The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has released insights tracking the sentiment and impact of U.S. government actions on business travel. Optimism across the business travel sector continues to decline, with more companies who send employees out for work trips expecting reduced travel volume and spending—especially for international trips. Additionally, nearly half of global travel suppliers now anticipate revenue losses (up from 37 percent three months ago), while more organizations are canceling or relocating meetings from the U.S. and/or shifting to virtual formats. U.S. policy developments—such as trade tariffs, entry restrictions and cross-border advisories—are driving companies to reassess travel plans, tighten budgets and explore markets outside the United States. These latest findings reveal some ongoing as well as new and notable shifts since GBTA’s initial April 2025 poll.
GBTA’s July poll surveyed 950 corporate travel managers, suppliers, travel management companies (TMCs), and other intermediaries across across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East/Africa. Here are some of the top takeaways as a result of U.S. government actions:
- Supplier revenue concerns deepen – Showing a divergence in spending and revenue outlooks, almost half (48 percent) of suppliers expect a drop in business travel revenue, with an average decline of 17 percent (versus 18 percent in April). This is up sharply from 37 percent in April, with lodging suppliers the most concerned as over half (58 percent) are anticipating revenue decreases.
- Business travel volume outlook softens slightly – One-third of buyers (34 percent, slightly up versus 29 percent in April) continue to expect the number of business trip taken at their company will decline in 2025, as a result of U.S. government actions. Among those who expect a decline this year, there is little change in the average volume decrease anticipated (19 percent, versus 21 percent in April). International business travel is more likely to be impacted than domestic travel. Half of respondents (49 percent) expect declines in their international business travel versus 23 percent for their domestic/intra-regional business travel—citing anticipated decreases, on average, of 19 percent and 21 percent respectively.
- Impact on spending remains concerning – Business travel spending outlook stayed relatively consistent compared with three months ago with one-third of buyers (31 percent, versus 27 percent in April) expecting declines in their company’s business travel expenditures (17 percent on average, down from 20 percent 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 percent, down from 31 percent in April, and significantly lower than November 2024 at 67 percent. Declines in optimism are particularly significant in Asia Pacific (27 percent, down from 40 percent in April). Buy-side corporate travel manager optimism stayed relatively consistent (29 percent, vs 28 percent in April) while supplier and TMC optimism dropped several points to 27 percent (versus 36 percent 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 percent versus 54 percent in April) and increased administrative burdens (47 percent, versus 46 percent in April). However, concerns increased in the areas of safety and duty of care (46 percent) and border detentions (31 percent), both up 9 points since April. Budget cuts (44 percent) and decreased willingness of non-U.S. employees to travel to the U.S. (41 percent), were both up 4 points from April to July.
- Canceled, relocated and virtual meetings, all on the rise – As a result of U.S government actions, there have been across the board increases from April to July in global travel buyers who say they have canceled U.S.-based meetings (18 percent, up from 13 percent) or events (17 percent, up from 10 percent); relocated meetings (13 percent, up from 8 percent) or events (12 percent, up from 6 percent) outside the U.S.; canceled sending employees to U.S.-based events (20 percent, up from 10 percent); shifted meetings or events online (24 percent, up from 19 percent)
- Companies seeking new trade partners outside the U.S. – One-third (35 percent) of non-U.S. based industry professionals say their organization is traveling or plans to travel for business to meet with potential new trade partners or vendors outside of the United States. Europe and APAC are the top regions for companies seeking new trade partners outside the U.S., by 70 percent and 53 percent of respondents respectively.
- When the impact gets personal – One in five travel buyers globally (18 percent) say employees have declined U.S.-based business trips due to concerns related to U.S. government actions. Over a third of global respondents (35 percent) now say they personally know someone whose travel has been affected by U.S. policy changes—up from 23 percent in April.
Source: GBTA
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