GREENSBORO — Greensboro topped FCM Travel’s Emerging Market Report as the fastest-growing U.S. emerging market for business travel, with year-over-year flight bookings rising 27.6 percent in 2025 compared with 2024. The ranking spotlights accelerating corporate and visitor movement into the Triad and underscores expanding demand for local air service, hotels and ground transportation.
What the ranking means locally
FCM’s analysis excluded the 20 largest U.S. markets to focus on secondary cities. The firm said Greensboro’s growth rate was nearly 10 percentage points higher than the next-highest secondary city. In the report, FCM attributes the surge in business travel to a combination of a lower cost of doing business than comparable Southeastern markets, sizeable capital investment and job growth tied to key sectors.
- Flight bookings: +27.6% year over year in 2025 (Greensboro)
- Anchors named: healthcare, manufacturing and logistics
- Major employers highlighted: Cone Health, Volvo, Qorvo and TE Connectivity
FCM also pointed to Greensboro’s research and talent assets, calling out North Carolina A&T State University and UNC Greensboro for adding a “strong talent and research layer” to the market. Those institutions may help sustain corporate travel tied to recruiting, conferences and industry partnerships.
"Greensboro is a serious economic player that doesn't always get the credit it deserves,"
Regional context and comparisons
Other secondary markets logged double-digit gains in the FCM report, but none matched Greensboro’s increase. Reported growth figures included Columbus, Ohio (18.4 percent); Fort Lauderdale, Florida (14.8 percent); and Indianapolis (10.9 percent). FCM said common drivers across the top emerging markets include expanded industry sectors, growing airline service and ample hotel availability — factors that can deliver cost advantages for corporations managing travel budgets.
| Market | FCM 2025 YoY flight bookings |
|---|---|
| Greensboro, N.C. | 27.6% |
| Columbus, Ohio | 18.4% |
| Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | 14.8% |
| Indianapolis | 10.9% |
| San Antonio | N/A |
| Tampa Bay, Fla. | N/A |
| Sacramento, Calif. | N/A |
| Santa Ana, Calif. | N/A |
| Salt Lake City | N/A |
| Hartford, Conn. | N/A |
FCM Americas president Billy McDonough framed the trend as a response to companies seeking to "maximize travel budgets without sacrificing connectivity" amid broader economic uncertainty and rising costs in the travel industry. For Greensboro, that combination could translate into more frequent airline routes, greater hotel occupancy and expanded ground services — all of which carry implications for local tax revenue, employment and infrastructure planning.
City and county economic development officials have emphasized recent capital investment and job growth in healthcare, manufacturing and logistics. The FCM ranking gives those sectors a visible indicator of national interest in Greensboro as a business destination and could be leveraged in recruitment and marketing efforts to attract conferences, corporate meetings and expanded air service.
For travelers and employers, the immediate effects could include more nonstop flight options and improved hotel inventory. For the broader Triad economy, sustained growth in business travel would support hospitality jobs, airport revenues and related professional services, while reinforcing Greensboro’s profile in a competitive regional marketplace.
