FCM's 2026 booking data shows Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and China are the most popular international destinations for South African corporate travellers.
South African business travellers should think twice before relying on hotel star ratings when booking accommodation abroad, with experts warning that the same three- or four-star classification can vary significantly between countries.
According to Mummy Mafojane, general manager of FCM South Africa, travellers are accustomed to a certain room size and standard in South Africa, but those expectations often don't translate internationally.
European city hotels, for example, are typically much smaller because they are housed in older buildings, while hotels in secondary cities across developing regions may face inconsistent water, electricity and internet services.
Although a hotel may carry the same star rating, the standard behind that grading often differs depending on who awarded it – and in some destinations there is no official grading authority at all.
