会展策划必备数据盘点：93%商旅客为建立关系参会、GBTA预测2026酒店ADR升至168美元

Here are some of the most interesting data points from recent industry reports to help you stay on top of the latest intelligence around meetings and events.

[Related: More Meetings and Events Industry Trends]

Meetings Industry Trends Snapshot: October

Big Events for Better Business Outcomes   

Building relationships is a key reason for attending major industry events. Ninety-three percent of business travelers will attend key events to build new relationships; 85% of business travelers say that bringing clients to major events is more effective for building relationships. 

Source: Amex Trendex: Business Travel Edition

Why it matters: Relationship-building leads to booking business. More clients are likely to agree to business partnerships after interacting with a client at a major event. Better business outcomes are yielded by events as opposed to traditional business activities like dining. 

[Related: Measures of Success: Determining ROI, ROO, ROE]

Tick Tock

Business travelers spend an average of nearly eight hours a month filing business expenses. This monthly task consumes 94 hours, or 12 full workdays, of an employee’s time.

Source: Engine’s State of Business Travel Report

Why it matters: Business travel services can give employees some of their time back and alleviate this time-consuming process via software services (such as Lyft Business) that automatically submit expense reports to employers, saving business travelers more time for core job functions. 

Hotel Costs Reach New Heights

The average daily rate (ADR) for hotels is expected to increase by 3.7% in 2026, to $168. ADR is expected to increase again in 2027, up another 1.8% to $171.

Source: GBTA’s 2026 Global Business Travel Forecast

Why it matters: GBTA’s annual report dives into how market conditions such as rising energy prices and labor costs are influencing hotel rates. The most recent Global Business Travel Forecast predicts prices to generally be on the rise over the next few years, thus impacting meetings budgets. 

Global Growth

The total global spend for business travel in 2026 will be more than $1.7 trillion, an increase of more than 7% from 2025. GBTA’s annual forecast highlights the top 15 markets for global spend, and the U.S. leads with $423 billion. China comes in second place with an impressive $403 billion. 

Source: GBTA’s 2026 Global Business Travel Forecast

Why it matters: Global spend on business travel in North America and Asia-Pacific is on track to outpace global growth. The U.S. was the leading market for global business spend last year as well, with a total of $395.4 billion. The top three U.S. states for destination spending are California, New York and Florida. 

Meetings Industry Trends Snapshot:
September

On the Rise

Business travel prices are on the rise. In Q1, the cost of business travel increased by 8.3%.

Source: Amex GBT’s Business Travel Pulse

Why it matters: The Business Travel Prices Index compares business fares and how they are evolving over time. From the end of last year to the beginning of this year, corporate travel has increased by nearly 4%. The increase continues an upward trend along with inflation and consumer pricing increases. 

All for All in One

70% of respondents preferred an all-inclusive resort experience for offsite meetings and events. 

Source: The Atlantis Paradise Island Meetings Survey

Why it matters: The demand for higher-end hotels continues to rise. Attendees’ interest in all-inclusive properties shows strong signs of growth for the luxury hotel market. All-inclusive properties also showcase wellness retreats and experience-driven travel—all desirable trends for guests.

Catching Flights Is Getting Costly 

Domestic flights for business travelers to host cities have risen, on average, 42% year-over-year.

Source: Amex GBT’s Business Travel Pulse

Why it matters: The U.S. war with Iran and control over The Strait of Hormuz caused a substantial increase in gas, oil and airfare prices. Diesel fuel prices rose to as high as $6 per gallon. 

AI Adoption

AI can handle 71% of event workflows.

Source: The Event AI Index

Why it matters: Meeting and event professionals have a lot on their plates, and studies show AI can help carry the load. When used correctly, and fact-checked, AI is capable of taking some, but not all, responsibilities off a planner’s plate. Meetings and events are a human-centric industry, but AI can help with content creation, registration, ticketing, data analysis and more. 

[Related: Expert Planner Chatter on Managing AV Costs, Budgets, Risk and Communication] 

July/August

The Happiest Place on Earth to Meet

Cvent ranked Orlando as the No.1 destination to meet in North America. 

Source: Cvent Top Lists 2026

Why it matters: Orlando staked its claim at the top of the list for the 11th consecutive year in a row. The destination boasts more than 200 hotels and over 2 million square feet of event space, so its popularity and inventory make it a surefire attendee pleaser. 

Back in Business

41% of business travel trips were for events such as conventions, trainings and seminars; 59% of business trips were for client service engagements or sales meetings.

Source: GBTA The U.S. Business Travel Industry 2026

Why it matters: Based on an analysis of 2024 data, the 2026 report highlights the diversity of business traveler activity; the second-place showing of conventions, trainings and seminars points to the health of the segment.

More Meetings

50% of business executives intend to plan more meetings this year than they did last year. 

Source: U.S. Group Travel Report: Strength Beneath the Surface

Why it matters: Executives are convinced that in-person events yield better conversations and productivity, so they are willing to invest to achieve that outcome.

Favorable Foods

89% of venues report an increase in personalized requests for food and beverages.  

Source: IACC Meeting Room of the Future 2026 Report

Why it matters: This statistic reflects any number of reasons, including the GLP-1 trend, dietary restrictions or the desire for locally produced or sustainable F&B components. In terms of beverages, data also shows Gen Z attendees are drinking less and prefer a more sophisticated choice of non-alcoholic beverage options. 

Meetings Industry Trends Snapshot: June

Planners Pick In-Person Events

70% of planners expect the number of in-person meetings to increase by up to 20% in 2026.

Source: Cvent Planner Sourcing Report 2026

Why it matters: After much uncertainty in the business world regarding federal government actions in the last two years, it seems organizations are bullish about the need to meet in person to build relationships and spur business.

Money Talks

Planners found that the two biggest costs eating up their budgets are F&B (73%) and audiovisual (66%). 

Source: Statista

Why it matters: Food prices continue to rise; especially coffee prices for conference settings. Audiovisual add-ons and fees are a perennial pain point for planners.

[Related: Tracy Stuckrath's Essential Meetings F&B Checklist] 

Good Year for Group Travel

86% of business travelers said they will travel more as a group this year in comparison to last year.

Source: Navan State of Corporate Travel & Expense 2026

Why it matters: U.S. Travel Association’s “U.S. Group Travel Report: Strength Beneath the Surface” reinforces that group travel delivers more than economic impact and fosters trust in ways that cannot be replicated virtually.  

Meetings That Make Up the MICE Market

An overview of the MICE market found that conferences account for 33% of event value, exhibitions 27%, incentive travel 15% and formal meetings 25% of market activity.

Source: Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) Market Overview by Industry Research

Why it matters: The MICE market in the U.S. represents 25% of global event volume, hosting 300,00 events annually with an average number of 1,300 attendees.  

Meetings Industry Trends Snapshot: May

Big Easy Bleisure

New Orleans was ranked the No. 1 bleisure destination in the U.S. 

Source: Booking.com for Business

Why it matters: New Orleans is a popular destination for business professionals to extend their stay because it offers an array of museums, galleries, cultural landmarks, scenic outdoor spots and virtually nonstop music and nightlife options.

City’s Choice

Planners prefer major cities, with 60% naming Miami, 58% New York City and 57% Las Vegas as their most likely destination in the next two years. 

Source: MMGY Travel Intelligence 2026 Portrait of Meeting Planners & Attendees

Why it matters: Choosing a city as a destination for an event ensures convenient, and often nonstop, flights, lots of options for distinctive experiences and venues, and more resources close at hand.

Employee Engagement

74.3% of professionals say employee engagement is the primary reason for hosting meetings and events. 

Source: FCM Meetings & Events 2026 Global Trends Report

Why it matters: Meetings with employee engagement as the driving motivation typically feature programming focused on culture, connection, networking and workforce development. 

Stay Safe!

78.9% of meeting planners name safety and security as their No. 1 planning priority.

Source: FCM Meetings & Events 2026 Global Trends Report

Why it matters: Planners always need to be prepared with contingency plans in case of emergency, and it’s no secret that with the current state of the world, mitigation and risk management best practices remain top of mind. 

Meetings Industry Trends Snapshot: April

Pay the Price  

North America’s average hotel daily room rate is projected to increase by only 0.6% to $166 this year compared to $163 in 2025.

Source: CWT/GBTA 2026 Annual Global Business Travel Forecast

Why it matters: Airfares, hotels and car rental prices are set to stabilize further over the next 18 months despite inflation and economic uncertainty, meaning products are catching up with demand.  

Meeting Planners Where They Are  

The average cost per attendee per day for meetings and events is projected to decrease by 1.3% in 2026 to $172.  

Source: CWT/GBTA 2026 Annual Global Business Travel Forecast

Why it matters: This is good news for planners who have experienced budget cuts. Considering these cuts and the lower cost per attendee, planners could continue lowering cost by considering secondary cities where hotel and venue rates are lower.

Living Luxury  

As of 2025, the U.S. hotel pipeline features more than 28,000 luxury rooms—which is a 17% increase from 2024.  

Source: Deloitte 2026 Travel Industry Outlook

Why it matters: The industry continues to trend toward high-end travel. Luxury hotel performance continues to grow steadily while economy hotel performance dips.  

Gen Z’s Generational Shift  

At the end of the 2025 holiday travel season, Gen Z and millennials combined accounted for half of all travelers in the U.S.

Source: Deloitte 2026 Travel Industry Outlook  

Why it matters: In this generational shift, Gen Z and millennials now dominate demand in the U.S. travel industry. It’s no surprise that Gen Z—known for their investment in the “experience economy”—is one of the generations planning the most trips. 

[Related: The Z: Planning for the Industry’s Next Generation]

Meetings Industry Trends Snapshot: March

Concrete Jungle 

New York City is projected to open the most U.S. hotel rooms in 2026, totaling 4,852.

Source: CoStar

Why it matters: For the second year in a row, New York leads the U.S. pipeline, perhaps impacting site selection decisions and ADR in the largest metro in the nation. 

Industry Increase

Over the next 10 years, the event tourism market’s compound annual growth rate is 4.3%.

Source: Future Market Insights Inc. 

Why it matters: According to the survey, the increasing popularity of experiential travel and business events is fueling growth and shifting strategies.

Time to Travel

Compared to 2025, 42% of travel managers expect the number of employee travelers at their organization to increase in 2026. 

Source: GBTA January 2026 poll

Why it matters: An expected increase in business travel is a good general indicator of the health both of that segment and also the in-person business events industry.

Hyatt’s New Heights

Hyatt’s newest brands—Unscripted by Hyatt, Hyatt Select and Hyatt Studios—made up more than 65% of all new U.S. deals in 2025. 

Source: Hyatt Newsroom

Why it matters: Hyatt’s pipeline reflects changing consumer preferences in hotel design and features. 

[Related: Brand Breakdown of the 4 Largest Meetings-Focused Hotel Companies]

Meetings Industry Trends Snapshot: January/February

The Future is Bright  

85% of meeting professionals are optimistic about the industry in 2026.

Source: Amex GBT’s 2026 Global Meetings & Events Forecast

Why it matters: Optimism is reported to be the highest on record in the last five years.  

Global Growth

Gross bookings for global travel grew to $1.67 trillion in 2025. This is an increase from $1.58 trillion in 2024.  

Source: Travel Forward’s Data, Insights and Trends for 2026

Why it matters: Amid global uncertainty, travel not only endures but also extends beyond pre-pandemic benchmarks.  

Business or Pleasure?  

63% of business travelers in the U.S. stated they have extended a business trip for leisure purposes.  

Source: Amex GBT’s Meet Tomorrow’s Business Travelers

Why it matters: Six in 10 business travelers are mixing business with leisure by taking bleisure trips. The proportion of travelers adding business meetings to leisure trips is 53%.  

Connection is Key

88% of event professionals surveyed said their favorite industry digital channel to engage with is LinkedIn.  

Source: Convene’s Annual Meetings Market Survey

Why it matters: Digital engagement on other social media platforms is not well represented; 29%-33% of professionals selected Instagram and Facebook as their favorite digital channels to engage with, while only 7% selected X.  

Meetings Industry Trends Snapshot: November/December 

Across the Globe

Airline data insights show a 2% increase in international flight searches to North America, as opposed to a 28% increase in international flight searches from North America to other countries across the globe. 

Why it matters: International travelers have only indicated a slight increase in desire to travel to North America. Global markets like Italy, Japan and France saw an increase in bookings. 

Source: Amadeus Navigator360 data, as of August 15th, 2025.

Comparing Costs

54% of travel managers say cost is one of the top factors that led to a decline in business travel this year; 68% of travel managers expect to expand travel budgets for 2026.

Why it matters: In 2025, the percentage of people traveling for work declined, and while travel budgets may be increasing, so are costs.

Source: Deloitte Corporate Travel Forecast

Sustainable City 

The number of nights spent by international tourists in Helsinki, Finland, which has been marketing itself as a sustainable destination, has increased by 19% in the first seven months of 2025. 

Why it matters: Helsinki was ranked the world’s most sustainable tourist destination for the second year in a row, indicating that a growing number of tourists are looking for more sustainable destinations.

Source: Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index/ Statistics Finland’s accommodation statistics

Training Wheels 

Only 7%-8% of event leaders dedicate their time to learning. 

Why it matters: Event leaders appear to not have the capacity to dedicate time and budget to training and development. 

Source: “Future-Ready Leadership” by Event Leaders Exchange (ELX)/Skift Meetings