While nearly all U.K. companies now have developed a travel
policy, the number of firms who have negotiated preferred hotel contracts is
declining, according to a survey of 100 companies in the United Kingdom conducted
in late 2012 by AirPlus International and research company 2hm.
About 69 percent of respondents indicated their companies
had a preferred hotel down from with 82 percent who indicated such deals, the
last time the survey was conducted in 2011. According to the AirPlus report,
the declining percentage is in part due to the growing popularity of budget hotel brands in Europe and the tendency of some European hotels preferred
by employees not to be available for booking on global distribution systems,
situations that have led some companies to allow employees greater booking
flexibility.
Respondent companies with corporate airline discounts slightly
increased to 46 percent from 44 percent. The report partially attributed the
modest increase to the United Kingdom being "exceptionally well-served by
low-cost carriers on short-haul routes."
Ninety-four of the 100 companies surveyed have developed a
travel policy, according to the report.