Lingering COVID restrictions and a patchwork approach to reopening across the country will prevent US business travel segment from recovering until at least 2024, according to a tourism economics analysis released this week by the US Travel Association (USTA).

According to the USTA, due to the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, spending on travel for large, in-person professional meetings and events (PMEs) declined by 76% last year – a US$97 billion loss in spending.

With vaccinations and infection rates in the US trending favourably, restrictions lowered, and traveller confidence rebounding, domestic leisure travel is projected to reach 99% of its pre-pandemic peak in 2022 and to grow steadily thereafter.

However, according to the report, in the absence of clear and consistent guidance from federal health authorities on PMEs, business-related travel is not expected to recover its pre-pandemic volume for an additional two years. Only about a third (35%) of US businesses are currently engaging in any business-related travel.

Moreover, a staggering 65% of all US jobs lost in 2020 were supported by travel, says the USTA, adding, they cannot fully recover without a swift return of all segments of travel, particularly in-person PMEs, according to the analysis.

One of the major factors in the slow return of PMEs, argues USTA, is the uneven patchwork of guidance that currently governs large gatherings from jurisdiction to jurisdiction nationwide.

To that end, the association is urging the adoption of federal guidance that is clear and consistent—and that recognizes that health and safety measures can be more readily implemented at PMEs than at other forms of large gatherings.

The position is supported, says USTA by an Ohio State University white paper that includes evidence-based analysis – focused on a scientific review of proven health and safety measures substantiated over the last year – showing that it is safe to return to conducting and attending PMEs. The paper differentiates PMEs from other large gatherings, noting that PMEs offer a controlled environment that allows for scientifically proven safety measures.

Polling indicates that 85% of American workers view in-person events as “irreplaceable,” and 81% who attended work-related PMEs before the pandemic miss doing so and are likely to attend such events in the future.

“A thriving travel industry – and the broader US economy – are dependent on the return of business travel and PMEs,” says US Travel president and CEO Roger Dow. “Americans are eager to reconnect with colleagues in person, via business meetings, conferences and conventions, and these scientific analysis and recommendations make clear it is possible and safe to do so. A consistent approach to reopening PMEs, including guidance from the CDC that differentiates PMEs from other large gatherings, is critical to infusing confidence and optimism into this key sector of our economy.”

To support the return of professional meetings and events, a coalition of travel industry businesses and organizations, under the US Travel Association umbrella, launched an initiative yesterday called “Let’s Meet There” to advance the full and safe reopening of the business travel sector.