About 40 percent of corporate travel professionals are
feeling a direct impact, particularly in travel cancellations, from the U.S.
federal government shutdown, according to a Global Business Travel Association
online poll conducted this week of 257 of its members.
Of those respondents who reported a direct impact, almost 60
percent cited canceled meetings or business opportunities in the United States,
about half have seen canceled bookings, and about half noted delayed or
canceled contracts with government agencies, according to the Oct. 8 poll.
About a third indicated they have reduced staff because of slower business
activity.
Two-thirds of all poll respondents expressed concerns that a
prolonged shutdown would hurt their business.
"The shutdown is damaging productivity and leading to
lost business opportunities and revenue that can't be recovered,"
according to GBTA executive director and COO Michael McCormick. "The
uncertainty hurts employee morale, holds back business growth and, if not
stopped, can easily deliver a serious blow to the overall global economy."
Hotels in Washington, D.C., are reporting lower occupancies amid the shutdown, according to data released this week by STR.