by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:10 AM ET, Wed May 6, 2026
A new report sheds light on the changing landscape of group travel and showcases its resiliency in the face of global challenges.
The new “U.S. Group Travel Report: Strength Beneath the Surface,” was created by the U.S. Travel Association via a partnership with IMEX.
The report highlighted group travel in 2025, showing that international visitation declined, leading to a flat year marked by uncertainty and very little growth.
Data from the report found that 37% of international business travelers expressed a decreased willingness to visit the U.S. for work; 30% of industry professionals recognized instability as a major short-term issue; and 78% of frequent business travelers to the U.S. expressed concern about plans that the U.S. would heighten security screenings for international visitors.
Government-related meetings dropped “sharply” after the first quarter of the year, but overall group demand remained high.
In 2025, “market volatility became the ‘new normal,’” with demand for in-person connections remaining high. A slower summer led to a rebound in group travel activity in the fall.
“Travel is the industry that makes every other industry possible,” said Kevin Hinton, Managing Director of Group Travel. “Events move ideas. Being together in the same place builds trust. And group travel creates human connections that drive business, strengthen communities and shape the future.”
The report also identified some areas of growth expected in 2026, with smaller businesses reporting higher spending on business travel, a majority of executives hosting more in-person meetings, and growth in youth sports travel.
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