GBTA Poll: Omicron Dampens Business Travel but Long-Term Outlook Remains Strong

New variant developments, government restrictions, and international policy inconsistencies are currently hindering a more accelerated return for global business travel. However, the industry continues to reflect progress and optimism in its long-view expectations for 2022, according to the latest poll from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the world’s largest business travel association and leader in education, research, networking and advocacy.

“Despite the wave of Omicron and the ripple of challenges it has created, there are positive signs, and industry professionals continue to be optimistic for the long-term outlook of global business travel,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA.

This poll is the 25th in GBTA’s COVID-19 Recovery series tracking the pulse of global business travel industry during the pandemic. Here are just a few of the January poll highlights:

• Three in four travel managers expect business travel volume at their company will be much (17%) or somewhat (58%) higher in 2022 than it was in 2021.
• Sixty-eight percent of GBTA member companies have not yet opened international travel, compared to 79% in the October 2021 GBTA poll, and 29% have not opened domestic business travel versus 38% in October.
• Six in ten (60%) suppliers/TMCs report their bookings from corporate clients decreased from the month prior. One in five (21%) characterize their bookings from corporate customers as having increased.
• When asked to compare Omicron and Delta variant concerns, 43% report they are either less worried about Omicron compared to Delta and 45% are equally concerned.
• When asked to name the single greatest barrier to business travel, 43% of survey respondents cited government policies that restrict travel or make it difficult (such as entry restrictions or mandatory quarantines).

You can read the full announcement and access poll results materials here.

Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations on six continents. GBTA’s 9,000-plus members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually, it is based in Alexandria, VA.