- Details
- Category: Industry News
The latest poll from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)—the first of 2025—indicates that business travel professionals are expecting a productive year despite economic and geopolitical challenges. The Business Travel Outlook Poll of 2025 was conducted in late January and released in mid-February.
The findings come on the heels of a good year for business travel, as 71 percent of travel buyers reported an increase over 2023, besting predictions. Spending was also higher overall, especially in North America where 81 percent of travelers reported that their year-over-year spend increased in 2024. However, companies remain cost conscious, look to sustainable options, and give priority to technology and AI. Asia Pacific (APAC) travel buyers were the most optimistic of all the regions as 63 percent of respondents plan to spend “more” or “a lot more” this year, while 50 percent of European respondents indicated the same.
GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang
“As business travel continues to evolve, travel professionals must navigate a landscape shaped by technology transformation, geopolitical factors, and sustainability imperatives,” said GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang about the report. “The year’s first poll underscores an optimistic yet measured approach as companies balance growth with strategic investments in innovation, workforce needs, and sustainability efforts.”
Additional key findings:
- Nearly one-third (30 percent) of buyers are reevaluating or changing their Travel Management Company (TMC) in 2025, with four in ten (39 percent) citing dissatisfaction with TMC technology and 37 percent citing service quality concerns as key reasons.
- “Green” efforts aren’t dead as one-third (33 percent) of buyers expect increased investment in planet-focused sustainable travel practices, led by APAC (55 percent) and Europe (46 percent).
- Remote work policies continue to evolve. Even though half (51 percent) of GBTA stakeholders say their companies have not changed their policies from 2024, one-third (32 percent) report their companies have made work from home (WFH) policies stricter by requiring employees to be in the office more often.
- Hybrid work schedules are most prevalent in Europe, where 77 percent of business travel professionals report their company has a hybrid work policy for 2025, followed by APAC (62 percent), Latin America (58 percent), and North America (51 percent).
The full 36th GBTA poll results and key highlights can be viewed at gbta.org/research.
Visit gbta.org for more information.
[02.18.25]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
Forest River, a leading manufacturer of buses and vans, is proud to announce its recognition as Ford Motor Company’s Top Sold Volume Account in both the bus and mobility and motorhome segments for 2024. This prestigious accomplishment marks the second consecutive year earning this distinction for Forest River RV and continues a remarkable streak for Forest River Bus & Van, which has achieved this milestone every year since 2006.
This achievement underscores the strength of Forest River’s long-standing partnership with Ford and reflects a shared commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative transportation and recreation solutions to customers. Collaborating with Ford has enabled Forest River to equip customers with reliable vehicles that offer safe and superior performance.
“We are incredibly honored to once again be recognized as Ford’s top volume account in these key segments,” said Forest River Co-CEO David Wright. “This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our teams. Together, we continue to push the boundaries of innovation, ensuring our customers receive the best vehicle on the market.”
“We’re committed to further strengthening our relationship with Ford and continuing to set industry benchmarks in both sectors,” said Forest River Co-CEO Doug Gaeddert. “Forest River and Ford are two trusted names, and together we are building a new level of expectation and performance for our customers.”
Visit forestriverinc.com for more information.
[02.17.25]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
ABA President & CEO Fred Ferguson
More than 2,800 bus and tour professionals headed to the City of Brotherly Love for the recent 2025 ABA Marketplace, the annual show presented by the American Bus Association (ABA). The four-day event took place February 1-4 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
It also marked the first Marketplace under the guidance of new ABA President & CEO Fred Ferguson, who joined the association last year after the retirement of Peter Pantuso.
“Marketplace was unlike any show I've ever been to,” said Ferguson. “The private motorcoach and group travel industry is composed of a lot of small businesses, most of which are multi-generational, so you have this family feel where everyone knows each other. But Marketplace is also thousands of seven-minute appointments spread out over four days where these very small, fragmented businesses of operators and suppliers are able to essentially do a year's worth of sales meetings during the event. They're booking a lot of business.”
The event featured thousands of appointments between operators and suppliers
In addition to a vast array of products and services on its massive show floor, including all the major bus manufacturers, the event featured dozens of educational sessions, ABA council meetings, and networking events in and around the Philly region. In fact, Ferguson says that the event’s impact on the city was estimated to be $4.8 million.
“Philadelphia was an amazing host. It’s right on the I-95 corridor, where many legacy ABA members are, and there was a pretty impressive grassroots movement amongst operators, city council members, and the local Chamber of Commerce to get ABA to come to Philly. We worked very closely with Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Gregg Caren, who came to almost every one of our events and was always helpful. It was a really fun experience,” said Ferguson.
Attendees enjoy the Afterglow Party at the Hard Rock Café
Although the optimism from attendees was high, thanks to a strong return of tour business across the country, the event also coincided with the announcement of tariffs on Mexico and Canada by the Trump administration. As manufacturing is shared across the borders—parts like engines and transmissions are made in the US and shipped to Canada where the bus is assembled—the industry could be impacted with higher prices on metal.
“The biggest buzz at the show was the trade disputes between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Currently, there is no motorcoach manufacturing in the United States, but just north of the border in Canada, Prevost and MCI are two of the largest motor coach manufacturers. The proposed tariffs on Canadian imports of 25 percent are going to raise costs for the operators in significant ways, but we’re facing a double whammy when Canada announced that they're going to retaliate against the US with tariffs of their own,” said Ferguson.
Bus Industry Safety Council Chair Jeff Shanker of Black Tie Transportation
In a show of unity, Ferguson was joined by representatives from trade organizations Motor Coach Canada and United Motorcoach Association in a discussion on how they are working with elected officials to bring attention to the issue.
“As associations focused on the industry, both north and south the Canadian border, we're standing united, we're going to talk to Congress and the Executive Branch, and we're going to represent our industry together. The stronger our voice can be, and the more united our voice can be, the greater impact we can have with our lobbying and advocacy,” Ferguson said, who added that current efforts are going well and that the association is also taking the fight to the hospitality industry at large.
In fact, recent data released by the American Bus Association Foundation (ABAF), the research arm of the association, in conjunction with Tourism Economics found that motorcoach sales were up a solid 20 percent year-over-year in Q4 2024. You can read the report here.
“We’ve been meeting with members of Congress to talk about the tariff policy and have been featuring that number,” said Ferguson about the ABAF report. “Group travel is collectively a $100 billion a year industry. But in the larger landscape, we’re not as big as the airlines, hotels, and other industries, so the more we can join arms and speak as one, the more we can break through that noise and better represent our membership. That collaboration is extremely important.”
The 2026 ABA Marketplace is scheduled for January 10-13, 2026, in Reno, Nevada. Additional photos from this year’s event are available here.
Visit buses.org for more information.
[02.18.25]