Guild of Travel Management Companies reported a 6 percent year-over-year decline in first quarter travel transactions

The U.K.'s among members. Airline transactions were down 17 percent, hotel transactions fell 8 percent and car rental transactions retreated 7 percent. "The downturn in business travel, first clearly visible in the last quarter of 2008, has worsened," according to GTMC's report. Rail transactions and "others" bucked the trend, with increases of 14 percent and 31 percent, respectively. Growth in the "other" category--which includes travel insurance, passports and visas, airport taxis, chauffeured service and airport parking--is "indicative that TMCs are looking to offer more services to balance the reduction in air and hotel bookings," according to GTMC.