As Canada prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hotel and flight bookings for business travel is spiking, according to data released by Navan. Business travel is up 46 per cent to the U.S. and a massive 295 per cent to Canada.
“While headlines right now are focusing on softer-than-expected tourism demand and lagging leisure hotel bookings, our corporate data tells a different story,” said Dane Molter, SVP, Navan Group Travel Marketplace. “Companies are embracing the World Cup as the ultimate can’t miss event, and travel to North America is surging. Businesses know they can’t afford to sit this one out.”
The data reveals standout destinations and price changes for World Cup cities across the North American host nations for the tournament period.
Canada’s Toronto Takeover: Canada is the breakout leader with overall corporate hotel and flight booking volume up 295% year-over-year, despite flight prices dropping 26 per cent compared to the same period in 2025. This national surge in bookings is being driven by Toronto, where total combined hotel and flight booking spend skyrocketed 486%.
The U.S. Power Players: Corporate hotel and flight booking volumes in U.S. host cities are up 46 per cent, with average hotel prices jumping 30 per cent overall to $1,592 on average per trip, compared to the same period last year. The highest hotel and flight booking volumes amongst U.S. host cities are SF Bay Area with the average hotel booking costing $1,641, and NY/NJ (the Finals host), with the average hotel booking costing $1,836.
The data also highlights exactly which industries are driving the upward trend, and how employees are choosing to travel.
Industries Leading the Charge: The tech sector dominates the footprint, accounting for 51 per cent of hotel and flight booking spend in host cities over the World Cup period on the Navan platform. Professional Services is the fastest-growing sector, with hotel and flight booking spend jumping 130 per cent compared to the same period in 2025.
Booking Window Shift: Travelers are securing their spots significantly earlier, with Toronto flights booked for the World Cup period 51 days earlier (from 69 to 119 days in advance compared to the same period in 2025) – the biggest window shift of any city – and Philadelphia hotels locked in 33 days earlier (from 59 to 91 days in advance), the largest hotel window shift in the U.S.
Toronto will host six FIFA World Cup 2026 matches between June 12 and July 2, 2026. Vancouver will host 7 games at BC Place between June 13 and July 7.
