The business travel forecast: less luxe

It's forecast time in the travel industry, the time of year the big players reveal their visions for the coming 12 months. For business travel, some of the future is already here; many travel managers have already negotiated deals for the coming year, setting the trends in advance.

And the news is generally good - unless you were hoping to get back to the age of unlimited $35 room-service omelettes and $20 martinis in the hotelbar.

One thing everyone agrees on: The recession was scary enough to influence decisions into next year. According to the National Business Travel Association of Canada, the number of companies implementing strict travel policies is up 14 per cent from last year. That means more economy flights, hotel downgrades and advance bookings, and a continued need for managed travellers to prove their trips are worth the expense.

'Our travel managers and our clients have told us that this is the new normal,' says Nikki Germany, the new director of Egencia Canada, Expedia's business travel arm. 'They've taken a really hard look at their travel policies - in some cases at aspects of their travel spending they haven't looked at in quite a while.'

This could spell more trouble for premium hotel brands, with their premium perks and prices.

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Source - Globe and Mail

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