In 2025, business travel is undergoing a transformation as corporate travelers seek trips that cater to their personal and professional needs. Uber for Business conducted a survey with over 1,000 full-time employees to understand what influences their work trip experiences.
The findings, published in the "Top Business Traveler Trends of 2025" report, highlight several emerging trends. Employees are no longer satisfied with just meeting basic travel requirements; they now demand a blend of productivity and premium perks. The top desired benefits include stipends for off-the-clock activities (52%), premium flight upgrades (50%), and personal-use airline and hotel rewards (45%).
Despite the allure of business travel, challenges remain. Common stressors such as forgetting essential items, missing flights, and navigating security lines persist. However, many travelers find the advantages outweigh these drawbacks. Nearly 60% of respondents incorporate extra days into their trips for personal exploration—a trend known as "b-leisure."
Generational differences are evident in travel enthusiasm. Generation Z shows high levels of engagement with work trips, whereas Baby Boomers and Gen X exhibit less interest, often traveling only once or twice annually.
Ground transportation poses its own set of challenges post-flight. About 22% of those surveyed find booking transport stressful, though rideshare services are favored by 36% due to their convenience.
Las Vegas and New York City emerge as top destinations for business travelers in the U.S., each attracting 18% of respondents. Other popular cities include Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami.
Josh Butler, Global GM of Uber for Business, noted: “Uber for Business helps over 200,000 clients across the globe with their corporate travel needs. We’re seeing a clear trend: employees are back on the road as businesses double down on face-to-face connections.” He emphasized that understanding employee preferences can help companies improve the business travel experience.
For more insights into how business travel is evolving in 2025, refer to the full report available from Uber for Business.