Business travel bookings grew by 9% in 2010 compared to 2009, new figures reveal, but only rail has returned to pre-recession levels.
The Guild of Travel Management Companies’ (GTMC) transaction survey also showed a lag in bookings in the final quarter.
While the number of transactions in Q3 grew by 10%, compared to the same period in 2009, Q4 figures showed a reduced growth of 6%.
Air travel grew by 7% in the quarter, compared to Q4 2009, while the number of transactions for car hire fell by 2%.
In the previous quarter, Q3 2010, air travel transactions grew by 12%, and car hire by 10%.
Anne Godfrey, the GTMC’s CEO, said the snow was to blame: “Had it not been for the adverse weather conditions in the final quarter we probably would have seen growth in every quarter of the year for 2010 and for each of the key segments of the sector – car hire, rail, air and hotels.”
Despite the Q4 figures, Godfrey said 2010 was “a good year” for business travel, although the figures came from a low base.
She said to expect a “gradual recovery” for the economy during 2011: “Clearly business travel is growing again and with some sectors, such as rail, getting back to 2008 levels the signs are promising.”
www.gtmc.org