Proposed U.S. Entry Requirements Could Wreak Havoc on Meetings and Events

Meeting planners and trade show organizers remain hopeful that significant changes proposed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) applying to business travelers from the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries will either be dialed back or get caught up in red tape.

Most citizens from these countries (including the UK, EU/Schengen countries, South Korea, and Japan) can enter the U.S. for short stays without a visa, if they obtain Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval. 

If the changes go through, ESTA applicants would be required to provide:

• Social media accounts from the last five years.
• Names, phone numbers, birthdays, residences, and place of birth of family members, including parents, spouse, siblings, and children.
• Biometrics including “face, fingerprint, DNA, and iris” (though it is unclear how these would be obtained)
• Personal and business telephone numbers used in the last five years.
• Personal and business emails used in the last 10 years.

The 60-day period for the public to submit comments about the proposed changes ended on February 9, and CBP and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are currently reviewing the feedback. There is no published timeline for the review, but if the process follows standard procedure, a finalized proposal could be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget as soon as May. There, it could be approved, revised, or denied.

CES Speaks Out

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), owner and producer of the technology trade show giant CES, is speaking out against potential repercussions, and has sent a letter to CBP and DHS urging them to withdraw or pause the revisions. It pointed to World Travel & Tourism Council research indicating that the proposed policy could reduce international arrivals from ESTA-eligible markets by up to 23.7%, resulting in $15.7 billion in lost visitor spending and putting an estimated 157,000 American jobs at risk.

CTA President Kinsey Fabrizio expressed particular concern with the multiyear social media disclosure, saying it “introduces substantial privacy, operational, and procedural uncertainties without clear safeguards or a phased implementation plan. It is already creating confusion and uncertainty among international exhibitors, buyers, and media, with the potential to deter lawful, low-risk travelers.” 

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has also filed formal comments with CBP. Its January poll of 571 travel industry professionals across 40 countries found that the proposed measure would have a widespread impact on incoming meeting and business travelers.

A significant number of respondents (43%) said they expected their companies would take their meetings outside of the U.S. if the proposed changes were enacted. More than three-quarters (78%) of the respondents who regularly send employees to the U.S. reported that they were “very” (42%) or “somewhat” (36%) concerned, and 63% of respondents expect the changes would result in a higher cost of doing business in the U.S.

GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang says that many EU business travelers may refuse to provide the newly required information, viewing it as incompatible with GDPR and personal privacy norms. “The anticipated reduced willingness to travel to the U.S. could harm trade, investment, and face-to-face collaboration, key drivers of economic growth.”

All eyes are on the FIFA World Cup 2026, which could be significantly disrupted. During the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2026, CBP reports that it approved more than 1 million ESTA authorizations for travelers to the July event.

However, like many others, one tourism executive from the EU who visits the U.S. regularly to attend trade shows said he’s watching the developments closely and would be uncomfortable traveling here if they are approved. “Sharing my social media and details about my family?" he said. "That’s going too far.”