American Express has named Manchester as one of the fastest-growing international destinations for business travel, citing the city’s booming regional economy and growing reputation as an artificial intelligence hub.

The recognition comes as part of the latest ‘Amex Trendex: Business Travel Edition’, which found that major events – sporting fixtures, concerts, festivals and cultural gatherings – are increasingly shaping how companies approach travel and client engagement.

Manchester was named alongside Hyderabad, India, and Adelaide, Australia, as one of three international destinations experiencing the strongest growth in business travel.

According to American Express, Manchester’s rise is being driven by public investment in a new science and innovation campus, alongside the ongoing transformation of Manchester Airport.

It also cites Manchester’s ‘booming regional economy’ and its growing reputation as a hub for AI. The report also says: “Manchester is the economic and tech powerhouse of Northern England.”

The combination, the company said, has positioned the region for a sustained increase in corporate travel. The report says: “The region is primed for a sustained rise in corporate travel.”

Hyderabad and Adelaide also flagged for growth

Hyderabad, India was named for its expanding role as a corporate travel hub, now home to nearly 450 global capability centres.

American Express pointed to continued investment in technology and life sciences – including a major U.S. biotechnology company establishing its first international location outside the United States there – alongside government-backed innovation and urban development initiatives.

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is also expanding, with a new passenger terminal and additional runway planned to support growing demand.

Adelaide, Australia was recognised for a surge in corporate travel spending, underpinned by major city-shaping commercial developments and world-class innovation precincts.

The city has also seen record-breaking international transit capacity and new airline route expansions, along with high-value commercial office investment and a growing meetings and conventions sector, including new luxury hotel developments.

All three destinations were selected using American Express commercial customer transaction data, tracking growth in airline bookings between 2024 and 2025.

Major events driving business outcomes

The finding sits within a broader report examining how businesses are using major events to build client relationships and stand out from competitors. Nine in ten (93%) of business travellers surveyed said they planned to attend a major event while travelling for business in 2026, with 85% agreeing that hosting clients at such events is more effective for relationship-building than traditional activities like dining.

AI adoption climbs as firms seek to cut administrative burden

The report also pointed to a rapid rise in AI adoption among business travellers, with reported use of AI travel tools nearly doubling year on year, from 18% to 32%. Eight in ten travellers and decision-makers said they would be comfortable letting AI agents manage the full travel and expense process, from research through to booking – though 90% of decision-makers said the ability to review or amend AI recommendations before anything is booked remained essential.

The shift comes as businesses grapple with the hidden costs of fragmented travel systems. Finance teams reported spending an average of 15 hours a month manually reconciling travel data across disconnected platforms, while three-quarters of decision-makers said the use of multiple tools was creating operational inefficiencies.

Fernando Iraola, executive vice president and general manager, global & U.S. large enterprises at American Express said: “”In a landmark year of sports and cultural events, businesses are using travel to deepen relationships, create memorable client experiences and win new business. But behind the scenes, they want to eliminate time-consuming manual processes that make it more complicated and inefficient.”

The wider survey polled 1,006 U.S. business travellers and 510 business travel decision-makers between 12-20 May 2026.