The average total cost of a U.S. domestic business trip rose
8 percent year over year to $1,073 during the third quarter, driven by a 16
percent increase in hotel costs, according to client spending data from Travel
Leaders Corporate.
The average nightly rate for U.S. hotels paid by Travel
Leaders clients in the third quarter was $164, and the top 25 markets were
split about evenly in being above or below that average. Northern U.S. cities
within those markets tended to have the higher rates, and southern cities are
expected to see rising rates in the first quarter of 2019, according to Travel
Leaders.
Domestic airfares in Travel Leaders' data were up 6 percent
year over year but flat compared with the second quarter. The average car
rental cost was $143, down from $165 in the third quarter of 2017.
For international trips, hotel costs in an average trip were
up 27 percent year over year in the third quarter, though that stemmed from longer
trip lengths as well rising rates, according to Travel Leaders. International
airfares were up 3 percent year over year, and car rental rates were flat.