The fourth edition of the GBTA APAC Conference took place from 27 to 28 May 2025 at Singapore’s Raffles City Convention Centre, co-located with WERC APAC 25, drawing over 900 delegates keen to explore the evolving business travel landscape across Asia Pacific.
Expanding advisory boards and new committees
Kicking off the conference, Peter Koh, Chair of GBTA’s APAC Advisory Board, shared exciting news about the expansion of the organisation’s regional influence.
New local advisory boards have been established in Australia, China, and India, signalling a growing commitment to addressing the unique needs of these key markets. Koh also announced the launch of a dedicated meetings and events committee for APAC, chaired by Brenda Quek from EY.
“Alongside our sustainability and risk committees, this is a big step forward. We’re excited to see even more committees grow across APAC,” he said, emphasising the importance of these specialised groups in shaping the future of business travel.
Global business travel trends shaping APAC
Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA, set the stage by sharing insights from the organisation’s annual Business Travel Index, which spans multiple industries and countries worldwide.
According to the data, Asia Pacific accounts for 41.3% of global business travel spending in 2024 – a hefty US$612.6 billion – trailing only Europe and America, which together make up roughly half of the market. Among the region’s largest contributors, South Korea, India, Japan, Australia, and China feature prominently within the top 15 global markets, collectively accounting for over a third of total spend at US$551.7 billion.
Business travel spending in the region is showing impressive growth: China saw a 9% increase year over year, Japan 15%, South Korea nearly 27%, India 22%, and Australia 12%. Looking ahead, countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and Taiwan are projected to experience exponential growth between 2025 and 2027.
“We are seeing a lot of meetings grow, a lot of business, transit travel, as well as corporate headquarters, corporate offices, other things are growing in this region faster than anywhere else in the world,” said Neufang.
Despite these promising trends, the outlook remains mixed. Factors such as advancing technology, stronger economic growth in key markets, and increased airline capacity provide upside potential. Yet trade disputes, inflation, geopolitical tensions, workforce shortages, natural disasters, and unresolved sustainability challenges temper optimism.
The industries driving the largest increases in spending include arts, entertainment, and recreation, which is expected to grow by 18.6%, closely followed by financial and insurance services at 18.3%, and administrative and support services at 16.7%.
Business travel patterns in Asia Pacific
Delving deeper into APAC travel behaviour, the average business traveller spends US$741.47 per trip, with accommodation, airfare, and food and beverage expenses averaging US$237.48, US$165.30, and US$145.21 respectively. Trips typically last just over three nights and are predominantly for seminars, training, account management, partner meetings, and conferences.
Compared with other regions, APAC travellers take nearly twice as many trips annually, averaging six per person. A notable trend is the popularity of blended travel, with 61% extending business trips to enjoy leisure time. Business travel is widely seen as valuable, with 81% agreeing it is “worthwhile to achieve objectives.”
In terms of travel class, 30% opt for business class, while the majority (59%) travel economy, and the rest choose premium economy. APAC leads globally in digital wallet adoption, leapfrogging payment technologies, and travellers are increasingly combining rail and multimodal transport options. There’s also growing interest in electric vehicle rentals, with over 23% actively seeking these eco-friendly alternatives.
Cautious outlook amid shifting sentiment
However, a poll conducted in April 2025 reveals a cooling of optimism. While over 67% of respondents in November 2024 were confident about the year ahead, this figure has halved. Concerns centre around new US tariffs, with over a third expecting business travel volumes to decline, and nearly 27% anticipating cuts of up to 20% in spending.
Within APAC, 23% of buyers forecast a 20% average reduction in spend. Globally, suppliers brace for a 37–38% drop in revenue, underscoring the urgent need for smarter travel policies, enhanced technology, and baseline services to help companies manage travel more effectively.
The future of personalisation in business travel
Neufang stressed the importance of genuine personalisation in the business travel experience. “It can’t just be personalisation because it’s cool or creepy. It needs to help travellers get more work done efficiently and get back home safely.”
She urged the industry to ensure travel remains a strategic priority within organisations. “Make sure you have a strategic seat at the table… understand why travel happens, what it does within your organisation, and why it can’t just be a cost line but needs to be a benefit line.”