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Optimism in Business Travel Sector Continues To Decline, Says GBTA Survey

Poll tracks sentiment and impact of US government actions Optimism across the business travel sector continues to decline, with more companies that send employees out…

Written by:

Harvey Chipkin

Published on:

July 17, 2025
GBTA Poll Shows Large Majority Say 2024 Was On Par or Better Than Expected

Poll tracks sentiment and impact of US government actions

Optimism across the business travel sector continues to decline, with more companies that send employees out for work trips expecting reduced travel volume and spending —especially for international trips, according to a new poll from GBTA tracking the sentiment and impact of US government actions on business travel. These latest findings reveal some ongoing as well as new and notable shifts since GBTA’s initial April 2025 poll.

Suzanne Neufang, CEO, said the latest poll shows the business travel industry actively adapting to shifting geopolitics and evolving US policies. While overall demand currently remains resilient, she said, “the results underscore how economic uncertainty and US government actions continue to send ripple effects across the global travel landscape.”

GBTA’s July poll surveyed 950 corporate travel managers, suppliers, TMCs and other intermediaries across four regions and 45 countries in late June. Here are some of the top takeaways:

Supplier revenue concerns deepen

  • Showing a divergence in spending and revenue outlooks, almost half (48%) of suppliers expect a drop in business travel revenue, with an average decline of 17% (versus 18% in April). This is up sharply from 37% in April, with lodging suppliers the most concerned, as over half (58%) are anticipating revenue decreases.

Business travel volume outlook softens slightly, international travel more vulnerable

  • One-third of buyers (34%, slightly up versus 29% in April) continue to expect the number of business trips taken at their company will decline in 2025, as a result of US government actions. Among those who expect a decline this year, there is little change in the average volume decrease anticipated (19%, versus 21% in April).
  • International business travel is more likely to be impacted than domestic travel. Half of respondents (49%) expect declines in their international business travel versus 23% for their domestic/intra-regional business travel — citing anticipated decreases, on average, of 19% and 21% respectively.

Impact on Spending Remains Concerning

  • The business travel spending outlook stayed relatively consistent compared with three months ago — with one-third of buyers (31%, versus 27% in April) expecting declines in their company’s business travel expenditures (17% on average, down from 20% in April).

Divergence in travel buyer, supplier and regional optimism

  • Optimism for the remainder of 2025 remains muted, both globally and regionally. Industry optimism declined slightly to 28%, down from 31% in April, and significantly lower than in November 2024 at 67%. Declines in optimism are particularly significant in Asia-Pacific (27%, down from 40% in April).
  • Buy-side corporate travel manager optimism stayed relatively consistent (29%, versus 28% in April) while supplier and TMC optimism dropped to 27% (versus 36% in April).

Increasing concerns around safety, budgets and travel willingness  

  • The top two long-term concerns cited by respondents paced the same, including higher travel costs (55% versus 54% in April) and increased administrative burdens (47% versus 46% in April).
  • However, concerns increased in the areas of safety and duty of care (46%) and border detentions (31%), both up 9 points since April. Budget cuts (44%) and decreased willingness of non-US employees to travel to the US (41%), were both up 4 points from April to July.

Canceled, relocated and virtual meetings — all on the rise

  • As a result of US government actions, according to the report, there have been across-the-board increases from April to July in global travel buyers who say they have:
    • canceled US-based meetings (18%, up from 13%) or events (17%, up from 10%)
    • relocated meetings (13%, up from 8%) or events (12%, up from 6%) outside the US
    • canceled sending employees to US-based events (20%, up from 10%)
    • shifted meetings or events online (24%, up from 19%)

When the impact gets personal

  • One in 5 travel buyers globally (18%) say employees have declined US-based business trips due to concerns related to US government actions.
  • Over a third of global respondents (35%) now say they personally know someone whose travel has been affected by US policy changes — up from 23% in April.

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