‘Consistent’ recovery in biz travel
More than three million bookings were taken by the UK’s leading travel management companies in the first quarter of the year.
The rise – up 11% on the previous quarter and eight per cent up on the same three months last year – is the highest quarterly level achieved since 9/11.
The figures represent bookings made by members of the Guild of Travel Management Companies.
Only car hire bookings were down in the three months, while air travel, rail and hotels, and ancillary services such as travel insurance were all up.
Car rental bookings slumped 18% year-on-year, while air was up six per cent to more than 1.5 million. Hotel bookings rose by 22% and rail bookings were up by four per cent to 542,322.
The group’s chief executive Philip Carlisle said: “The number of air travel transactions is particularly gratifying. Not only has the GTMC passed the 1.5 million mark, but it is also the fourth consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth; clear evidence of consistent recovery within the corporate travel industry.”
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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