More than half of UK buyers expect an increase in business travel costs in 2014, according to a study published today.
In the latest Global TrendLetter from corporate card firm Airplus, 54 per cent of buyers in the UK expect travel expenditure to rise.
The study of 958 buyers worldwide gave their predictions of how the number of trips and costs will change over the next 12 months.
It found 42 per cent of buyers worldwide expect business travel costs to rise in 2014, this is up from 39 per cent in 2013.
The study found as well as an increase in travel costs around 30 per cent of buyers worldwide expect an increase in business trips in 2014 compared to the previous year.
The study showed more than half (58%) of respondents said the current economic environment had no bearing on their travel costs, with a third claiming it has a negative effect on their policies.
The Airplus study also found more than a third of companies worldwide have increased their travel budget or allowed longer business trips, compared to the previous year.
Globally some 12 per cent of buyers are experiencing a positive effect on business travel due to the current economic situation, with 68 per cent claiming they have increased the amount of trips taken.
The Airplus Global TrendLetter survey was conducted in late 2013. 958 travel managers were surveyed in 24 countries.