UK SMEs defy economic headwinds with 12% rise in business travel spend

Britain’s small and medium-sized enterprises are increasing their international travel budgets in 2025 and beyond, signalling renewed confidence in overseas growth opportunities despite inflationary pressures and geopolitical uncertainty.   

Our latest research, based on a survey of 1,000 UK SMEs, shows that nearly two-thirds (62%) plan to increase their international travel budgets in the next 12 months, with average annual spend projected at £47,865.38 - a 12% jump on 2024. 

This trend is echoed in our own trading figures, which show double-digit year-on-year sales growth since the pandemic, driven by growth in Premium and Business Class bookings - both up 10% year-on-year. Demand has been strongest from the professional services and music and entertainment sectors.  

The findings suggest that SMEs are travelling overseas for business with greater intensity. Almost half (43%) expect to take more overseas business trips in the year ahead, with the average number of journeys climbing to seven trips a year per company - up from 6.77 in 2024. We can also report that trip length is rising, with our own data showing an increase from 8.6 days in 2024 to 9.8 days in 2025. 

What's driving the growth?

When asked about reasons for business travel, over half (55%) cited meeting clients, customers, and prospects in person – a 15% increase from 2024. The top three benefits of these trips were stronger customer/client relationships (49%), enhanced collaboration (44%), and enhanced communication (40%), underlining the competitive advantages SMEs may see in face-to-face engagement, even in a world where virtual meetings remain the norm.   

Trending business travel destinations

The research further revealed that the top destinations for business travel over the coming 12 months are Europe (67%), followed by North America (28%) and Asia (25%). According to our own data, the US remains the largest single destination, representing approximately 22% of sales and displaying 9% year-on-year sales growth. Concurrent with this is the rise of ‘emerging’ regions, with sales to BRICS nations accounting for 8% of overall UK sales – and increasing sharply year-on-year (26%). 

Mel Quinn, our Director of Corporate Travel, said: “Our research shows that SMEs increasingly view business travel as a strategic growth lever, recognising the value of face-to-face interactions where the human touch is at the heart. At Travel Counsellors for Business, we are well placed to support this with our high-tech, high-touch model. Our technology, including the use of AI, empowers clients by offering a choice of booking channels, real-time visibility into spend and traveller behaviour, and robust duty of care, enabling SMEs to make informed travel decisions as they scale up their budgets.  

“As we continue to grow, we remain true to our mission: combining technology with human care so that our corporate Travel Counsellors can focus on what matters most - building personal relationships and delivering a highly tailored, concierge-like service for every SME client.”  

Are you planning to increase your business travel in 2026? If so, a trusted TMC partner can take the stress out of planning and ensure that every business trip delivers ROI. We’d love to show you how our care-led solutions can transform your business travel programme, so get in touch for a no-pressure chat with our experts.