Many more Europeans said they expect to take fewer business trips in
2011 than in 2010 compared with those who expect to travel more, according to a
survey conducted by Deloitte.
The poll of 4,000 respondents found that only 5 percent of Germans
expected to take more business trips, while 59 percent expected to take fewer.
For British respondents, 9 percent anticipated more business trips and 50 percent
fewer. Seventeen percent of Italians expected to take more business trips next
year and 47 percent fewer while 11 percent of Spanish respondents expected to
travel more and 56 percent fewer.
Previous 2011 forecasts issued by travel management companies and
other industry sources have stated or assumed continuing growth in travel
volumes despite the hesitant nature of economic recovery in Europe and North
America. The Deloitte survey may be one of the first indicators that business travel
could decline again.
"The
major concerns emerge when we compare our survey findings with the [hotel] operators'
recent announcements about the future," said Deloitte hospitality managing
partner Marvin Rust. "Their expectations of growth, increased
frequency and price of stay directly conflict with those of the
consumer. The price of stay, for example, can only be increased where
there is strong demand. Our research indicates otherwise and operators may
in fact be forced to reduce their price. The industry is maybe more
bullish than perhaps it should be."
Deloitte
also surveyed hotel operators and found 9 percent expected a double-dip
recession in their home country while 7 percent expected strong recovery in
2011.