The National Business Travel Association said a majority of 189 surveyed travel managers expected higher costs for both air transportation and lodging in 2007

, and two-thirds anticipated higher travel volumes for their companies. Frequently cited cost controls considered for next year included "ramping up policy mandates (75 percent)," encouraging travel management companies to establish direct connections (42 percent), bidding TMC contracts (39 percent), exploring distribution system alternatives (34 percent) and using hotel electronic folio data (34 percent).