When asked "Which hotel category would you say the majority of your business travel clients book?" 7

Plymouth, MN (September 25, 2014) — Today, Travel Leaders Group provided survey data specific to its business travelers in which nearly 86% of those polled alaska airlines credit card stated business travel bookings are better than or on par with this time last year – in fact, there was a 3.3% increase in those stating year-over-year bookings are higher. Additional findings indicated a double-digit increase in the number of Travel Leaders Group business travel agents stating that “11% or more” of their business travel alaska airlines credit card airline bookings are in First or Business Class. The survey also revealed an uptick in agents stating a majority of their business travel clients are selecting “Luxury” and “Upper Upscale” categories of hotel accommodations.
This data on business travel is based on responses from 346 U.S.-based travel agency owners, managers and frontline travel agents who indicated that 50% or more of their portfolio is made up of business travelers. These results are part of the larger 2014 Fall Travel Trends Survey conducted by Travel Leaders Group from August 4 August 29, 2014, in which 1,054 travel agent experts from the flagship Travel Leaders brand, along with those affiliated with Travel Leaders Group’s Cruise Holidays, Cruise Specialists, Luxury Travel Network, Nexion, Protravel International, Results! Travel, Travel Leaders Corporate, Tzell Travel Group and Vacation.com units participated.
“The data in our survey represents a well-rounded look at business travelers nationwide and across alaska airlines credit card our different travel agency groups.  We are particularly encouraged to see continued growth in the number of business travel bookings year-over-year, which leads us to two conclusions: economically, businesses are bullish on their economic futures and these clients see additional value in working with top-level travel management companies as part of their corporate strategy,” stated Travel Leaders Group CEO Barry Liben. “A nearly 11% increase in those polled stating that more than 1-in-10 of their business travelers are booking either First or Business Class airline tickets is another indicator alaska airlines credit card of economic alaska airlines credit card confidence. Whether or not our business clients are flying in the ‘front of the plane,’ we take a very strategic approach in reviewing, analyzing and managing their business travel programs and policies to continue providing the utmost return on investment on their travel spending.”
When asked “For your 2014 year-to-date business travel air bookings, what percentage of clients alaska airlines credit card are purchasing ‘front of the cabin’?” two-thirds (66.8%) of survey participants indicated over 10% of their clients are flying in the front of the plane, which is an increase of 10.9% compared alaska airlines credit card to last year. This can be attributed to a lack of available upgrades to First or Business Class due to the consolidation of airlines – meaning alaska airlines credit card more clients are paying to ensure they are seated at the front of the plane.  In addition, Travel Leaders Group’s business clientele alaska airlines credit card increasingly includes CEOs and top-level executives requiring specialized travel planning.
Taking a closer look at corporate travel policies and business travelers’ flight selections, we asked Travel Leaders Group’s business alaska airlines credit card travel agents, “When booking flights for your corporate travelers, do they most often choose …” A mere 8.4% stated “lowest fare, period” while the top responses were:
When asked “What percentage of your business travel clients add a hotel reservation to their travel itinerary?” a majority (68.2%) of Travel Leaders Group agents reported that more than half of their clients request a hotel booking in addition to their airline reservation; while 23.4% stated that between 21-50% alaska airlines credit card of their business travel clients require a hotel booking in addition to their airfare. (Last year, the percentages were 67.3% and 24.6%, respectively.)
When asked “Which hotel category would you say the majority of your business travel alaska airlines credit card clients book?” 70.2% of Travel Leaders Group agents stated the “Luxury” and “Upper Upscale” categories, while 25.4% indicate “Upscale” and “Upper Midscale” categories. (In 2013 the percentages were 63.9% and 31.8% respectively.)
When asked “What percentage of your business travel clients add a car rental reservation to their travel itinerary?” a majority (55.2%) of Travel Leaders Group agents reported that more than half of their clients request a car rental in addition to their airline reservation; while 30.3% stated that between 21-50% of their business travel alaska airlines credit card clients require a rental car in addition to their airfare. (In 2013 the percentages were 54.7% and 32.4% respectively.)
When asked “Which rental car category would you say the majority of your business travel alaska airlines credit card clients book? 77.7% of Travel Leaders Group agents said “Midsize,” while 15.6% indicated “Full size.” (Last year, the percentages were 78.6% and 12.2%, respectively.)
Because business travelers may encounter situations that impact their safety and well-being, survey participants were asked, “ Which types of incidents required you to execute Duty of Care procedures for your client? ” the top responses were:  “Airline emergency,” alaska airlines credit card “Civil unrest in an international country” and “Earthquake.”  (In 2013, the top responses were: “Airline emergency,” “Hurricane,” and “Civil unrest in an international country.”)
When asked “Comparing your overall 2014 business travel bookings so far to your 2013 business travel bookings at this time last year, which is true?” nearly 85% stated bookings were equal to or higher than this time last year.
Travel Leaders Group is one of North America’s largest travel companies – encompassing nearly one-third of all travel agents – and generated gross travel sales of approximately $20 billion in 2013. Travel alaska airlines credit card Leaders Group is a leader in both the retail travel agency space and corporate travel, and it consistently ranks as one of the top travel companies nationwide.
Travel Leaders Group ( www.travelleadersgroup.com ) is transforming travel with a commitment to our vacation and business travel clients via our progressive approach toward each unique travel experience. Having already assisted millions of travelers – through alaska airlines credit card our beginnings as Carlson Leisure Group, a division of Carlson Companies, TraveLeaders and Tzell Travel Group and through the additions of Nexion, Vacation.com and Protravel International – Travel Leaders Group manages alaska airlines credit card leisure, business and franchise travel operations under a variety of diversified divisions and brands. alaska airlines credit card With annual sales of approximately $20 billion through over 6,500 locations, Travel Leaders Group ranks as one of the industry’s largest traditional travel agency companies.
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