A new poll from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) explores the impact that the recent actions of the Trump administration are having on the worldwide business community, which includes tariffs and policies that restrict entry from certain countries as well as advisories against travel to certain destinations. The poll paints a more cautious picture than the optimistic forecast released by GBTA last year.
According to the report, uncertainty in the global economy is causing companies to be a bit less optimistic with their business travel spending. Those surveyed include travel buyers, suppliers, and travel management companies from around the planet.
Key highlights from the report’s executive summary:
- 7% of buyer organizations have revised their corporate travel policies for travel to or from the US since January 2025, and another one-quarter (25%) say they are planning to or will consider doing so in the future, while 64% are staying the course.
- Up to 20% have or are considering canceling, moving, or pulling attendance from meetings and events located in the US.
- 10% are planning or considering canceling employee attendance at US events.
- When it comes to relocating meetings or events from the US, a total of 14% say their organization has already done so (8%) or is considering it (6%). Companies located outside of the US are three times more likely to relocate meetings to somewhere other than the US.
- Respondents’ top concerns for long-term impact of US government actions are related to economics ─ namely business travel costs (54%) and potential budget cuts (40%) ─ along with additional travel processing and administration needs such as visas or documentation (46%). This was followed closely by traveler-focused concerns such as employee willingness to travel to the US and increased safety and duty of care (both at 37%).
GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufant
“While the outlook for global business travel was incredibly strong coming into 2025, our research now shows increasing concerns and uncertainty within our industry, considering recent actions taken by the US government. Traveling for work plays a vital role in supporting business growth, resilient economies, strong diplomatic ties and valuable connections,” said GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang. “Productive and essential business travel is threatened in times of economic uncertainty or in an environment of additional barriers and restrictions. This undermines economic prosperity and damages the many sectors that rely on global business travel to survive and thrive.”
While the report is sobering, Neufang did highlight two factors that could change the outlook: if there’s sustained economic pressure or uncertainty weighing on company budgets and if cross-border travel and global workforce mobility to and from the US are restricted.
Visit gbta.org for more information.
[04.22.25]