Are Secondary Cities the New Hotspots for 2025 Business Travel?

Summary

In this episode of the Island Vacation Travel Podcast, the host explores the emerging trend of secondary cities becoming prime destinations for business travel in 2025. The discussion highlights the reasons behind this shift, including cost-effectiveness, reduced crowds, and unique cultural experiences. The podcast also identifies specific secondary cities that are gaining popularity among business travelers and offers practical tips for maximizing travel experiences in these emerging destinations.

Takeaways

Business travelers are shifting towards secondary cities for affordability.

Secondary cities offer unique cultural experiences and lower travel congestion.

Cost-effectiveness is a major factor driving the popularity of these cities.

Fewer crowds lead to increased productivity and smoother logistics.

Enhanced flight connectivity is making secondary cities more accessible.

Travelers can enjoy high-quality experiences in smaller cities.

Planning ahead is crucial for securing the best travel arrangements.

Incorporating local experiences can enhance business trips.

Flexibility in travel plans allows for spontaneous opportunities.

Balancing work and leisure is key to a successful business trip.

Chapters

00:00 The Rise of Secondary Cities in Business Travel

06:59 Top Secondary Cities for Business Travel in 2025

11:47 Maximizing Your Experience in Emerging Destinations

Episode Transcript

(00:06):
Where secondary cities are set to seal the spotlight in 2025.
Business travel boom in 2025 Business travellers are
increasingly opting for less crowded, more affordable
destinations beyond the traditional metro metropolitan

(00:27):
hubs. We'll explore why this shift is
actually happening, which citiesare leading the charge, and how
you could actually leverage these opportunities to enhance
your business trips. Welcome back to Island Vacation
Travel Podcast where we explore the evolving landscape of

(00:51):
business travel and help you navigate smarter and more
strategic journeys. Today, we're diving into an
emerging trend is actually reshaping the corporate travel,
the rise of secondary cities. Now before I actually start, a

(01:16):
quick shout out to Island Vacation Travel Podcasts and
Island Vacation Travel Agency helping you make the most out of
your travel experience. Now let's begin the rise of

(02:02):
secondary cities. What's driving that shift?
Let's begin by understanding what secondary cities where they
are and why they are becoming increasingly popular among
business travellers. Now, traditionally, business

(02:22):
travellers have centred around major metropolitan hubs.
Think more like New York, Los Angeles and London.
Just name a few, right? But now there's a noticeable
shift. Secondary cities offer
affordable prices, lower travel,congestion and often unique

(02:47):
cultural experiences, making them attractive alternatives
right now, according to Katrina Pruitt Andrews.
That's actually the Vice President of Marketing at Nolan
Event Planning are actually increasingly choosing these
emergency markets in these markets for their corporate

(03:09):
events. Sorry about that.
Now these cities provide not only cost saving, but also
access to new and high quality venues.
I've been to some of those and Ican tell you a lot about that
Now. Trends driving those shifts,

(03:30):
cost effectiveness. I mean more accommodations,
dining and travelers expenses make these cities more budget
friendly. Less crowds, it's just less
crowded. Fewer crowds means less stress,

(03:51):
more productivity and smoother logistics.
Things can get where it needs toget in time, right when it comes
to meetings, high quality experiences.
Now, despite the small size, thesecondary cities offer boost,

(04:13):
they actually offer a great boost of great infrastructure.
Let's put it like that. Unique attractions, things you
will you'll not find anywhere else and also you'd be surprised
by ample business amenities as well.
Increased connectivity. Many of these cities are seeing

(04:36):
enhanced flight connectivities, making them more accessible to
business travellers. Just more flights are flying to
there, for example, Lakeland, Central Florida, right with
Avello. Now, what's happening to the
cities, Business travellers can enjoy a more relaxed, an

(04:58):
efficient trip without sacrificing quality.
And that's very, very, very important right now.
Stay tuned guys. When we return, we'll highlight
some of the key secondary citiesthat I gave attraction for

(05:22):
business travel. I guess, right, We'll be right
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So it's a win win, which why they're becoming find

(07:07):
destinations for business travelers in 2025.
Let's start with first on the list, Florida Keys and Ban
Springs. Let's start with the Florida
Keys, right? With a 79.5 increase in
corporate events, these islands are becoming increasingly

(07:29):
popular due to new properties like the Three Waters Resort and
Marina and established venues like Chica Lodge and Spa, just
to name a few. Palm Springs, on the other hand,
an attractive alternative to LosAngeles, is benefiting from

(07:50):
enhanced flight connectivity andoffers a serene escape with
cultural attractions that executives are increasingly
seeking for both business and leisure #2 on the list,
Charleston and Raleigh. Moving eastward, Charleston

(08:13):
Raleigh are seeing significant growth as they cater for diverse
business needs. Charleston's rich history, sound
charm and excellent venues enjoying more corporate
travellers from all over the world, especially from America.

(08:37):
While Rally's tech driven growthand strong local economy
actually makes it a rising star in the business travel
atmosphere. If you'll see right #3 on the
list and we're going to go across the pond.
Frankfurt, the European hotspot,right?

(09:02):
On the international front, Frankfurt continues to rise as a
key destination for American business travellers.
Yes, a lot of American business travellers are actually going
out to Frankfurt. And if you're asking where
Frankfurt is, Germany as Germany's financial hub, it
provides vital access to Europe's key markets and remains

(09:28):
an attractive option just behindLondon.
So it's not too far from London,just a train ride.
Once you Europe, you pretty muchcan get around everywhere.
I think that's why American businessmen are so attracted and
of course, lots of great engineer in Germany as well.
Now, these cities aren't just secondary destinations, if you'd

(09:52):
see right, they're becoming strategic hubs that are defining
where and how businessmen actually travel or businesses
travel right now. We'll be right back with more
insight on how to take advantageof these rising secondary cities

(10:14):
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(11:40):
situation. Check it out.
Secondary cities. Let's talk about how we can
maximize your experience when a child led to these emerging

(12:02):
destinations. Right one, come ahead and book
early. Just always plan ahead and book
early. Since these cities are gaining
popularity, it's wise to book your flights, accommodations and
venues very early. This ensures you secure the best

(12:27):
rates and availability. Little tip, look for the all in
one travel packages that includeflights, accommodations and
ground transportation to streamline your logistics.
Make it easy, make it seamless, right #2 Leverage unique
experiences. Take advantage of all the unique

(12:48):
offerings that secondary cities have to offer.
Whether it's cultural activities, local cuisines, or
scenic getaways, incorporate these experiences into your
itinerary to balance your work and leisure, right?

(13:08):
Little tip, Use the city's localattractions to build more
meaningful business relationships or team building
activities Built in. OK now #3 on the list.
Stay flexible. Fly with travel plans.
Sometimes no plan is actually a good thing.

(13:30):
Secondary cities of often offer fewer crowds and less
congestion, giving you more flexibility to adjust your
plans. Stay open to exploring
spontaneous opportunities for networking or exploring.
That's my favorite thing. All right, little tip again.

(13:52):
Use apps and platforms to provide real time updates on
flight schedules and local events to stay informed and
adaptable. That helps out a lot.
Use technology where it's usefulright now #4 list balance work
and leisure. One of the key benefits.

(14:17):
Yeah, one of the key benefits oftravelling to secondary cities
is the opportunity to mix business with leisure.
Prioritize clear work boundarieswhile leaving your room for
relaxation and exploration. Don't stay at the back too long.
Don't get caught up in your world too much that you forget

(14:39):
that you're on a business trip as well.
We know we promote leisure business.
Leisure trips work like balance,but don't forget, you're also
working right little tip. Plan your meetings around key
city landmarks or attractions tocreate a blend of work and
leisure little trick right now. By adopting these tips, you'll

(15:03):
not only make your travel more productive but also more
enjoyable. That's just a few a few tips
that I can give within the shotsby the time Now that wraps it up
for today's episode of Island Vacation Travel Podcast.
Guys, I hope you've gained valuable insight into how the

(15:26):
rise of secondary citizens reshaping business in travel for
2025. If you found this episode
helpful, don't forget to subscribe, rate and leave a
review. Share with your colleagues, your
friends, or anyone you know thatthis might benefit.

(15:46):
These tips might benefit right now.
Again, a very big sponsor. A very big thank you to our
sponsor, Island Vacation Travel Agency, LLC Welcome us.
Explore Smarter Business Travel Solutions For information on how
to optimize your travel expensesvisit www.is LANDVAC as.com.

(16:17):
Until next time guys signing out.
This is Philo helping you with your travel to help you travel
smarter and stress free. Stay safe, add happy explorer.