Business travel confidence slips amid U.S. policy shifts

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New GBTA poll reveals sharp drop in industry optimism as buyers react to economic and immigration measures

Apr 21, 2025

Optimism in the business travel industry has dropped significantly following recent U.S. government actions on the economy and immigration, according to a Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) poll. Many industry professionals, particularly travel buyers, report cutting back on travel to the U.S. as uncertainty grows.

Key takeaways

Only 31% of respondents expressed optimism about the business travel outlook – down from 67% in November 2024.
27% of buyers expect travel spending to decline in 2025, averaging a 20% drop from 2024.
29% of buyers foresee a decline in trip volume, averaging 21% less year over year.
Top concerns include increased travel costs (54%), visa/admin burdens (46%), safety worries (37%), and reluctance of non-U.S. employees to travel.
13% of buyers have canceled U.S.-based meetings; 10% have canceled or are considering canceling U.S. travel.
Despite challenges, over 75% of respondents currently have no plans to cancel or relocate meetings due to U.S. policies.
Travel management companies were more pessimistic, with 37% expecting revenue declines averaging 18%.