Second Cities

Why business travel is booming in smaller destinations around the world

- LEANDRA BEABOUT

CONSIDERING A visit to Porto instead of Lisbon next year? Booking a winter getaway to Fort Lauderdale instead of Miami? These days, more travelers are skipping major hubs in favor of so-called “second cities”— less expensive, less crowded metropolises that still offer top-shelf entertainment and experiences. This trend isn’t just in the leisure sector. Statistics suggest that a clutch of secondary cities are giving business travel mainstays a run for their money.