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Corporate travel accounts go online

February 16, 2004 |

The Internet's Big Three travel agencies are rapidly signing business clients and spurring competition in the corporate travel market.

The Internet’s Big Three travel agencies — powerhouses in vacation-travel bookings — are rapidly signing business clients and spurring competition in the corporate travel market.
Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity have gained more than 2,000 business clients since they began chasing corporate accounts in late 2002, based on interviews with the three companies’ executives.

Their progress is forcing traditional corporate travel agencies like Carlson Wagonlit and TQ3 to lower their fees, offer a la carte services previously available only in packages or make it easier for business travelers to book more trips online without any help from travel agents. The more trips that can be booked without agents’ help, the more companies save on service fees.

“Our revenue per transaction has gone down dramatically,” says Robin Schleien, president of Carlson Wagonlit Travel North America, “but from the clients’ perspective, it’s good because they’re saving money

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