Business travel sales still moving on up
Air sales are up for the sixth consecutive quarter for the UK’s travel management companies.
The third quarterly review from the Guild of Travel Management Companies found air transactions have grown 2% for the first three quarters year on year.
During the third quarter, hotel transactions have increased by 7%, rail by 8% and car hire has seen the biggest increase of 21% year on year.
"This indicates that it is the SME sector driving growth in the business travel market which typically has stronger demand for domestic and short haul, rather than international and long haul travel," said the GTMC.
Chief executive Paul Wait added: "Business travel has maintained its resilience with an increase in the last two quarters, despite a fall in business confidence. Whilst the growth in rail, hotel and car rental transactions is good news for the domestic travel providers, demand for exports from our international trading partners has fallen and demand for long haul travel has slowed.
"There are signs that for UK businesses to continue to realise their growth potential due diligence must be paid to the international economy. Not least because any indications of growth in the Eurozone are currently poor. We would urge companies to increase long haul travel, particularly to emerging markets."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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