Against rising costs elsewhere, Asia’s affordability is fuelling demand for corporate travel, meetings and events. Photo Credit: iStock/Wirestock
Asia has reinforced its position as the most cost-effective region for business travel, according to the latest FCM Consulting Insights Report.
The Asian advantage
Despite ongoing global economic uncertainty and rising travel costs elsewhere, the region continues to deliver exceptional value. In the first half of 2025, the average hotel rate across Asia was just US$170 per night, with total trip costs averaging US$972 — significantly below the global average of US$1,600.
This cost advantage is helping drive strong demand for corporate travel, meetings and events across the region.
“Asia’s pricing advantage is a key reason corporate travel is strong, even as global headwinds weigh on demand,” said Felicity Burke, FCM Consulting Director, APAC.
“The region’s diversity means a one-size-fits-all tactic doesn’t work – flexibility and local adaptation are vital for maximising value.”
Agility is key
Asia’s economic diversity presents both opportunities and challenges for travel managers. Markets such as Japan and Singapore continue to sustain higher per-trip spend, while India and Indonesia remain highly cost-conscious.
“We recommend that travel policies be tailored to local realities, with market-specific hotel caps and differentiated allowances to ensure value and traveller satisfaction,” Burke added.
With its competitive pricing and high-quality venues, the report suggests organisations consider shifting conferences, leadership meetings and large team gatherings to Asia to make budgets go further and deliver richer delegate experiences.
“As we move into 2026, our advice is to plan ahead, adapt travel and event strategies to each market, and stay agile to shifting demand and pricing trends,” Burke said. “Companies that actively manage these levers will be the ones containing costs while still delivering great travel experiences.”
Bleisure policies?
The report also points to the growing popularity of ‘bleisure’ travel, with more business travellers extending their trips for leisure – particularly in Southeast Asia.
“Done well, this can be a win-win,” said Bertrand Saillet, managing director of FCM Travel, Asia. “Allowing travellers to use negotiated corporate rates for the leisure portion – provided it’s cost-neutral for the company – supports work-life balance while keeping programme costs under control.”
The FCM Consulting Insights Report is based on corporate booking data from January to June 2025 across FCM Travel and Flight Centre Travel Group, with additional aviation insights from Cirium.