Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

Poll: Trump's policies dampen business travel sentiment

Tariffs, entry limits and detainment risks are slowing visits to the country

U.S. travel policy 2025

Recent U.S. government actions are disrupting global business travel, with more than 900 industry professionals expecting declines in 2025, according to the Global Business Travel Association.

U.S. Travel Policies Threaten Business Meetings and Hospitality Revenue

RECENT U.S. GOVERNMENT actions are weakening global business travel, raising concerns about 2025 volume, spending and revenue, according to the Global Business Travel Association. More than 900 industry professionals expect declines, with optimism slipping in recent weeks amid broader uncertainty.

GBTA’s recent poll found that tariffs, entry restrictions, travel advisories, cross-border detainment risks and reduced federal employee travel have hurt business travel sentiment.


“While the outlook for global business travel was strong heading into 2025, our research now shows growing concerns and uncertainty within the industry due to recent U.S. government actions,” said Suzanne Neufang, GBTA’s CEO. “Work travel plays a vital role in supporting business growth, resilient economies, diplomatic ties and valuable connections. Productive and essential business travel is threatened by economic uncertainty and added barriers or restrictions. This undermines economic prosperity and harms the many sectors that depend on global business travel to survive and thrive.”

GBTA said it received 905 responses from global travel buyers, suppliers and industry professionals across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East in a poll conducted from March 31 to April 8, 2025.

Policy overhaul

The poll found that 7 percent of buyer organizations have revised their corporate travel policies for travel to or from the U.S. since January, while another 25 percent plan to or are considering doing so. Meanwhile, 64 percent have kept their policies unchanged.

Up to 20 percent have canceled, moved, or withdrawn attendance from meetings and events in the U.S. and 10 percent are planning or considering canceling employee attendance at U.S. events, GBTA said.

Regarding relocating meetings or events, 14 percent say their organization has already done so, with 8 percent having moved them and 6 percent considering it. Companies outside the U.S. are three times more likely to move meetings to other locations, the report said.

Respondents’ main concerns about the long-term impact of U.S. government actions focus on business travel costs at 54 percent, potential budget cuts at 40 percent and added travel processing and administration requirements such as visas and documentation at 46 percent. Traveler-related concerns, including employee willingness to travel to the U.S. and increased safety and duty of care, both stand at 37 percent. Additionally, 23 percent of global industry professionals say they personally know someone whose trip has been affected by U.S. border or travel policy changes.

Neufang said two key factors will influence business travel’s long-term outlook: sustained economic pressure on company budgets and restrictions on cross-border travel and global workforce mobility to and from the U.S.

Bleak outlook

Less than half of global buyers, 44 percent, expect their organization’s business travel spending and volume in 2025 to stay the same, GBTA said. In contrast, only 25 percent of travel suppliers say the same about their business travel revenue.

Nearly a third, 29 percent, of travel buyers expect a decline in business travel volume at their companies in 2025, with an average drop of 21 percent. Another 19 percent are uncertain about the impact.

Similarly, 27 percent of buyers forecast a 20 percent drop in business travel spending this year, the report said. With global business travel spending projected at $1.63 trillion in 2025, this could mean a decline of up to $88 billion. On the supplier side, 37 percent of travel suppliers and travel management company professionals expect their revenue to decline by an average of 18 percent.

Due to these concerns, only 31 percent of global industry professionals are optimistic about the industry outlook for the year, while 40 percent are neutral. This marks a drop from GBTA’s November 2024 poll, where 67 percent were optimistic and 26 percent were neutral.

The World Travel & Tourism Council projected that international travel spending in the U.S. will fall to under $169 billion this year, down from $181 billion in 2024 and 22.5 percent below the 2019 peak of $217.4 billion. This represents a projected loss of $12.5 billion for 2025.


More for you

IHG Ruby Hotels USA launch
Photo credit: IHG Hotels & Resorts

IHG’s Ruby debuts in U.S. market

Summary:

  • IHG launched its 20th global brand, Ruby, in the U.S.
  • The brand offers serves city-centers and urban locations with restrictions.
  • It focuses on major urban markets with new-build, conversion, and adaptive reuse.

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS introduced Ruby Hotels, its 20th global brand, to the U.S. It is designed to fit in city centers and urban locations with entry barriers and space constraints.

Keep ReadingShow less
H-2B visa hospitality impact

Study: H-2B visas boost U.S. jobs and wages

Summary:

  • The H-2B visa program protects U.S. jobs and wages, according to AHLA citing a study.
  • It allows hotels and resorts to meet travelers’ needs while supporting the economy.
  • It provides foreign workers for seasonal jobs when domestic workers are unavailable.

THE H-2B VISA program does not harm U.S. jobs or wages but increases pay and supports the labor force, according to an Edgeworth Economics study. Citing that study, the American Hotel & Lodging Association said the program enables hotels and resorts to meet travelers’ needs while supporting the workforce and economy.

Keep ReadingShow less
Howard Johnson 100th anniversary

HoJo marks centennial with throwback

Summary:

  • Howard Johnson is marking its 100th anniversary with fried clam–shaped soaps.
  • The soaps pay homage to an iconic HoJo menu item.
  • Available at select hotels and for online purchase starting Oct. 3.

HOWARD JOHNSON BY Wyndham marks a century with one of its most famous menu items, the fried clam strip. The brand is introducing limited-edition HoJo’s Original Fried Clam Soap, available at select Howard Johnson hotels across the U.S. and for online purchase beginning Oct. 3.

Keep ReadingShow less
AI digital assistant redefining guest loyalty in U.S. hospitality industry

Study: AI agents redefine hotel loyalty

Summary:

  • The use of AI agents hotels must rethink customer loyalty, a FAU study finds.
  • The paper proposes strategies as AI becomes the main booking channel.
  • Researchers warn of ethical and privacy issues.

HOTELS MUST RETHINK how they build and maintain loyalty as artificial intelligence systems make travel decisions and bookings for consumers, according to a study by Florida Atlantic University. The rise of artificial intelligence agents will complicate hotel customer loyalty management.

Keep ReadingShow less
HAMA Fall 2025 survey results

Survey: Hotels expect Q4 RevPAR gain

Summary:

  • More than 70 percent expect a RevPAR increase in Q4, according to HAMA survey.
  • Demand is the top concern, cited by 77.8 percent, up from 65 percent in spring.
  • Only 37 percent expect a U.S. recession in 2025, down from 49 percent earlier in the year.

MORE THAN 70 PERCENT of respondents to a Hospitality Asset Managers Association survey expect a 1 to 3 percent RevPAR increase in the fourth quarter. Demand is the top concern, cited by 77.8 percent of respondents, up from 65 percent in the spring survey.

Keep ReadingShow less