A new poll from the Global Business Travel Association reveals a slew of recent Trump administration actions have triggered deep concerns across the industry.
In fact, only a minority of global travel buyers (44%) responded that they don’t think there would be an adverse impact. Among travel suppliers, only 25% think their business travel revenue would go untouched.
Nearly one-third of global travel managers (29%) surveyed said they expect a drop in business travel volume this year, with the average decline projected at 21%.
The poll surveyed over 900 travel professionals from 45 countries from March 31 through April 8, 2025.
Suppliers and travel management companies are likewise bracing for the impact as 37% of them forecast a revenue decline, averaging 18%.
“While the outlook for global business travel was incredibly strong coming into 2025, our research now shows increasing concerns and uncertainty within our industry, considering recent actions taken by the U.S. government,” said GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang in a statement.
“Productive and essential business travel is threatened in times of economic uncertainty or in an environment of additional barriers and restrictions. This undermines economic prosperity and damages the many sectors that rely on global business travel to survive and thrive.”
Sentiment Reversal
When asked about their primary concerns, 54% of respondents named higher business travel costs as their biggest issue. Visa and documentation complications came in next (46%), followed by budget cuts (40%), traveler safety/duty of care (37%), and decreased willingness of employees, especially non-U.S.-based staff, to travel to the U.S. (37%).
In November 2024, GBTA found that 67% of global industry professionals were optimistic about 2025. That figure has now dropped down to 31%, with a sharp rise in neutral (40%) and pessimistic (26%) responses.
Looking at it from a regional standpoint, while Latin America and Asia-Pacific respondents were slightly more hopeful (52% and 40%, respectively), only 26% of European and 28% of U.S.-based respondents expressed optimism. Canada is trailing behind with just 21%.
Trumpâs Policies Already Making a Mark
Delta Air Lines officials said recently that the tariffs are taking a toll on its business, just a few months after predicting that 2025 would be their most profitable year yet.
The airline reported that âa reduction in corporate confidence stalled growth in February and March.â
According to its latest earnings report, corporate travel sales ended the first quarter up only in low single digits compared to last year.
The slowdown was particularly significant given that the airlineâs early-year expectations were much higher.
United Airlines has also seen business travel take a hit.
As noted by Unitedâs Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella this week, âthe high-end consumer, the more wealthy consumer, the one that takes the global vacations, the one that wants to sit in a premium seat seems to be less impacted so far.â
However, beneath the optimism was a quiet concession: Business travelers arenât filling premium seats the way they used to.
Per Diem is your source for the latest business travel and corporate travel news.
Get it in your inbox every Tuesday.
By submitting this form, you agree to receive email communication from Skift.