Survey: The Business Travel Opportunity Gap

Business travel is a defining opportunity for career growth.

New research among 1,000 U.S. employees, conducted on behalf of SAP Concur between Jan. 29 and Feb. 3, 2026, shows that business travel continues to open doors professionally.

At the same time, the data reveals a consequential divide in who gets access to those opportunities—and how seamless the experience feels once they do.

Business travel continues to drive career opportunity

Half of U.S. adults (51%) traveled for work in the past year, and one in five (20%) are frequent business travelers who take three or more trips annually. The perceived value of business travel is clear:

• 76% of all survey respondents believe business travel opens up more opportunities.
• 90% of frequent business travelers say it has positively impacted their careers.
• 75% of frequent travelers say those who travel receive more visibility and recognition.

This belief intensifies among younger professionals, as 83% of Gen Z and 86% of millennials say travel creates opportunity.

Yet, aspiration doesn’t always translate into access.

Access to business travel remains uneven

While business travel remains a visible pathway to career growth, access to those opportunities is not evenly distributed.

Among the 51% of U.S. adults who traveled for work in the past year, participation skews toward a distinct profile:

• More male: 58% (vs. 49% of U.S. adults overall)
• Younger: 36% Millennials (vs. 30% overall) and 23% Gen Z
• Higher income: 36% earn $100K+ (vs. 29% overall)

The concentration intensifies among frequent business travelers (20% of U.S. adults):

• More male: 62% (vs. 49% overall)

• Millennial and Gen Z heavy: 35% Millennials and 26% Gen Z
• Higher income: 46% earn $100K+ (vs. 29% overall)
• More educated: 29% hold postgraduate degrees (vs. 15% overall)

In contrast, resistance to future work travel skews toward a different audience. Among the 22% of U.S. adults who strongly oppose future business travel:

• More female: 64% female (vs. 51% overall)
• Older: 38% Boomers and 27% Gen X
• Lower income: 18% earn $100K+ (vs. 29% overall)

Together, the data highlights a clear participation pattern. Indeed, nearly two-thirds (64%) of Gen Z employees say business travel feels out of reach in their current role. More broadly, 57% of non-frequent business travelers say travel feels inaccessible, even though 72% believe getting to do so would create more opportunities for them.

A change may be in order. Seven in ten Americans (70%) believe business travel opportunities should be available to employees at all levels.

Premium travel experiences influence engagement and recognition

The data reveals two distinct workplace realities. Frequent business travelers report significantly greater access to premium, company-paid experiences than non-frequent travelers:

• 61% of frequent travelers have attended a work event at a premium venue (compared to 33% of non-frequent travelers).
• 57% have expensed a high-end meal (compared to 28%).
• 50% have flown business or first class (compared to 18%).
• 36% have accessed an airport lounge (compared to 11%).

Beyond logistics, frequent travelers describe moments of exploration and enrichment—such as trying local food (92%), attending cultural events (82%), and turning evenings into mini adventures (83%)—with a notable influence on employee experience:

• 81% say they feel like a VIP when traveling for work and enjoying the perks that come with it.
• 89% say travel provides energizing, creative, and social experiences.
• 87% say it enhances job satisfaction.

In fact, 76% say business travel feels like a vacation, and the majority (56%) say it’s more desirable than going into the office.

Meanwhile, non-frequent travelers are less likely to access these same perks, reinforcing the perception that business travel signals status, trust, and recognition within an organization.

Operational strain remains part of the journey

Operational strain remains part of the experience, as 61% of frequent business travelers believe that the logistics of booking, charging, and expensing travel are more of a hassle than they should be.

Although 92% say their employer makes them feel supported when traveling, they also describe compressed schedules:

• 84% have extended work hours during trips to stay on top of responsibilities.
• 63% report long days with little time for proper meals.
• 49% say travel disrupts their work-life balance.

Workloads during business trips can get so intense that 67% of frequent business travelers have even reported staying at the hotel for an entire trip without venturing out or exploring their destination city.

The same trips that create visibility and VIP moments require navigating travel booking, policy compliance, and expense reporting, often while managing full workloads.

Expense friction affects participation and confidence

More than half of Americans (57%) have submitted an expense report, and among them, 60% have encountered issues in the process. Frequent business travelers report challenges at even higher rates (68%). Common friction points among expense submitters include reimbursement follow-ups (30%) and resubmissions (29%). Nineteen percent have waited more than three months to be reimbursed, and 21% have paid interest or fees due to reimbursement delays.

For some employees, this friction changes participation altogether. Thirty-four percent have delayed or avoided work travel to prevent personal financial strain, and 30% have avoided submitting expenses because of the hassle.

Even among those who continue to travel, behavior shifts: 78% plan trips conservatively to minimize expense issues and 60% are hesitant to front personal savings for work expenses.

Expanding access and simplifying T&E will define the next chapter

This research highlights a defining tension in today’s workplace. Business travel remains a catalyst for career growth, but uneven access and administrative complexity can shape who benefits from it.

Organizations should focus on both sides of the equation by:

• Expanding access to meaningful business travel opportunities across levels and roles.
• Simplifying T&E processes so employees aren’t discouraged by manual reporting, reimbursement delays, or financial strain.
• Modernizing expense management and reporting to reduce risk and improve employee experience.
• Adopting automated, AI-powered, and integrated solutions to streamline T&E workflows.

Learn more about our survey findings here, and visit this page for more about the SAP Concur integrated T&E platform.

This SAP Concur survey was conducted by Edelman DXI between January 29 to February 3, 2026, among 1,000 U.S. adults. All respondents were aged 18 or older and currently employed at the time of the survey. It included frequent business travelers (n=203), defined as respondents who, in the past year, have taken at least three work- or business-related trips requiring at least one overnight stay. It also included business expense submitters (n=493), defined as respondents who have personally submitted an expense report for work- or business-related expenses within the past year.