{"id":14739,"date":"2025-07-25T12:08:22","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T16:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cardinus.com\/us\/?p=14739"},"modified":"2026-03-10T06:05:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T10:05:17","slug":"business-travel-turbulent-times-rethinking-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cardinus.com\/us\/business-travel-turbulent-times-rethinking-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Travel in Turbulent Times: Rethinking Risk"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text margin_bottom=”0″ css=”.vc_custom_1773137115613{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]In the recent past, business travel carried a sense of routine. It was more about productivity and time zones than geopolitics. But today, the rules have changed \u2014 and dramatically so.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Following a long tail of foreign policy disruptions, including escalating trade tensions with China, fractured relationships with long-standing allies, and isolationist rhetoric, outbound US travel safety concerns are on the rise, complicating business travel.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, we explore the new normal of cross-border business travel for American workers – and what businesses need to know to protect their globe-trotting representatives moving forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Business Travel Safety Is Shifting<\/b><\/h2>\n

1. Anti-American Sentiment<\/span><\/h3>\n

While anti-American attitudes have simmered in parts of the world for years, the current administration\u2019s policies\u2014tariffs, travel bans, and diplomatic isolationism\u2014are exacerbating long-standing grievances.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A recent survey<\/a> issued by Dragonfly shows that US favorability is decreasing dramatically across Europe:
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\"A<\/b><\/h2>\n

Source: <\/span><\/i>Dragonfly<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just that the rise of anti-American sentiment abroad can increase the chances of confrontation and\u2014to a lesser degree\u2014physical threat for US travelers, as touched upon in a <\/span>recent article<\/span><\/a> in The Seattle Times. It\u2019s also that travelers are concerned over how they\u2019ll be perceived upon arrival – causing anxiety and hesitation before tickets are even booked.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to several travel advisors, clients have grown hesitant to travel to certain European and Latin American destinations not because of the destinations themselves \u2014 but because of how they might be perceived when they arrive.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even well-traveled employees who usually jump at an opportunity to fly across borders for a conference meeting may have concerns about their safety that they had never considered before.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s unrealistic\u2014and potentially harmful\u2014to expect that all employees feel comfortable traveling as usual in today\u2019s geopolitical climate. Without open dialogue and support, they may feel compelled to prioritize business over their own safety.<\/span><\/p>\n

As this anxiety grows, so does the responsibility for employers. Under duty of care obligations, organizations are legally and ethically required to protect their employees from foreseeable risk\u2014including psychological stress and the potential for harm while traveling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When geopolitical tensions, hostile sentiment, or entry delays become credible threats, ignoring those signals doesn\u2019t just endanger individuals\u2014it exposes the entire organization to reputational damage, compliance failures, and liability.<\/span><\/p>\n

Businesses can\u2019t afford to treat travel hesitations as individual discomfort. They must be acknowledged as emerging indicators of risk that demand a response\u2014through updated policies, specialized training, and a more human-centered approach to travel management.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. The Rise in Detentions and Border Harassment<\/span><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s not just the leaving that\u2019s giving American business travelers pause \u2014 but the returning as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Travelers returning to the US are increasingly finding that re-entry is no longer guaranteed to be seamless\u2014or safe. Multiple high-profile incidents have emerged in which US citizens and lawful permanent residents have been detained or questioned for hours by border agents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Federal officials have insisted such detentions are lawful and routine. But for travelers, that distinction offers little comfort. According to travel advisor Tamara Lidbom, lawful permanent residents are now canceling international trips outright, fearing they\u2019ll be refused re-entry or held up without explanation.<\/span><\/p>\n

In an <\/span>interview with the BBC<\/span><\/a>, corporate traveler Mary S.\u2014who withheld her full name over privacy concerns\u2014shared that she had cancelled a planned conference trip to Canada, citing fears of harassment at the border. <\/span>\u201cThere\u2019s no way I\u2019m going anywhere near an airport or border crossing,\u201d<\/span><\/i> she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Employees who once traveled confidently across borders are now questioning the personal risks involved, including being targeted for their background, beliefs, or political views.<\/span><\/p>\n

Without acknowledging these concerns, organizations may find themselves unprepared for a sharp drop in travel readiness among staff \u2014 especially among those who feel especially vulnerable to scrutiny. And if travel policies don\u2019t adapt, companies risk failing their duty of care obligations.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Air Travel Confidence Is Eroding<\/span><\/h3>\n

Even before takeoff, anxiety is building. Recent staffing shortages and equipment failures at major US airports\u2014especially Newark\u2014have led to a rise in flight disruptions and serious safety concerns. Reports of air traffic control rooms operating at one-quarter staffing levels have prompted warnings from aviation experts and pilots alike.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though overall aviation fatalities remain low, perception is powerful. Social media discussions about near-misses, technical failures, and flight anxiety have surged on platforms like Reddit and X, <\/span>according to data from Storyful<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is particularly alarming for business travelers, who often have rigid schedules and tight itineraries. Travel isn\u2019t just about making the meeting anymore\u2014it\u2019s about whether you can arrive safely and without significant psychological stress.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Civil Unrest and Unpredictable Flashpoints<\/span><\/h3>\n

Protests used to be isolated events\u2014now, they\u2019re global, decentralized, and fast-moving. Whether sparked by domestic politics, economic pressures, or international conflict, mass demonstrations can erupt in major cities with little warning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Business travelers are especially vulnerable. They\u2019re often unfamiliar with local languages and laws, unaware of protest hotspots, and visibly associated with foreign entities. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn quickly, and local transportation, communications, and emergency services are often overwhelmed during these events.<\/span><\/p>\n

Organizations that don\u2019t prepare their employees for these scenarios are taking a calculated risk\u2014with consequences that can include not just personal harm, but reputational and legal fallout<\/span><\/p>\n

Are These Concerns Having a Material Impact on Business Travel?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A recent <\/span>Guild of Business Travel Association (GBTA) survey<\/span><\/a> underscores how dramatically the corporate travel landscape has shifted in just a few months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While two-thirds of professionals were optimistic about 2025 as recently as November 2024, that number has plunged to 31% amid new tariffs, travel restrictions, and detentions at US borders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Almost one-third of travel buyers now expect their company\u2019s business travel volume to shrink by an average of 20%. And with nearly half of all respondents citing documentation hurdles and employee reluctance to travel, companies are not only facing logistical roadblocks, but a clear breakdown in employee trust.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Current Travel Safety Standards Aren\u2019t Good Enough<\/b><\/h2>\n

Despite mounting American travel safety risks and growing employee hesitation, many organizations are still relying on outdated or overly generic travel safety policies\u2014policies that weren\u2019t designed for today\u2019s level of geopolitical volatility, nor the deeply personal nature of modern travel anxieties.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most corporate travel protocols still focus on logistics\u2014flight delays, insurance, hotel safety\u2014and overlook the more nuanced threats emerging now:<\/span><\/p>\n