Business travel bookings up despite recession
Business travel in the UK increased in the first quarter of this year, despite the economy sliding back into recession.
Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC) said transactions from January to March were up 6% year on year, which was the strongest performance for 12 months.
Flight transactions remain flat, although sales and average values were both up year on year.
The growth in hotel bookings slowed to just 3%, but rail bookings were 14% ahead of last year.
Car hire bookings were up 10% and sales of other services, including ferries, visas and currency exchange, were also up 10%.
Chief executive Anne Godfrey said: "These first quarter figures are solid if unspectacular. However, they contrast with trends in leisure travel and recent GDP data which hints at a double-dip recession. Is business travel bucking the trend."
By Linsey McNeill
Have your say Cancel reply
Subscribe/Login to Travel Mole Newsletter
Travel Mole Newsletter is a subscriber only travel trade news publication. If you are receiving this message, simply enter your email address to sign in or register if you are not. In order to display the B2B travel content that meets your business needs, we need to know who are and what are your business needs. ITR is free to our subscribers.

































Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025