Companies have been spending more on business travel, the latest figures from travel and expense management company Concur reveal.
During the second quarter of 2011, the amount spend on air travel rose by 9.3% year on year, although that may be more indicative of rising air fares rather than rising demand, while hotel spend rose by 5.6%.
Ground transportation and entertainment also saw a rise in the quarter, of 5.9% and 4.9% respectively.
Business travellers are not splashing out more on eating out and car hire, however, according to Concur’s figures. Dining spend increased by 0.5% year on year, while car rental rose by only 0.3%.
Barry Padgett, Concur’s SVP and general manager for Europe, said the data “suggests businesses are taking a more relaxed approach to expense spending compared with last year”.
It shows the corporate world “remains commited to face-to-face interaction and social engagement with customrs, partners and coleagues”, said Padgett.
He added: “These activities are integral to doing business in any country, and whilst the austerity of recent years has taken its toll, t#s encouraging to see them rekindling.
“That being said, with the recent economic wobbly, Q3’s data may look slightly different.”