United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
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
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel