Good business news

A new survey and the world’s largest hotel operator agree: business travel should pick up this year. If that’s not enough good news, findings from the most recent National Tour Association member survey showed consistent business increases in each quarter of 2003. NTA tour operators have also reported that this trend of business growth should continue this year. Nearly three in four of business travel managers believe business will rebound significantly this year and next, according to another group, a survey of business travel professionals conducted by the National Business Travel Association. More than half, or 54%, predicted the recovery will come sometime this year. At the same time, JW Marriot, chairman and chief executive of Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel chain said he looks “forward to business travel demand building,” according to published reports. He predicted revenue per available room would rise in the US by three to four percent this year after a three-year slump.-David Wilkening-