The number of transactions made by GTMC members fell by 4 per cent in the first three months of 2013 compared to the previous year.
But despite this fall, the volume of bookings through the guild’s 38 TMC members is still 3 per cent higher over the last 12 months.
Air travel transactions fell by 3 per cent between January and March, while rail bookings slumped by 11 per cent year-on-year. Hotel sales were flat while there was a 7 per cent rise in car rental and a 4 per cent rise in other travel components.
The figures were included in the GTMC’s latest Quarterly Review which aims to show the link between TMCs’ air travel bookings and key economic indicators such as the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index.
GTMC chief executive Paul Wait said: “The views of the GTMC membership are quite clear – companies must invest in business travel if they wish to see their businesses grow out of recession. Business trips are a key driver of growth and this is clearly illustrated in the GTMC Quarterly Review.
“Three editions on from the launch of the first Quarterly Review, we have demonstrated that there is clearly a link between various economic indicators and the level of business travel activity. It is incumbent on policy makers, business owners and shareholders to take note and act accordingly.”
The GTMC said that it is forecasting that transactions during the second quarter of 2013 “should be flat or have a very small improvement”.
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