Business Travel Tips

According to a study released by Egencia — the Egencia’s 2010 Corporate Travel Forecast — average ticket prices (ATPs) for corporate travelers are expected to increase globally as average daily rates (ADRs) for business travelers are expected to increase only in Europe.

- North America
Several factors are likely to push corporate travel prices upward, including: the post-recession economy impacting corporate travel demand, airlines maintaining capacity discipline, and recent airline industry mergers, with average ticket prices (ATPs) anticipated to increase by 5 to 10 percent.
Conversely, average daily rates (ADRs) for business travelers are expected to stay flat or decrease up to 5 percent year-over-year for key cities.

- Europe
With European cities showing signs of positive growth, business demand will begin to increase in travel especially in finance markets, ATPs and ADRs in top European destinations for business travel are expected to rise slowly.

- Asia-Pacific
Corporate travel ATPs are expected to rise just slightly across Asia-Pacific cities due to increased demand outstripping supply. However, fewer business travelers to the region to mean lower to flat ADRs, with the exceptions of Sydney and Singapore,

- Travel management trends
Egencia surveyed more than 100 travel managers on cost control measures, travel spend and expectations for 2010. According to survey respondents, 59 percent say company travel has slightly or significantly reduced this year, compared with 48 percent a year ago in October 2008. Ten percent reported a slight increase in business travel compared with only 3 percent a year ago.

The top cost-cutting measures travel managers are using include:

Advanced booking of airline tickets (57 percent, up from 55 percent in fall 2008)
Rigorous enforcement of travel policy (52 percent, up from 44 percent)
Active tracking of unused tickets (45 percent, up from 44 percent)
Requiring pre-trip approval (44 percent, up from 43 percent)
(source)