The Best Global Cities for Business Travel

1. Luxembourg City

Luxembourg City ranks as the top business travel destination internationally. As one of Europe’s leading financial and institutional hubs, it’s also home to a growing ecosystem of tech startups, consultancies, and professional services, making it a valuable stop for entrepreneurs and smaller firms alike. Though compact in size, it has a high concentration of places for business travellers to lay their heads. It is home to 46 hotels (3.2 per 10,000 people). Additionally, for spending your spare time, visitors can explore just over 53 points of interest.

Luxembourg City’s strategic location and short 1-hour 15-minute flight from London make it ideal for same-day travel, allowing professionals to attend meetings without committing to lengthy overnight stays. While Wi-Fi speeds are slightly lower than in larger cities (181.42 Mbps download and 100.45 Mbps upload), Luxembourg City still offers ample connectivity with 763 public hotspots, ensuring you can stay productive wherever you are. And with nearly three-quarters of the local workforce made up of foreign nationals, the city thrives on cross-border collaboration.

2. Amsterdam

Amsterdam ranks second globally as a top destination for international business travel thanks to its excellent connectivity, vibrant atmosphere, and strong infrastructure. Just a quick 1 hour 15 minute flight from London, and similarly short hops from other major UK airports, same-day travel is easily achievable to meet with suppliers or potential clients. For those staying overnight, the city is home to 403 hotels to recharge in. With nearly 300 points of interest to visit, Amsterdam offers plenty to explore in your downtime.

The city also excels in digital connectivity, offering nearly 5,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots and impressive average download speeds of 265.76 Mbps, ideal for working on the go. However, it is also the most expensive city for dining within the top ten, with an average three-course meal for two costing around £81. Business visitors on a budget may want to consider alternative ways to entertain clients, such as canal tours, cultural outings, or casual meetups at one of the city’s many scenic cafes. Using a travel business card could also help offset costs, with potential cashback or rewards on dining and entertainment expenses.

3. Prague

Prague takes the third spot as one of the best cities in the world for international business travel, and it’s especially appealing for small businesses looking to make connections across Europe without stretching the budget. Well-connected and centrally located, Prague is a popular hub for regional meetings, industry events, and growing international partnerships, particularly in sectors like automotive (home to Škoda Auto), software development, biotech, and even film and creative services.

It’s also accessible for short trips, with direct flights from London taking two hours. Once on the ground, it’s easy to stay productive thanks to more than 9,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots and plenty of cafes and co-working spaces to work from. 

For small business owners keeping an eye on expenses, Prague really stands out. A three-course meal for two averages just over £34, and a bottle of wine costs around £5, making it much easier to host clients or network without overspending. Whether you're in town for a conference, to meet potential partners, or simply to explore new opportunities in a growing market, Prague combines value, accessibility, and charm.

The best UK cities for business travel

Even if your business relationships remain within the UK, you might still need to travel. But which UK cities offer the best destinations for a business trip?

1. Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes tops the list for UK business travel. Home to over 12,500 businesses, the city boasts a diverse and thriving business community, especially in innovation and technology. Initiatives like the MK: Smart Smart City programme have positioned Milton Keynes as a leader in emerging fields such as autonomous vehicles and sustainable clean energy, making it a hotspot for small businesses involved in tech and green industries.

Business travellers benefit from fast Wi-Fi upload speeds (167 Mbps) and 46 hotels, ensuring both connectivity and comfort. While dining out tends to be a bit pricier here (around £65 for a meal for two), the city offers 21 co-working spaces, supporting flexible workstyles and client meetings. 

2. Derby

Derby comes second, not only for its fast and reliable Wi-Fi but also because it’s a hub for engineering, manufacturing, and rail industries. Small businesses involved in these sectors often visit Derby for supplier meetings, factory tours, and industry events. The city’s nearly 285 Mbps download speed and solid upload speeds mean you can run virtual meetings or share large files without delays.

With 35 hotels and dining options around £60 for a meal for two and £7 for a bottle of wine, Derby provides a balanced mix of comfort and value. There are also 18 co-working spaces, ideal for flexible work arrangements or meeting partners outside the office.

3. Luton

Luton rounds out the top three with its affordability and solid infrastructure, making it attractive to small businesses in aviation, manufacturing, and retail. Its location near London Luton Airport makes it especially convenient for quick business trips involving international flights or meeting overseas clients.

Offering 22 hotels and reliable Wi-Fi with 150 free hotspots, Luton supports remote working and on-the-go connectivity. Its affordable meal costs (£50 for two) and low wine prices (£6 per bottle) help keep entertainment budgets manageable. With eight co-working spaces, small business travellers can find flexible workspace or host informal meetings easily. While Luton's leisure options are limited, its practicality and value make it a top pick for cost-conscious business visitors.

How to make the most of your business travel

Nurturing business relationships face-to-face is more important than ever for long-term success. Alex Miles, Chief Operating Officer at Capital on Tap, has shared some advice on making the most of your time and money while you travel.

Maximising business credit card rewards

When travelling for business, you should make sure to use your business travel credit card to earn rewards on your expenses. This can be used on anything from flights and hotels to meals and transport. Not only does this help you track your expenses more effectively, but it also lets you earn valuable rewards which can be redeemed in the future. This could include upgrades or exclusive perks like airport lounge access, making your trips both more affordable and enjoyable.

Take advantage of no foreign exchange fees

Foreign transaction fees can quickly add up when using standard credit cards abroad. Using a business travel credit card with no foreign exchange fees can lead to significant savings over the course of a trip.

Lean on loyalty benefits

Booking through the same airline or hotel chain and using the same credit card for purchases can unlock tiered loyalty benefits. Over time, this can lead to free upgrades, bonus points, or cashback, especially if you’re a frequent traveller.

Some business credit cards also have relationships with brands that mean spending with them using your business card can unlock more benefits. For example, here at Capital on Tap, our Pro business credit card can unlock Radisson Rewards VIP status and exclusive offers with partner brands.

Sources and methodology

To find out the best locations for business travel across the world, we ranked 77 global cities based on the following metrics:

• Number of free Wi-Fi spots - Wi-Fi Map

• Average cost of a meal for two - Numbeo

• Average cost of a bottle of wine - Numbeo

• Number of landmarks and points of interest - Tripadvisor

• Wi-Fi download and upload speeds - Speedtest

• Number of hotels - Google Business listings through API scraping

• Average flight duration from London Gatwick - Google

For the 30 UK cities analysed, we did not look at average flight duration, instead comparing:

• Number of co-working spaces - coworker

• Wi-Fi download and upload speeds - Local Broadband Information

A note on hotel data collection methodology:
For each city, we queried the term "hotel" and pulled business listing data programmatically. The search was restricted to a specific radius around the city centre, based on recommendations from Perplexity.ai.

For most cities, we used the automated radius values provided by Perplexity to filter hotels within the relevant city boundary. However, for Luxembourg City, data was collected manually via the API scraper, using verified coordinates:

• Each hotel’s latitude and longitude was retrieved and geocoded using the “Geocode by Awesome Table” browser extension.

• We then calculated the distance from the city centre, defined as coordinates 49.6117° N, 6.1319° E (approximately Place Guillaume II).

• Only hotels located within a 4 km radius of this central point were included in the final count.