Uncertainties in the global markets and low company earnings
compressed domestic business travel volume in March, according to the U.S.
Travel Association's Travel Trends Index, and the decline isn't over yet.
"Domestic business travel remains in negative territory
and will continue to underperform through the summer months," according to
the USTA.
U.S. business travel, including inbound international
travel, declined 3.2 index points year over year in March. An index score under
50 indicates a decline, and March's 48, compared with February's 49.6,
indicates a hastening decline in U.S. domestic business travel.
In contrast, domestic leisure travel increased about 1 point
year over year in March to 53.1; the higher-than-50 score is a sign that
leisure travel is rising, and USTA expects that to continue through mid-2016.
The association expects domestic business travel's
score to increase to 49.1 by September, but that still falls slightly below the
2015 level of 49.8.