Short-term business travel to the US has become a matter of concern for most European corporate travel managers and business travellers, according to a survey by BT4Europe, the European Network of Business Travel Associations.
And a separate survey by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) found a significant portion of over 900 global industry respondents are anticipating business travel declines as a result of recent US government actions including tariffs, cross-border policies and entry restrictions.
In the BT4Europe survey, respondents cited increased anxiety about the unpredictability of US entry procedures, potential denial of entry, deportation risks, and broader implications for international business operations.
The survey, conducted in early April 2025, gathered responses from a cross-section of European business travel associations.
A significant number of respondents (88%) noted a rising risk of deportation or detention for European business travellers attempting to enter the US, with some pointing to heightened scrutiny for dual nationals, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those who had voiced political opinions on social media.
Companies in countries such as the Netherlands and Italy are increasingly flagging US travel as a strategic concern.
Travel managers are now more actively monitoring government travel advisories, ensuring meticulous completion of ESTA applications, and seeking expert guidance to safeguard their travellers.
Organisations are implementing a variety of protective actions, including:
- Issuing travellers with explanatory letters detailing the purpose of their trip
- Offering additional insurance and legal assistance
- Adding warnings in online booking tools (OBTs) and updating internal travel guidance
- Recommending reduced travel or exploring alternative markets.
European corporations are re-evaluating their transatlantic travel strategies in light of current US policies, including considering economic factors like potential tariff shifts and changing airline pricing, which could affect business travel budgets.
Patrick Diemer, BT4Europe Chairperson, commented: “Our members are sounding the alarm over the real and perceived risks their employees face when traveling to the United States.
“We urge the US administration to provide clarity, transparency, and fairness in their entry processes. Business travel is a cornerstone of transatlantic economic ties, and undue restrictions threaten both individual safety and corporate collaboration.”
Meanwhile, the GBTA survey found:
- 7% of buyer organisations have revised their corporate travel policies for travel to or from the US since January 2025, and another 25% say they are planning to or will consider doing so in the future. 64% are staying the course
- Up to 20% have or are considering cancelling, moving or pulling attendance from meetings and events located in the US
- 10% are planning or considering cancelling employee attendance at US events
- When it comes to relocating meetings or events from the US, a total of 14% say their organisation has already done so (8%) or is considering it (6%). Companies located outside of the US are three times more likely to relocate meetings to somewhere other than the US
- 29% of global travel buyers expect a decline in business travel volume at their companies in 2025, averaging a 21% decrease. Additionally, a fairly large portion of travel buyers (19%) are uncertain about what the impact will be of the US policy changes
- 27% of buyers now predict a 20% decrease on average in their business travel spending this year
- 37% of travel suppliers and travel management company (TMC) professionals anticipate a decline of 18% on average in related revenue.
“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 US Government,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA.
“Traveling for work plays a vital role in supporting business growth, resilient economies, strong diplomatic ties and valuable connections.
“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.”
