Global business travel is continuing at a steady pace into 2026, but with significantly more caution, less confidence and more operational complexity than at the beginning of the year.
That is according to a new study from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).
Organisations are still pressing forward with trips, spending and meetings, yet are doing so amid escalating conflicts, higher costs and growing disruption.
The shift can be seen across regions but is most pronounced in Europe, where industry pessimism now outweighs optimism as broader geopolitical conflicts are increasingly shaping travel routes, safety considerations, and meetings decisions worldwide.
Growing caution
The April GTBA business travel industry sentiment poll reflecting perspectives from over 500 corporate travel managers, travel suppliers and intermediaries worldwide.
“What we’re seeing 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,” said Suzanne Neufang, chief executive of GBTA.
“These pressures are reshaping how, where and why companies are traveling now, making experienced business travel professionals more critical than ever to keeping travelers safe, navigating risk and disruption, and controlling budgets so organisations and people can continue to connect and do business.”
Geopolitical tensions now the dominant concern
Geopolitical instability has become the most significant external risk influencing business travel decisions in 2026, according to April poll respondents.
Nearly eight in ten respondents (79 per cent) now cite geopolitical instability and conflict as a top travel-related risk, making it the industry’s leading concern globally.
The impact is especially visible in Europe, where more than nine in ten respondents (92 per cent) identify geopolitics as a primary risk, compared with 72 per cent in North America.
Confidence drops since January, especially in Europe
Overall industry optimism has weakened considerably since the start of the year.
Just 41 per cent of all global respondents say they are optimistic about the business travel industry in 2026, down from 59 per cent in January.
At the same time, the share expressing pessimism has nearly tripled, rising from nine per cent in January to 24 per cent of respondents in April, likely reflecting the heightened exposure to geopolitical instability, travel affordability pressures and overall disruption.
More Information
For more details and to access the full April 2026 GBTA poll results, visit the GBTA Research website.