BTN's 2008 Business Travel Survey - 2008-06-09

The 24th annual Business Travel Survey focuses on business travel suppliers' 2007, a good year that began to unravel before it ended as fuel prices spiraled out of control, the value of the dollar plummeted, the U.S. mortgage crisis hit home, retail sales slumped and corporate travel demand began to show some softening. Now, dire circumstances have created an environment that demands change.

By focusing on the major travel supplier accomplishments of 2007 and how they laid the groundwork for 2008 developments, we offer an opportunity to put industry changes into perspective and context, and to gain insight into where the industry will go from here.

Click here to download the 2008 Business Travel Survey in its entirety as a pdf, including all charts, supplier rankings and analysis.

Corporate-Owned Agencies: Agencies Target Midmarket Accounts, M&A
Super regional and regional travel management companies focused on bolstering their presence with midmarket clients in 2007, not only by continuing to emphasize service delivery but also through merger and acquisition activity. Click here to download the Corporate-Owned Agencies section as a pdf, including all charts, supplier rankings and analysis, or here to read the story online.

Corporate-Owned Agencies: Mega Travel Management Companies Stir Simmering Pot
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In the year in which the mega travel management company pool was supposed to settle following the 2006 WorldTravel BTI breakup, 2007 was anything but calm waters for the four largest global players. Click here to download this section as a pdf, including all charts, supplier rankings and analysis, or here to read the story online.

Agency Networks and Franchisors: Networks, Franchisors See Global Opportunities
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Globalization of small- and midsize corporations has stimulated repositioning by some agency franchisors and networks to be more business-travel-focused organizations by enlarging their corporate sales forces, investing in corporate technology focused on the midmarket, expanding their global footprints and, in the Carlson Leisure Group's case, separating from its parent to create an independent corporate travel identity. Click here to download the Agency Networks and Franchisors section as a pdf, including all charts, supplier rankings and analysis, or here to read the story online.

Domestic Airlines: Domestic Carrier Profits Undercut By Fuel Costs
In 2007, so much looked so right for domestic airlines, but the operating environment grows bleaker with every trip airlines take to the fuel pump. Click here to download the Airlines section as a pdf, including all charts, supplier rankings and analysis, or here to read this story online.

International Airlines: International Carriers See Demand Softening
The largest airlines outside of the United States last year generated the highest passenger revenues in years and netted annual profits. However, like their U.S. counterparts, this year they are experiencing a deteriorating operating environment. Click here to download the Airlines section as a pdf, including all charts, supplier rankings and analysis, or here to read this story online.

Car Rental Companies: Enterprise, Avis Deals Reshape Market
The car rental industry saw big supplier changes in 2007, but a worsening economic climate caused many corporate buyers to become more cost-conscious. Click here to download the Car Rental Companies section as a pdf, including all charts, supplier rankings and analysis, or here to read this story online.

Chauffeured Transportation Companies: Chauffeured Services' Fuel Rises, Demand Eases
As fuel prices continue to rise, chauffeured transportation companies are looking toward alternative fuel vehicles, increased fuel surcharges and driver education to maximize fuel efficiency. Click here to download the Chauffeured Transportation Companies section as a pdf, including all charts, supplier rankings and analysis, or here to read this story online.

Corporate Payment Systems: Spending Consolidation Boosts Card Suppliers
Issuers noted double-digit percentage year-over-year growth in corporate travel and entertainment transaction volumes in 2007, and recently contracting payment landscape, could bring additional challenges to payment negotiations. Click here to download the Corporate Payment Systems section as a pdf, including all charts, supplier rankings and analysis, or here to read this story online.

GDS Companies: U.S. Weakness Undermines GDSs' Performance
The major global distribution system providers this year said they are seeing softness in airline booking trends from the United States point of sale amid a weakened domestic economy. Click here to download the GDS Companies section as a pdf, including all charts, supplier rankings and analysis, or here to read this story online.

Hotel Companies: Buyers' Prospects Rise After Hotels' Strong '07
Travel buyers are beginning to see better negotiating opportunities as the seemingly insurmountable momentum propelling the hotel industry for the past few years begins to show signs of slowing, even though 2007 proved another banner year for hoteliers in terms of rate and revenue growth and profit. Click here to download the Hotel Companies section as a pdf, including all charts, supplier rankings and analysis, or here to read this story online.