The U.K.'s Guild of Travel Management Companies reported that December-quarter total transactions among members rose 4 percent from the prior year.

Quarterly air sales were unchanged year over year while hotel sales were up 2 percent, rail transactions jumped 10 percent, and car rental rose 7 percent. For full-year 2012, GTMC member agencies in aggregate handled 4 percent more transactions than they did in 2011. Full-year air sales edged upward 2 percent year over year, hotel sales increased 3 percent, and rail and car rental each rose 9 percent. According to chief executive Paul Wait, "The GTMC 2012 year-end transaction figures are very heartening; business travel is still buoyant and deals are being done."