More than a quarter of business travel buyers said they had more money to spend in 2010 and more than a third will book more trips, according to a new survey.
Some 1400 business travel managers recently surveyed by the Business Travel and Meetings Show revealed an optimistic outlook for the start of the new decade, with 76% of those polled saying they thought the recession would end by the end of the year.
Figures showed 27% of budgets will be boosted for 2010 and 35% of buyers will arrange more trips. Four in ten buyers will manage the same amount of trips in 2010 and just a quarter will make fewer bookings.
However, there was still a feeling that belts would continue to be tightened. A whopping 81% said they had little choice but to adopt stricter pricing policies, with 44% saying they will book lower class airline tickets and 22% lower quality accommodation. Meanwhile 46% plan to increase their use of video conferencing.
Business Travel & Meetings Show events director David Chapple said: “The business travel industry has been through a very bumpy ride over the last 18 months, so these survey results are a much needed glimmer of optimism as we enter a new decade: a sign that things are back on track and we are heading in the right direction.
“But what the survey also makes clear is that, while budgets and travel plans are stabilising and in some instances growing, managers are still facing huge pressure from the board room to get more for their money.”
By Dinah Hatch
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Business Travel
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