Business travel spending is expected to see a robust year in 2014 fueled by steady corporate profits, increases in business investment and an improving U.S. economy, reports the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). However, the ongoing government shutdown and potential default could derail progress and is already impacting business travel sentiment, GBTA warns.
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The final GBTA BTI Outlook – United States of the year, sponsored by Visa, Inc., forecasts that total U.S. business travel spending should grow by 7.2 percent in 2014, reaching $288.8 billion. Reversing a 2013 decline in trip volume, total trips taken should grow by 1.6 percent to 459.2 million.
But a GBTA survey of more than 250 business travel professionals finds that two-thirds of respondents (66%) are concerned that their business will be negatively impacted by a shutdown longer than one week. A potential U.S. government default is a serious concern for 59 percent of respondents,GBTA reports.
“The business travel industry is a key driver of the U.S. economy, and business travel is looking at a strong rebound year in 2014. The current government shutdown and potential default couldn’t have come at a worse time. Just as we’re finally turning a corner, all of these gains are being put at risk,” said Michael W. McCormick, GBTA executive director and COO.
“We strongly urge Congress to recognize the damage caused by these unnecessary disruptions to U.S. business travel and keep our country open for business," McCormick said.
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To date, 40 percent of respondents say the shutdown has already impacted them, their company and or their company’s employees. Of those who reported feeling an effect, the top three impacts were:
· Cancelled meeting or business opportunities in the United States – 57%
· Increased uncertainty about the economy – 57%
· Cancelled bookings – 50%
2014 Outlook is Positive – For Now: GBTA currently expects that 2014 spending will be strong across all categories of business travel:
· International outbound spending should increase by 12.4% to $36.6 billion on a 7.2% increase in trips.
· Group travel spending should increase by 7.2% to $124.1 billion on a 1.5% increase in trips.
“If we can keep our economy on track, we should see robust international outbound growth, and emerging markets in regions like Latin America, Asia and the Middle East should see a growing percentage of U.S. traffic. The outlook for meetings is also a positive sign, because these are longer-lead spending decisions that businesses only make if they’re feeling more confident about the direction of the economy and their own growth prospects,” McCormick added.
In 2014, both international outbound travel and the meetings and events sector are forecast to turn in their strongest growth since 2011. “As the world’s largest business travel market, the forecasted growth in the U.S. market in 2014 is good news for business travel industry buyers and suppliers,” said Tad Fordyce, head of global commercial solutions at Visa, Inc.
The GBTA BTI is a proprietary index of business travel activity. Growth in the index picked up over the first two quarters of 2013 and should continue to gain momentum over the forecast horizon. The index is expected to continue rising, reaching 127 by the end of 2013.
While some of the gains in 2013 can be attributed to price growth in hotel costs and airfares, GBTA said it expects real travel spending growth to be stronger in 2014, represented by an increase in the BTI to 136 by year-end 2014.
Visit www.gbta.org