” said Janette Acosta Sanchez, Country Director, GBTA Canada.
Awarding Exceptional Volunteers
GBTA also awarded standout volunteers in Canada who distinguished themselves as industry leaders for their company, peers and the business travel industry:
- GBTA Business Travel Service Awards: Jeff Reyes, Key Account Director of InterContinental Hotels Group and Lisa Veress, Manager, Procurement, Travel, Operations, Manulife Financial.
- Inspiration Award: Jodi Francks, Director, Business Travel, PNW Region, Fairmont Hotels; and Stephanie Snowball, Director of Global Sales, Canada, IHG Hotels and Resorts.
The Canadian Business Travel Industry Gives Back
Attendees at the Conference had the chance to support the local community through Drive to Thrive, a partnership between GBTA and Enterprise Mobility benefitting the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto. Attendees donated online and onsite with monetary support and contributions of non-perishable food items that were gathered in an Enterprise Mobility vehicle onsite. Attendees wrote personal notes of encouragement which were combined with the donations. Janette Acosta Sanchez and Enterprise Mobility transported it all to the food bank immediately after the Conference in support of local families and individuals experiencing food insecurity.
Looking Ahead to 2026
GBTA announced its 22nd Canada Conference will take place April 27-29, 2026, in Toronto at The Westin Harbour Castle.
Interviews about the latest developments from industry leaders at the conference’s Broadcast Studio will be uploaded to GBTA’s YouTube channel in the coming days.
About GBTA
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world's premiere business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area and serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 8,000+ members represent and advocate for the $1.48 trillion global travel business and meetings industry. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. For more information visit gbta.org.
About the GBTA Foundation
The mission of the GBTA Foundation, the US 501c3 charitable arm of the Global Business Travel Association, is to help the global business travel industry create a positive impact and better future for people and the planet. The GBTA Foundation focuses on the strategy and execution of GBTA's global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action; diversity, equity and inclusion; and other talent-related topics via education, research and advocacy. For more information visit gbtafoundation.org.
