Leading corporate travel companies reported a 5% increase in transactions in May over a year ago, suggesting no overall downturn in business travel despite the gloomy economic outlook.
However, there was a 1% fall in air travel year-on-year and a 4% decline in car hire bookings, indicating growth may have come to a halt.
The growth areas, according to latest figures from the Guild of Travel Management Companies, were in hotel bookings – up 22% in May year on year – and rail travel, up 13%. GTMC members handle about 80% of the UK’s corporate travel business.
Guild chief executive Philip Carlisle said: “Growth may be flattening, but there are as yet no signs of a critical reduction overall.” He pointed out last month had one working day fewer than May 2007.
The GTMC usually issues quarterly figures, but decided to release the monthly statistics in light of concern about the outlook for the sector.