Booking.com reports sharp demand drop for US business-travel hubs
Shifting corporate travel patterns signal revenue risk for hotels in major US cities
Booking.com for Business reports a notable decline in corporate travel to the United States in 2025, with UK-to-US business bookings falling sharply.
Key US business hubs — including New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Chicago — are among those experiencing the steepest losses.
Rising travel costs, economic uncertainty and changing corporate travel policies are reshaping demand and shortening booking windows.
For hotels, the data points to tightening competition for business travelers and growing pressure on revenue streams tied to corporate demand.
Key takeaways
- Steep decline in international business demand: Corporate bookings from the UK to the US dropped by 25.67 % in early 2025, reducing a historically strong pipeline of inbound business travellers.
- Major hotel markets under strain: New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago and Miami are among the most exposed cities, with reduced business traffic likely to weaken midweek occupancy and RevPAR.
- Broader US downturn in corporate travel: Other industry data confirms that the US is seeing the sharpest decline globally in business-hotel bookings, signalling a structural rather than a temporary shift.
- Shorter booking windows emerging: Companies are planning trips later and committing less in advance, making demand less predictable and increasing pressure on revenue teams.
- Ripple effects across urban ecosystems: Reduced business travel impacts not only hotel revenue but also conference venues, restaurants, transport providers and other ancillary services in business-dependent cities.
- Uncertain recovery outlook: With geopolitical tensions and cost pressures ongoing, business-travel recovery may remain uneven, requiring hotels to diversify segment strategies and strengthen direct channels.
Source: Booking.com
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