Greensboro, N.C., ranked as the fastest growing U.S. emerging market for business travel, according to data published on Wednesday by FCM Travel.
In its Emerging Market Report, FCM analyzed year-over-year flight bookings by clients in 2025, excluding the largest 20 markets in the U.S., to identify the 10 secondary cities with the largest growth rates. For Greensboro, flight bookings were up 27.6 percent year over year in 2025, nearly 10 percentage points above the next highest secondary city.
In the report, FCM noted that Greensboro benefits from a low cost of doing business compared with comparable markets in the Southeastern U.S. and has seen significant capital investment and job growth.
"Greensboro is a serious economic player that doesn't always get the credit it deserves," FCM said in the report. "Healthcare, manufacturing and logistics anchor the economy, with major employers including Cone Health, Volvo, Qorvo and TE Connectivity. North Carolina A&T State University and UNC Greensboro add a strong talent and research layer to the market."
Other emerging markets with double-digit percentage flight booking growth in 2025 include Columbus, Ohio (18.4 percent); Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (14.8 percent); and Indianapolis (10.9 percent). The destinations rounding out FCM's top 10 were San Antonio; Tampa Bay, Fla.; Sacramento, Calif.; Santa Ana, Calif.; Salt Lake City; and Hartford, Conn.
FCM noted that the markets share such factors as expanding industry sectors, growing airline service and good hotel availability as well as their own regional advantages.
"These destinations can also provide meaningful cost advantages, enabling organizations to maximize travel budgets without sacrificing connectivity as they navigate continued economic uncertainty and rising costs across the industry," FCM Americas president Billy McDonough said in a statement.