Skift Take
— Justin Bachman, Skift
Business travel has lagged leisure throughout the pandemic recovery as corporate road warriors – and their finance chiefs – grew content with video calls and sporadic trips into offices.
There are signs, however, that U.S. business travelers are making their way back, albeit at a very measured pace. West Coast technology companies — long the laggards in business travel — are also returning.
Business travel will regain 95% of its 2019 level in 2024, up from 89% last year, the U.S. Travel Association Business%20Travel%20is%20still%20expected,volume%20not%20expected%20until%202026.”>forecast in January. However, if the U.S. economy achieves a so-called “soft landing,” with inflation slowing and interest rates easing, large tech and financial services companies may send more people out on the road.