Is the United States Becoming Less Attractive for International Business Travelers in 2025 and What Does It Mean for Global Tourism and Corporate Events?

Sunday, May 18, 2025

In a surprising but significant shift, business travel to the United States dropped by 9% in April 2025, highlighting growing global unease with American economic and immigration policies. While the early part of the year showed promising growth in travel demand, April’s numbers suggest rising hesitancy among companies and professionals worldwide.

Data from the National Travel and Tourism Office shows that the number of business travelers entering the U.S. by air or ship declined considerably. The drop has been directly tied to geopolitical instability, economic anxiety, and increasing reports of difficulty at U.S. borders. What once was a top destination for corporate networking and international conferences is now being re-evaluated through the lens of risk and unpredictability.

Global Business Travel Trends: Winners and Losers

Middle East Shows Resilience

While most regions saw a downturn, the Middle East bucked the trend. Business travel from this region to the United States rose by 9.4% in April compared to the previous year. Experts suggest this growth is tied to ongoing commercial expansions and high-level government partnerships.

This resilience may also reflect the increasing role of Gulf countries in global investment strategies, and ongoing U.S.-Middle East collaboration in tech, real estate, and hospitality sectors. Several Middle Eastern firms have expanded their footprint in the U.S., maintaining a robust exchange of business travel even as other regions pull back.

Europe and North America Retreat

Western Europe saw the steepest decline, with business travel to the U.S. falling 17.7%. Canada and Mexico also posted double-digit declines, with Mexican business arrivals by air falling 11.8%. Canadian residents returning from business travel by air dropped 20%, while car travel plunged 35%.

Such steep reductions highlight not just economic fears, but growing dissatisfaction with U.S. foreign and domestic policies. Canadian exporters in particular are feeling the impact of American tariffs and increasingly tense cross-border interactions, deterring them from continuing once-frequent trips.

What’s Driving the Downturn?

Economic Volatility and Tariffs

One of the most significant deterrents to business travel has been rising economic uncertainty fueled by new U.S. tariffs. These trade measures, aimed primarily at Chinese and North American goods, are backfiring in the business travel space. They’ve introduced instability into supply chains and shaken confidence in cross-border deals.

With increasing caution in corporate budgets, travel has become an easy line item to slash. Travel managers are reassessing whether international business trips are justified amidst erratic trade regulations and costlier imports.

Border Policies and International Detention Fears

The Trump administration’s stricter border enforcement policies have had a chilling effect. Several reports have emerged of international business travelers being detained or subject to rigorous secondary screenings at points of entry.

Organizations like BT4Europe have warned that LGBTQ+ travelers, individuals of certain ethnic backgrounds, and those who’ve expressed dissenting political views online are facing greater scrutiny. These accounts are becoming serious factors in whether companies are willing to send staff to the U.S.

Impact on the United States Hospitality and Travel Economy

Hotels and Venues Losing Corporate Guests

The ripple effects of the business travel slump are being felt in the hospitality industry. Hotels, especially those catering to international conventions, are reporting higher vacancy rates. Convention centers in Las Vegas, Chicago, and Atlanta—typically buzzing in spring—are facing a disappointing 2025 event season.

Brett Sterenson, president of Hotel Lobbyists, noted that clients from Africa, Asia, and Latin America are canceling bookings for United States -based conferences. “The optics and logistics just don’t make sense for many organizations anymore,” he said.

Airlines Adjusting Expectations

Airlines, too, are taking notice. Many major U.S. carriers have revised or withdrawn their revenue forecasts for 2025. Weak demand, especially among business-class and premium economy travelers, has prompted several route suspensions and capacity reductions.

Leisure travel has seen a mild bump—up 13.8% in April due to the late Easter holiday—but the short-term gain is unlikely to offset long-term concerns. With airlines relying heavily on business fares for profitability, these trends are deeply concerning.

Forecast: What Lies Ahead for United States Business Travel?

Advance Bookings Point to Ongoing Decline

According to Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, advance bookings from Europe to 14 major U.S. cities are down 12% for the summer months. This includes key hubs like New York, San Francisco, and Houston, where international conferences and trade fairs often drive economic activity.

Such figures indicate that April’s drop wasn’t an isolated blip. If travel doesn’t rebound by the third quarter, the U.S. risks a sustained decline in international business arrivals—an outcome that could reshape global travel patterns.

Industry Voices Urge a Strategic Reset

Industry leaders are calling for a serious reassessment of current travel policies and economic priorities. Leslie Andrews, a board member at the Global Business Travel Association Foundation, commented, “What I’m hearing is, ‘Things were okay in Q1, but now it’s only essential trips. Companies are pulling back, hard.’”

Suzanne Neufang, CEO of the Global Business Travel Association, added that nearly a third of surveyed members expect a drop in business travel this year. Among Canadian respondents, that figure climbs to a staggering 71%.

The Larger Cost: Lost Influence and Missed Opportunities

One consequence of the decline that doesn’t show up in visa statistics is the erosion of American soft power. U.S. government-funded international exchange programs are down by 75% due to budget cuts. These programs previously brought professionals from developing nations to U.S. cities to collaborate on energy, health, and governance.

Sterenson, who coordinates bookings for many of these programs, noted their importance in building long-term diplomatic and economic goodwill. “It’s not just lost revenue—it’s lost reputation,” he said.

In the corporate world, suppliers and buyers are increasingly shifting their focus to more stable and accessible markets. Canada’s Kevin Haggarty, who frequently visited U.S. trade shows, has already redirected his purchasing efforts to European sources. “It’s unfortunate,” he said, “but the U.S. is just not viable for my business anymore.”

Key Takeaways for the Global Travel Industry

• United States business travel dropped 9% in April 2025.
• Business arrivals from Western Europe declined by 17.7%.
• Canadian business air travel fell 20%; car travel dropped 35%.
• Bookings from Europe to U.S. cities are projected to fall 12% in summer 2025.
• The Middle East was the only region to report growth (+9.4%).

Call to Action

Have you or your organization adjusted business travel plans due to U.S. policy shifts or economic volatility? What would it take to restore your confidence?

Final Thoughts: Time for Rebuilding Confidence

The United States remains a key player in global commerce—but to stay relevant, it must recognize and respond to the evolving expectations of international travelers. Restoring confidence will require policy reforms, economic stability, and a commitment to respectful, predictable engagement with visitors.

Until then, the world’s business travelers are taking their meetings, partnerships, and investments elsewhere.