Members of the Guild of Travel Management Companies reported an 8% increase in transactions in the three months to September despite the deteriorating economy.
Quarterly rail and hotel bookings boomed compared with 2007, with rail bookings up 16% year on year and hotel transactions up 18%. Total rail bookings for the year to date are up by one-fifth and room bookings by almost one quarter.
Air travel also grew, but at only 2% over the year, and third-quarter car rental bookings were down 3% year on year.
GTMC chief executive Philip Carlisle said: “The results are remarkable. Clearly, British business sees corporate travel as a vital aspect of trading during a downturn.”
However, he added: “There are signs the fourth quarter will be more challenging.”