GBTA Poll Shows U.S. Business Travel to Europe Remains Resilient Despite Paris Attacks

Last week GBTA President Christle Johnson issued a note to members expressing GBTA’s deepest sympathies for those impacted by the Paris attacks and noted that the business travel industry is resilient and we will continue to work together and stand strong. On Friday, the Chair of GBTA’s Risk Committee reflected on the Paris attacks and duty of care on the GBTA Blog and also provided resources for members.

In addition, GBTA surveyed U.S. travel buyers last week about their company’s travel to Europe and issued the statement below this morning regarding the survey:

GBTA Poll Shows U.S. Business Travel to Europe  Remains Resilient Despite Paris Attacks

Nearly three-quarters of U.S. business travel buyers say their company’s travel to Europe will remain largely unaffected by the recent attacks on Paris, according to a poll conducted by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) in the days following the attacks. A majority (57 percent) reported “no change” and another 16 percent reported only “slight reductions” in their company’s travel to Europe. Only 10 percent reported that they have temporarily suspended travel to Paris.

The vast majority of U.S. business travel buyers – 93 percent – believe that it is important that travel to Europe continue as usual despite the recent terrorist attacks on Paris.

“This initial survey shows the resiliency of business travel in the face of these horrific attacks,” said Michael W. McCormick, GBTA Executive Director and COO. “However, corporations, governments and the business travel industry must continue to work closely together to ensure a global travel system that is both safe and secure.”  

This survey of GBTA members was conducted online between November 18 and 20, 2015. In total, 169 U.S.-based travel buyers participated in the survey.