Two of the UK's major business travel associations are joining forces to draw up new payment models for the industry.
The Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC) and the Institute of Travel Management (ITM) will form an industry wide task force charged with "investigating, challenging and recommending remuneration models for the purchase of business travel in the future."
Among the issues the associations will look at will be transparency on pricing and relationship between buyers and suppliers.
They describe this last issue as a "hotly debated and moot point for the past few years."
The task force will consist of GTMC and ITM members and is expected to report at a specially convened joint seminar in May 2009.
Philip Carlisle, the GTMC's ceo, said: "We're seeking volunteers from the corporate buying field to join this important industry task force.
"We will want them to work with us using their data and experiences to run through alternative options and payment models and help us assess the results."
Paul Tilstone, ITM's executive director, said: "Both ITM and GTMC feel it's really important to act on the issues in this industry rather than continue to pontificate.
"We really don't know what the results will be but we hope they will throw up some real alternatives to help move this whole issue of remuneration models along."
* The GTMC also reported this week that its latest figures showed that business travel bookings for the first five months of 2008 were holding steady in the UK. A May survey revealed a growth in total transactions of 5% compared to the corresponding month last year. Year on year, 2008 was up by 12% in the number of transactions by GTMC members, showing that business remained "robust."
BA raises surcharge for business travellers
First and business class passengers on BA paying higher prices after the airline introduced a new fuel surcharge structure.
Under the new scheme which came into force last week, different classes will pay different charges.
The scheme is similar to one which Virgin Atlantic also introduced earlier this month.
Under the new BA structure, economy passengers on short haul will pay £16 while Club Europe flyers will pay £20.
On long haul flights under nine hours, the surcharge is £78 for economy, £88 for World Traveller Plus and £98 for Club World and First Class.
On long haul flights of more than nine hours, the new charges are £109 for economy, £121 for World traveller Plus and £133 for Club World and First.
There is also a set of new surcharges for Australia with economy flyers paying £129.50, World Traveller Plus flyers £141.50and Club World and First £153.50.
The revamped prices are based on the concept that passengers in premium seats burn more fuel.
BA has increased its fuel surcharge twice in the last two months.