Global business travel is continuing at a steady pace into 2026, but geopolitical tensions have created a more cautious outlook going ahead, says the Global Business Travel Association.
According to GBTA’s April poll, 79% of business travellers cite geopolitical instability and conflict as a top travel-related risk, with 76% of buyers saying geopolitical conflicts are having a moderate or significant impact on their organisation’s business travel and meetings decisions.
Travel suppliers report even greater impact, with 83% indicating these conflicts are materially affecting their customers. Some 50% report route and itinerary changes, and 50% have sus pended all travel to/within a region.
GBTA ceo Suzanne Neufang says it is not a broad pullback from business travel, but a more deliberate and carefully managed approach to it.
“Organisations continue to travel and meet, and innovate, but they’re doing so while adapting to rising costs, operational friction and escalating geopolitical tensions.”
These pressures are reshaping how, where and why companies are traveling now, she adds.
. . . Optimism Falls
This has seen overall industry optimism weaken, with just 41% of global respondents saying they are optimistic about the business travel industry in 2026, down from 59% in Jan.
Some 82% say they are concerned about affordability of business travel going ahead, and 67% worried about employee safety when they are travelling. However, only 28% of buyers expect a drop in 2026 business travel and 41% anticipate their year-over year volume to remain unchanged, although 43% of buyers expect travel spending to increase.
Other notable finds from the poll include 38% of buyers saying they’re less likely to host multinational meetings in the US than they were six months ago, and 26% saying the current environment is shifting some meetings or events to virtual formats. See the full poll HERE.
