Ride-hailing services were the most-expensed business spending category in 2019, according to a new Certify report, the first time since 2015 that meals didn't top the list.
Uber ranked as the overall most-expensed vendor, according to Certify's SpendSmart Year in Review Report, which was based on more than 50 million expense transactions totaling more than $5.1 billion in spending submitted by employees of Certify's client corporations during 2019.
Uber, top among vendors for the fourth year in a row, accounted for 12.6 percent of all transactions expensed in 2019—up from 11 percent in 2018, according to Certify data. Lyft, Uber's main competitor in the ride-hailing category, ranked as the fourth-most expensed vendor, at 3.7 percent of transactions, up from 2.8 percent in 2018. The ride-hailing segment as a whole, including taxis, accounted for 17.5 percent of 2019 receipts, edging out meals at 16.8 percent, Certify said. Uber continued to dominate the segment, accounting for 73.2 percent of ride-hailing receipts, followed by Lyft at 21.4 percent and taxis at 5.4 percent.
In other travel-related spending categories, Delta Air Lines at 26.4 percent of 2019 flight expenses led the way among air carriers, edging out American Airlines at 25.9 percent. United Airlines placed third, at 20.6 percent, followed by Southwest Airlines at 19.9 percent. Delta also was the most expensive carrier, on average, by a sizable margin; the average Delta flight expense was $439.51, more than $60 higher than United's $376.77 average.
For hotels, Marriott Hotels & Resorts ranked first in percentage of sector expenses at 16.8 percent, as well as average cost at $307.47. Hampton Inn was second in both categories, at 14.7 percent and $248.65 average cost. Courtyard by Marriott was the third most-expensed brand, at 12.1 percent.
Among car rental suppliers, National accounted for 36.8 percent of all category expenses, followed by Enterprise at 23.1 percent and Hertz at 22.3 percent.
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