Russia to establish national standards for business tourism
The initiative is led by Aeroclub Group in partnership with the HSE Graduate School of Business and supported by the Russian Association of Business Travel Agencies. The concept was officially presented at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
The goal of the project is to create transparent and objective tools for assessing the development of business tourism across Russia's regions, their attractiveness for business travel, and for classifying hotels that cater to business travelers.
Denis Matyukhin
CEO, Aeroclub Group
“Today, business trips account for up to 25% of all travel, depending on the region. In 2024, the market grew by 24% and reached 1.057 trillion rubles. In Moscow alone, every fifth tourist from other Russian regions in 2024 was a business traveler. However, current tourism infrastructure standards often fail to reflect the specific needs of business travelers. Investment in this area opens up new opportunities for regional development. The success of business tourism depends directly on how attractive regions are to the business audience.”
The project includes two key components: the Regional Business Tourism Attractiveness Index and the Best Business Hotels Ranking.
The Index will assess regions using comprehensive indicators such as:
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Socioeconomic factors (level of business activity, business climate, investment appeal),
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Transport accessibility (both domestic and international),
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Accommodation infrastructure (availability and occupancy of rooms, pricing),
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MICE infrastructure (venues, availability, cost),
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Ground transport options (taxis, transfers),
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Catering infrastructure,
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Business travel dynamics (volume, frequency, industry structure).
Dmitry Knatko
Head of the Project Methodology Group, Associate Professor at HSE Graduate School of Business
“Business tourism is no longer just about business trips — it is now a standalone industry, a key element of a country’s brand, and a powerful driver of regional economic growth. The destinations selected for business trips often become precursors to future economic ties and logistics routes. Business travelers themselves frequently act as native ambassadors for the regions they visit, converting their experience into B2C value.”
Meanwhile, the Best Business Hotels Ranking will serve as a regular evaluation of Russia’s hotel infrastructure for business travel. In addition to the Index metrics, hotels will be assessed in several specific categories:
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Location convenience (proximity to business centers, airports, train stations; nearby restaurants and cafés; parking availability),
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Work infrastructure quality (desk space, outlets, Wi-Fi, business centers with printing services, hours of operation, service variety),
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Service speed and quality (check-in/out, concierge service, transfers, laundry, dry cleaning),
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Dining options (on-site restaurants, in-room dining, operating hours, early breakfasts, business lunches, suitability for meetings),
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Overall comfort (cleanliness, soundproofing, room quality, minibar availability).
The ranking process will take place in two stages: an initial assessment by business travelers through a specialized Russian IT platform, followed by evaluation by an Expert Council based on detailed criteria. More than 5,000 hotels will be assessed, with hotels in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Nizhny Novgorod region participating in the first year.
As a result, the project will deliver effective tools for regional and federal government bodies to evaluate domestic business tourism flows and improve regional infrastructure — supporting the objectives of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality Industry.” Tourism authorities in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod region have already expressed interest in the Index and Ranking.
The first results of the Best Business Hotels Ranking will be released in early 2026. The Business Tourism Infrastructure Index will be completed by June 2026.