Travel managers and buyers have seen their travel budgets suffer after the travel chaos caused by the volcanic ash cloud, revealed a global survey by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE).
Some 71% of respondents said they have taken a "substantial" hit on their travel spend for 2010. Of this percentage, 36% described the unanticipated expenses as "severe".
The majority (61%) said the greatest challenges arose from stranded passengers and cancelled meetings.
Chris Crowley, ACTE's president elect, said: "Travel management resources are being stretched to the limit as every effort is being made to return travellers to their families.
"It is important to note that the financial factor s of this crisis have a special significance in the light of the fragile global economic recovery for business in general and business travel in particular."
A high percentage (44%) warned that expense claims from travellers who had been stranded abroad would be reviewed on a case by case basis, while 10% said they would not reimburse travellers for "additional" expenses.
However, the unexpected costs won't force companies to travel less in 2010, said 76%.
www.acte.org