Travel Leaders (Anonymously) Speak Out on Trump’s Turbulent First 100 Days
Photo Credit: President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Gahr Store of Norway, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in the Oval Office. White House / Daniel Torok
Skift Take
“So very painful" sums up how many travel leaders are feeling on the first major milestone of the second Trump administration.
The first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term have left a mark. And not just for Washington insiders but the global travel industry as well.
What was sold as a business-forward administration, now feels more like a reputational liability, say travel executives around the world. The U.S., once the world’s most desirable destination, is increasingly being crossed off the itinerary.
Avid Skift readers will recall our Megatrend on what Trump 2.0 might mean for the industry. In December we surveyed a wide swath of travel executives and most expected the new administration to supercharge the economy. In short, Trump would be good for the travel business.
Now that we’re 100 days into Trump 2.0, we ran it back. Same question. Same three-word limit.
"What has the Trump administration meant for your part of the travel industry now that we're almost 100 days in?"
This time, the mood had soured. Here’s how it shook out:
63 responses. 24 CEOs. 60.3% negative. 22.2% neutral. 17.5% positive.The most common word in our survey? “Uncertainty.” And for an industry built on long-lead confidence – for bookings, hiring, and infrastructure – that’s not just a mood. It’s a margin killer.
Of note: this wasn’t an exact apples-to-apples comparis
