Report: Business Travel Softening amid Economic Challenges

International conflicts and economic challenges are leaving meeting professions more pessimistic, according to a new report.

Released April 22, 2026, the Global Business Travel Association's Business Travel Outlook Poll is based on a survey of more than 500 business travel managers, suppliers and other related professionals, the majority of which (57 percent) are based in the United States.

According to the report, the optimism that marked the beginning of 2026 has faded in the wake of conflicts like the U.S./Israel/Iran war, a related rise in fuel costs and general concerns about the global economy. Overall optimism dropped from 59 percent to 41 percent between January and April, "as geopolitical conflict, fuel-price pressure, airline disruption, border complexity and security delays have all added friction at once," the report noted.

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