New York and Chicago are predicted to be the top North American business destinations according to American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT), a software and services company for travel, meetings and expense, which has published the 2025 Top Destinations Study, as part of its annual Meetings & Events Forecast.

The report identifies the top business travel destinations for meetings and events worldwide, highlighting shifts in venue preferences and emerging trends across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Latin America (LATAM) and Asia-Pacific (APAC).

The 2025 Forecast reveals significant changes in the rankings of top cities for corporate gatherings, driven by factors such as accessibility, venue affordability and new developments in key destinations.

Key destination rankings for 2025:

North America (NORAM):

1. New York
2. Chicago
3. Miami
4. Las Vegas
5. Dallas

Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA):

1. London
2. Madrid
3. Barcelona
4. Paris
5. Berlin

Latin America (LATAM):

1. Cancun
2. Mexico City
3. Buenos Aires
4. Costa Rica
5. São Paulo

Asia-Pacific (APAC):

1. Singapore
2. Tokyo
3. Bangkok
4. Hong Kong
5. Sydney

The 2025 Forecast reflects notable shifts in each region. In North America, New York has overtaken Las Vegas as the top destination, while Miami and Dallas entered the top five for the first time, replacing Los Angeles and Toronto. London remains the dominant city in EMEA, with Madrid rising to second place, overtaking Barcelona. In Latin America, Cancun surged to the top, driven by accessibility and all-inclusive options, while in APAC, Singapore and Tokyo continue to dominate with Hong Kong moving up the ranks.

Changes in the ranking of top destinations are largely influenced by accessibility, corporate demand and cost efficiencies. New York’s rise to the top in North America is attributed to the city’s attractiveness for smaller, internal meetings held near corporate offices. Cancun’s ascent in LATAM reflects the demand for leisure-oriented venues that offer comprehensive event packages, while in EMEA, Berlin’s affordability made it a strong contender, replacing Amsterdam. Hong Kong’s recovery post-Covid and improved stability have led to a rise in popularity over Sydney in APAC.

“The 2025 Meetings & Events Forecast reflects the changing needs of corporate event planners,” said Gerardo Tejado, SVP, professional services, Amex GBT. “Companies are increasingly prioritizing accessibility, affordability, and flexible venue offerings as they seek to optimize their meetings and events strategies. These insights can guide organizations in making purposeful decisions when planning their global events in the year ahead.”