As far as leisure travel is concerned, Canadians are visiting the United States less frequently this year. Additionally, the border scrutiny has only added to the tension between the two countries. Canadians are allegedly being asked about past trips during the border crossing.
Despite the drama and many border horror stories, is the tide starting to turn? There are Canadian cities currently skewing the data and increasing the number of trips to the United States. This has raised many questions, including whether Canadians can sustain the boycotts. For one particular category, it seems that Canadians have not, and business as usual continues between Canada and the U.S. travel.
Here’s a closer look at the surprising statistics issued by SAP Concur Canada. According to the latest data, the U.S. remains the preferred business partner of Canadians, particularly for corporate-related travel.
Here’s what the data is saying, and why the trends have remained consistent despite all the scrutiny and cancelled plans for travel to America.
Yes, travel to the United States from Canada has decreased throughout 2025. However, the data doesn’t tell the entire story. The likes of Ottawa International Airport are actually showing improved data for trips to the U.S. in recent months, mainly due to business travel. In the first six months, Ottawa International Airport saw a 7% increase in travel to America compared to the same timeframe last year.
Ottawa isn’t the only city showing signs of life for business-related travel to the United States. According to BNN Bloomberg, Canadian business travel to the U.S. has remained resilient during the first half of the year, despite media speculation to the contrary.
According to the latest data from SAP Concur, corporate travel to the United States remained at the same level as last year. In fact, from January 1, 2005, to June 30, 2025, the U.S. was part of 79% of all corporate travel from Canada.
Managing director at SAP Concur Canada, Brian Veloso, explains, “Despite the political tension and the economic uncertainties right now between Canada and the U.S., the U.S. remains to be an absolutely critical partner with the majority of Canadian businesses.”
According to SAP Concur statistics, the next most popular destination for Canadian business travelers is the United Kingdom, accounting for 3% of business trips, while Germany is at 2%.
The U.S. is clearly the favorite business destination for Canadians, and the same holds for Americans, as Canada is the top business travel destination for them.
The Business Travel Trends Between Canada And The United States Changed Drastically Following The Pandemic
Canada’s popularity in terms of business travel remains impressively high, currently ranking as the fourth most popular destination in the world. That travel trend should only continue, according to Danielle Riddle, CEO of corporate travel services firm Inspired Travel Group.
The belief is that since the pandemic came to an end, which relied on video calls, other companies are now taking advantage of the outdated system and booking face-to-face meetings instead. Riddle believes this trend will only continue.
“As soon as that started happening again, companies thought, ‘Well, our competitive advantage is that we’re not just going to schedule a video call with you, we will be there.'”
The growing trend makes a lot of sense, and this is likely to spur more travel between the United States and Canada from a corporate standpoint in the future.
Of course, the proximity between the two is another major factor, and why business travel remains crucial between the two countries, even during these times of uncertainty.
Although Canadians Are Still Visiting The U.S. For Business, They Are More Careful Due To Border Scrutiny
Although the laws haven’t changed, Canadians remain skeptical about traveling to the United States, even for business. This is due to the many border stories that have been revealed throughout 2025 since the travel boycotts took place.
Although laws haven’t changed, Canadians are still expecting some scrutiny at the border, and ensuring that everything is in order, especially from a business visa standpoint.
Examples Of Temporary Business Visa For Travel To The United States:
Attending business meetings or consultations
Attending a business convention or conference
Negotiating contracts
Companies are taking proper precautions and conducting a closer examination of border activity. This includes whether a work permit is needed. If not, Canadians can expect additional border checks, along with extra documentation. This may halt plans due to complications.
So there you have it. Canadians and Americans are still taking flights for business-related reasons. Let us know your thoughts on the recent data. Does this come as a surprise? Will the trend eventually change for leisure travel as well? Chime in down below.