London and Brussels are the most visited destination by business travelers

BCD Travel bases this ranking on the total number of airplane and train tickets booked in France in 2013. London and Brussels are by far the most visited destinations by French business travelers, just before Frankfurt in third place.

Amsterdam and Munich progress as Geneva and Madrid went down in the rankings.

London and Brussels make up between them 40% of all ticket sales in the top 10, Brussels confirming its position as a "train destination", while Frankfurt, being the "air travel" destination par excellence, retains third place in the overall ranking.

Amsterdam recorded the largest increase in visits (+13%).

"London, Brussels and Frankfurt are the traditional business centers with which France has a close relationship," explains Valérie Sasset, CEO of BCD Travel France.

"These cities are accessible both by rail and by air. We find that the economic crisis has not had a major influence on the ranking of these preferred cities in the top 10, despite its impact on the Spanish and Italian economies. This ranking reflects the stability of France's economic relations."

Moreover, the 2013 Benelux classification shows that Paris remains the favorite destination for Belgian, Dutch, and Luxembourger travelers. Strasbourg reveals the biggest increase this year with +6% of ticket sales.

If New York retains the top spot, this year Shanghai gives up its second position to Moscow, which made it directly to second place.

Shanghai, however, remains in the top 3 for the second consecutive year, after its whirlwind rise in 2012 alongside Beijing, the two destinations that have ousted Hong Kong since 2012.

Destinations in the Maghreb and the Middle East remain in the rankings despite the downfall of Dubai since 2011 and the decline of Istanbul in 2013.

And if Bombay is out of the top 10 in 2013, India remains visible with Bangalore, which continues to grow. Boston is back again, backing up New York, which preserves its first place.

Valérie Sasset analyzes the results: "The entry of Moscow is explained by the increasing role it plays in the international arena, along with the participation of French companies in the organization of the Olympic Games in Sochi.

Eastern destinations continue to prove their potential on the international arena, the consequences of the "Arab Spring" are also reflected in this ranking. The exception is Dubai, which is gradually losing ground to China and Russia since 2011."

The BCD Corporation is a major player in the travel market. Founded in 1975 by John Fentener Van Vlissingen, the private company includes BCD Travel (business travel), Travix (online travel: CheapTickets, Vliegwinkel, BudgetAir, and Easytobook Vayama), Park 'N Fly (off-airport parking), Parkmobile International (mobile applications for parking and traffic), and joint ventures Airtrade (consolidation and execution) and VakantieXperts (leisure travel). The BCD Corporation employs more than 12,000 people and operates in 97 countries with an annual turnover of $22.8 billion, of which $8.5 billion comes from sales partners. For more information, see www.bcd-nv.com.