Corporate Travel Volume Grows 8.8% in June 2011

The corporate hotel market saw global bookings increase +8.8% in June, according to data from The Pegasus View.

The increase reinforces healthy gains made overall in the first half of the year, and could potentially climb to +15% through August, and possibly higher into the third quarter.

“The business travel market is basking in the validating glow of returning corporate travel budgets,” said Mike Kistner, chief executive officer of Pegasus Solutions. “Companies that previously slashed their travel budgets are again willing to now send their sales teams on the road, to trade shows, to meetings, or even to host their own meetings in the name of driving revenue.”

With greater growth expected September through November, the corporate market, which represents bookings made through the global distribution systems (GDS), is also seeing ADRs rise at a healthy pace of more than +6% over 2010.

Leisure travel bookings, those made through online channels, grew by +7.3% year-on-year, nearing the +8.2% year-to-date pace.

Global ADR grew nearly +5% for the second consecutive month as consumers show a healthier appetite for vacations. Forward-looking data for the channel indicates overall bookings will increase nearly +10% into September, perhaps easing in October, and picking up again for the year-end holidays.

“Despite talked about economic hiccups, consumers have shifted their perception from travel as a ‘want’ to travel as a ‘need’,” added Kistner. “This positively impacts the leisure market as higher demand allows rates to continue the arduous march to pre-recession levels. Travelers getting away this summer – for work or pleasure – is good news for the industry and the economy.”

Data reported in The Pegasus View reflects data drawn from both GDS and ADS transactions, representing the business and leisure markets respectively for approximately 90,000 hotels worldwide.

See recent travel news from: Travel News Asia, Utell, Pegasus, June 2011