Business Travel Tips

Andy McGraw, senior vice president and general manager, American Express Business Travel, says that Europe is narrowing the gap with the U.S.A. in terms of online booking and expense management.

Based on the European Travel Management Technology Survey recently carried out by American Express Business Travel, he says that 58 percent of air booking from companies headquartered in Europe expected to be made online in 2006.

Among the findings from the study:
- The average number of air tickets booked online has increased by 70% from 2004.
- 42% of respondent companies have introduced online booking systems since 2004; another 25% plan to buy online travel management systems within the next year.
- 48% of respondents committed to directing business travelers to the approved travel agency websites in 2006.
- The number of European expense reports filed online has increased by 20% from 2004.
- Online air bookings and travel expense reports will account for the majority of respondent company booking and expense reports.

McGraw adds American Express Business Travel has received a very positive feedback on the e-solution for negotiating corporate meeting venues launched earlier this year.

Then, he refers to a study conducted by the independent Online Travel Benchmarking Group, a division of travel advisory firm Harrell Associates, which found that American Express Business Travel is the Best-in-Class for the lowest airfares available online when compared to the public fares of the main online corporate travel booking tools in France, Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

And for USA, The Online Travel Benchmarking Group has found that American Express Business Travel offers the lowest business travel rates available online when compared to the public fares of three U.S. online agencies — Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity. (Source)