Business travelers increasingly staying on the ground

February 23, 2009 |

Workers aren?t traveling to conferences for training and networking. Company meetings take place via conference call instead of in person. And when they do travel, corporate fliers are doing it on the cheap.

"Business travel is certainly down, there?s no question about it," said Lesley Harris, president of Travelocity Business, the corporate division of the Southlake-based online travel agent.

Worldwide, premium travel ? first- and business-class fares typically purchased by corporate fliers ? dropped more than 13 percent in December, according to the International Air Transport Association. The increase far outpaced the decline in coach-class fares, which dropped 5 percent during the month.

The decline in business travel is an ominous sign for the nation?s airlines. The major carriers traditionally earn a majority of their revenues from business fliers. That?s because corporate customers tend to pay more for last-minute refundable tickets, are more likely to fly in first or business class, and traditionally favor the most convenient schedules rather than the cheapest price.

Get the full story at Star-Telegram.com

Latest Industry News

Storytelling that drives direct hotel bookings
25 May, 2012 | Hotel Marketing

Yahoo! TimeTraveler: a travel app based on Flickr images
25 May, 2012 | Online Travel

TripAdvisor’s City Guide launches 30 new destinations
25 May, 2012 | Online Travel

Optimizing your hotel’s distribution strategy by channel
25 May, 2012 | Hotel Marketing

Focus in lodging recovery has turned to pricing
25 May, 2012 | Hotel Marketing

How to use discounts in online marketing
25 May, 2012 | Online Marketing

Social and mobile impact on travel sales ‘overhyped’
24 May, 2012 | Hotel Marketing

Mobile travel searches most often related to transportation
24 May, 2012 | Hotel Marketing

Google updates travel research library
24 May, 2012 | Hotel Marketing

8 ideas for improving your hotel’s Facebook timeline presence
24 May, 2012 | Hotel Marketing

Mobile marketing small but growing
24 May, 2012 | Online Marketing

Advanced social media - amateurs and agencies need not apply
24 May, 2012 | Online Marketing

The change in hotel search
23 May, 2012 | Hotel Marketing

Can Hertz shake up car sharing?
23 May, 2012 | Online Travel

Travel forecasts predict summer gains, fall uncertainty
23 May, 2012 | Hotel Marketing

E-Mail Newsletter


Visit our sponsors: