The road ahead for business travel could be bumpy.
Recent US policy changes, including fast-moving trade policy and border enforcement, have contributed to an uncertain outlook for business travel, according to a new report. In poll results announced Wednesday, the Global Business Travel Association said many industry professionals expect business travel volume to drop this year.
More than one-third of global travel managers—those who oversee their company’s travel purchases—anticipate that volume will fall significantly in 2025, according to the GBTA, while less than half of global buyers expect their organizations’ business travel spending and volume to end the year unaffected.
The findings come as travel-industry firms are rethinking their outlooks for the year. United Airlines (UAL) late yesterday offered double-barreled guidance that included a recessionary scenario, while Delta Air Lines (DAL) earlier this month withdrew its full-year forecast.
Almost half of travel buyers responding to another GBTA survey reported earlier this year said they expected their companies to take more trips in 2025, and almost 60% anticipated increased travel spending this year. Hotel operator Marriott (MAR) said earlier this year that business travel had worked its way back to pre-pandemic levels.
Almost 30% of buyers are now predicting an average of a 20% decrease in their business travel spending this year, according to the new GBTA poll.
“Productive and essential business travel is threatened in times of economic uncertainty or in an environment of additional barriers and restrictions,” GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang said in a statement.
Leave a Reply