🌎 People Make the World Go ’Round—A World on the Move: Top Destinations for International Business Travel in 2025.

🌎 Much like one of my favorite songs, “People Make the World Go ’Round,” I’ve always believed it’s people—our connections, our friends, loved ones, and colleagues—who truly make the world go around. In every journey I’ve taken, whether across cities or continents, that truth has always stayed with me.

🎵 Since the age of 2, when I sang my first song using a shoe polish brush as a microphone and later learned to play some of my favorite tunes on the piano and alto saxophone—music has always been a source of inspiration and hope in my life. From vinyl records to cassette tapes to CDs, 💿 each era of sound has left its mark—across jazz, new jack swing, rock & roll, soul, and beyond—reminding me that music helps us travel back in time, imagine the future, and bridge worlds much like travel itself. Music has a way of reminding us of that connection—it’s a universal language that transcends borders, shaping culture and bringing people together.

🎸 Much like music, travel is another form of universal connection—one that fuels collaboration, broadens perspective, and reminds us how interconnected our world truly is.

When I think about international perceptions of the U.S., one thing is clear: despite what may make the headlines, the U.S. continues to stand out as a destination with so much to offer business travelers. According to SAP Concur 's latest report, Top Destinations for International Business Travel in 2025, the United States remains the top global destination for international business trips, “accounting for 15.3% of all international travel in the first half of [2025].” The data also shows especially strong ties between Canada and the U.S., where “nearly 80% of Canada’s business travelers landed in the U.S.”—highlighting how the U.S.–Canada relationship remains a cornerstone of collaboration and business travel.

But beyond music, it’s the flavors, people, and diverse places that make the U.S. such a popular destination. From Southern staples and comfort foods like New Orleans gumbo and Texas BBQ to the Statue of Liberty, the concerts in Las Vegas, and the famous pizza in New York and Chicago (not trying to start another 🍕 pizza debate—so I included them both 😅) 

Add to that the red rock canyons of St. George, Utah, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the beaches of Hawaii, and the architecture and iconic bridges that connect our cities—the U.S. still has a lot to offer the world.

But it’s not just the U.S. leading the way; across borders, that same spirit lives on. Germany, the U.K., France, Spain, China, Mexico, and beyond also rank among the most traveled-to countries for business—each one playing its part in keeping the world connected through people, culture, and collaboration. 🀄 As someone who loves Chinese culture and language (我爱中国文化, which means “I love Chinese culture”) and has studied it, I’ve seen firsthand how travel and cultural exchange can bridge understanding and spark collaboration across borders. What that tells me is simple yet powerful: companies and professionals still see immense value in international business travel—whether for conferences, collaboration, or the cultural experiences that make every journey memorable and genuine connection possible.

According to the SAP Concur report, global business travel volume “increased 2.6% year over year,” showing continued momentum despite economic and geopolitical concerns. From France to China, Italy to Spain, the world is back in motion—each destination offering its own energy, culture, and unique role in bringing people together across borders.

Takeaway

SAP Concur’s latest data tells a hopeful story: people are still showing up.

The continued growth—despite shifting perceptions and geopolitical tensions—underscores how essential business travel and human connection remain in today’s global economy.

To keep the people going ’round, the right tools make all the difference. From the moment a trip is booked to the time an invoice is paid, SAP Concur solutions simplify the journey—for organizations and travelers alike. Here’s how:

✈️ Concur Travel Easier, policy-aligned booking—so every trip starts right.

Concur Travel empowers travelers to book confidently within company guidelines, creating a smooth, efficient experience from booking to landing. To learn more about Concur Travel,  click here.

Additionally, SAP Concur recently announced a strategic alliance with American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) to co-develop a next-gen solution with AI at its core. Soon, business travelers will have access to a combined booking, servicing, payments, and expensing experience.

🧾 Concur Expense Faster reimbursement. Less manual entry. Concur Expense automatically turns receipts into expense reports to streamline expense reporting for both employees and finance teams—ensuring every report is accurate and effortless.

 To learn more about Concur Expense, click here.

📄 Concur Invoice Invoice management that’s accurate and on time. Concur Invoice matches what was ordered, received, and billed—cutting down on paperwork, minimizing errors, and keeping vendor payments on track. To learn more about Concur Invoice, click here.

From booking to reimbursement, SAP Concur solutions make business travel move in harmony—so travelers can focus on people, not paperwork.

We may speak different languages, live in different climates and zip codes, and carry different histories—but music, food, and even dance remind us how much we share. From savoring French onion soup 🍲 at a Paris café to flamenco performances in Spain, from handmade pasta in Italy 🍝 to the art of calligraphy in China 🀄, each country adds its own flair and character to the global experience.

Taken together, these moments reveal what business travel truly represents: an ongoing exchange of ideas, art, food, and culture that brings us closer—one journey, one conversation, one delicious meal, and one shared moment at a time.

In the end, it’s people—their stories, culture, food, music, and dance—who make the world go ’round. Behind every meaningful connection is a journey made easier with SAP Concur solutions—simplifying every trip, ensuring compliance, and keeping the focus where it belongs: on people, not paperwork. To learn more about how SAP Concur can help support your journey, click here.

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