GBTA Welcomes the End of Government Shutdown and Calls for Ongoing Bi-Partisan Co-operation to Prevent Further Shutdowns

GBTA welcomes the news that the United States Congress has passed a continuing resolution to reopen the government through January 30 and provide backpay to federal workers.

“It’s reassuring to see things moving in the right direction. The impact of the shutdown has been of huge concern to our members, with U.S. travel management company members polled only this week increasingly concerned about TSA mandated flight reductions at major U.S. airports. We hope that flight schedules will quickly return to normal,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA. “Productive business travel is a cornerstone of a healthy U.S. economy as well as relationship building in times of economic uncertainty. Going forward, we hope Congress can continue this collaboration as they revisit the budget at the end of January.”

The past 43 days have led to concerns across the business travel sector which plays an important role in the lives of Americans and the U.S. and global economies. Business travel is a critical contributor to the U.S. economy, contributing $421 billion annually in direct spending according to GBTA’s 2024 U.S. Economic Impact Study. As the U.S. government resumes critical federal operations in the travel sector, the association remains committed to working with policymakers to support the millions of corporate travelers and corporate travel professionals who depend on U.S. travel infrastructure.

With the signing of the continuing resolution, the association looks forward to continued bi-partisan cooperation as the government reevaluates the federal budget over the coming months.

Demonstrating the scale of concern across the sector, according to a recent GBTA member poll, virtually all travel management company professionals (94%) polled reported being concerned about flight cancellations at major U.S. airports as a result of the government shutdown, including 67% who were very concerned. The results were similar on the supplier side where 97% of suppliers expressed concerns over cancellations, with 63% reporting to be very concerned.

Industry Spotlight

GBTA + VDR Europe Conference 2025 in Hamburg Spotlights Advocacy, Innovation and Resilience in European Business Travel

Business travel’s evolving landscape and the drive toward a more sustainable future took center stage this week at the GBTA + VDR Europe Conference 2025 in Hamburg. From 10–12 November, the CCH – Congress Center Hamburg hosted one of Europe’s largest gatherings of business travel and meetings professionals, where industry leaders, practitioners and innovators came together to share insights, tackle emerging challenges and chart a course for what’s next in corporate travel.

This year’s event welcomed more than 1,200 attendees, including 326 travel buyers and 65 exhibitors representing 40 countries. The 2025 Conference also celebrated 11 years of collaboration between GBTA and the German Business Travel Association (VDR), underscoring a continued commitment to advancing knowledge, connections and progress across the European business travel industry.

Read more about the Conference here.

GBTA Convention 2026
Call for Reviewers

GBTA Members: Do you want to help shape the education sessions at next year’s Convention? Apply to be a peer reviewer! You’ll evaluate proposals, share your insights, and help guide the program at the premier global event for the business travel industry. Applications are open through December 1, 2025.

Not a GBTA Member? Join today to access exclusive benefits and grow your network.

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