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Up to 20 percent have canceled, moved, or withdrawn attendance from meetings and events in the U.S. and 10 percent are planning or considering canceling employee attendance at U.S. events, GBTA said.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

Report: Global RevPAR to rise 3–5 percent in 2025

Report: Global RevPAR to rise 3–5 percent in 2025

Summary:

  • Global hotel RevPAR is projected to grow 3 to 5 percent in 2025, JLL reports.
  • Hotel RevPAR rose 4 percent in 2024, with demand at 4.8 billion room nights.
  • London, New York and Tokyo are expected to lead investor interest in 2025.

GLOBAL HOTEL REVPAR is projected to grow 3 to 5 percent in 2025, with investment volume up 15 to 25 percent, driven by loan maturities, deferred capital spending and private equity fund expirations, according to JLL. Leisure travel is expected to decline as consumer savings tighten, while group, corporate and international travel increase, supporting RevPAR growth.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump reviewing 55 million us visas
Getty Images

Trump reviewing 55 million visas

Summary:

  • The Trump administration says it is reviewing more than 55 million visa holders.
  • Reviews cover a wide range of visas for law enforcement and overstay violations.
  • The administration also suspended worker visas for foreign commercial truck drivers.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION is reviewing more than 55 million people who hold valid U.S. visas for potential violations. It is expanding a policy of “continuous vetting” that could result in revocation and deportation.

Keep ReadingShow less
Peachtree Funds Rio Las Vegas Renovations | $176M CPACE Loan
Photo credit: Hyatt Hotels Corp.

Peachtree originates retroactive CPACE loan for Rio Vegas

Summary:

  • Peachtree Group originated a $176.5 million retroactive CPACE loan for a Las Vegas property.
  • The deal closed in under 60 days and ranks among the largest CPACE financings in the U.S.
  • The company promotes retroactive CPACE funding for commercial real estate development.

PEACHTREE GROUP ORIGINATED a $176.5 million retroactive Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy loan for Dreamscape Cos.’s Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The deal, completed in under 60 days, is its largest credit transaction and one of the largest CPACE financings in the U.S.

Keep ReadingShow less
Spark Acquires Home2 Suites Wayne, New Jersey
Photo Credit: Hunter Hotels

Spark acquires Wayne, N.J., Home2 Suites

Summary:

  • Spark acquired the 120-key Home2 Suites by Hilton Wayne in Wayne, New Jersey.
  • Hunter Hotel Advisors facilitated the transaction with DC Hospitality Group affiliates.
  • The 2020-built hotel is near William Paterson University and less than 20 miles from Manhattan.

SPARK GHC RECENTLY acquired the 120-key Home2 Suites by Hilton Wayne in Wayne, New Jersey, from affiliates of DC Hospitality Group. Hunter Hotel Advisors facilitated the deal for an undisclosed amount.

Keep ReadingShow less
Global hotel construction pipeline reaches record 15,871 projects in Q2 2025, with U.S. and Dallas leading growth
Photo Credit: iStock

Report: Global pipeline hits 15,871 projects

Summary:

  • Global pipeline hit a record 15,871 projects with 2.4 million rooms in Q2.
  • The U.S. leads with 6,280 projects; Dallas tops cities with 199.
  • Nearly 2,900 hotels are expected to open worldwide by the end of 2025.

THE GLOBAL HOTEL pipeline reached 15,871 projects, up 3 percent year-over-year, and 2,436,225 rooms, up 2 percent, according to Lodging Econometrics. Most were upper midscale and upscale, LE reported.

Keep ReadingShow less