WHERE WOULD YOU GO? (Or where wouldn't you go?)

Travel bounced back in 2022, and despite corporate concerns for inflation and the overall economy, according to Kayak, travelers are even more hot to trot about the globe in 2023! Both domestic and international flight searches are up for 2023 compared to 2022 (25% for domestic and 64% for international). Additionally, Skift and American Express (Amex GBT) note how airfares on key corporate travel routes are expected to rise by as much as 25% in 2023. This rise is despite high fuel prices, a stronger U.S. dollar, and aircraft shortages! 

Here are a few other interesting elements related to 2023 global travel expectations:

• Companies are focusing on increasing revenue so travel for sales is expected to be up! From a business travel perspective, GBTA found that business travel respondents expect more recovery and growth for 2023 compared to 2022. Over three-fourths (78%) of travel managers expect the number of business trips taken by employees at their company will be higher or much higher in 2023 versus 2022. And suppliers are very optimistic when looking out at what is to come in 2023. Among travel suppliers, 85% expect the number of bookings by corporate clients will be higher or much higher in 2023. Additionally, 80% of suppliers expect travel spending by corporate clients to be higher or much higher in 2023. 
• Travel related to internal needs and external opportunities will increase! GBTA also shared that over 65% of travel managers are optimistic that their company will conduct more internal travel and external travel. Internal travel was defined as meetings with colleagues or work at other company office locations, while external travel examples are trips for sales meetings and conference travel.  
• There is a new twist on bleisure travel. In reading Conde Nast Traveler's article, "17 Travel Trends You'll See in 2023", I was intrigued with one trend (and term) called 'Lisness' where they share that experts at Black Tomato have noticed a paradigm shift to “Bleisure”—where travelers used to approach business trips by tacking on a few days at the end, and here's now a reversal (which they've dubbed “Lisness”). Travelers are planning leisure trips, and then building in time for work as they are more able to take advantage of today's new found flexibility. They are seeing client travels being extended into month-long ventures, with a 75%/25% leisure/business split. Obviously, to many employees, that sounds awesome, but companies must be aware where people are working from and understand what the requirements are from a tax and immigration perspective. 

Lastly, the article I have posted below is an AIRINC piece that highlights of the 5th iteration of their Global 150 Cities Index. There was only one new addition to the top five cities, but several key changes in the top 20, along with some surprising regional results. Consider their top 5's for Overall Attractiveness, Lifestyle Rank, and Financial rankings:

The index is a ranking of 150 of the top global locations according to the financial and lifestyle benefits they offer. It combines local salary levels, tax rates, living costs, and living conditions to assess how appealing each location is to live in. This data is helpful when researching the costs and living conditions of many cities around the world to evaluate international mobility. 

For the U.S., Houston, (#6) and San Francisco (#7) were the only 2 in the Top 10 for overall attractiveness. Six of the top 10 cities are unsurprisingly in the EMEA region, while Singapore was the lone entry in the top 10 for APAC. Canada's Calgary snagged the last spot in the top 10.

Tap into the map to see where your favorite city ranked!