Press Release

For Immediate Release
31 October 2007

Business Travel Spending to Increase in 2008, According to Latest ACTE Survey of Executives, Procurement Officials and Corporate Travel Managers

Munich, Germany and Alexandria, VA -- Respondents Cite Deployment of Online Booking Systems as a Key Factor in Driving Savings

Business travel spending will continue to increase in 2008, according to the latest survey of senior-level executives and corporate travel managers by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE). Respondents reported that travel budgets increased, on average, by eight percent in 2007, citing increased supplier costs (air, car hotel) and growth in the number of trips business travelers are taking this year.

ACTE shared high-level findings of the survey with the business travel community today at ACTE’s Global Education Conference in Munich, Germany. The fifth annual Executive Corporate Travel Survey was conducted in August 2007 by an independent market research firm, and sponsored by ACTE, ProMedia LLC, GetThere(R), Sabre Travel Network(R) and Travelocity Business(R). The survey generated 305 qualified responses from companies based in Asia, Canada, Europe, and North and Latin America and the United States ACTE will work in conjunction with the survey’s sponsors to publish a detailed white paper on the results later this year.

For the first time, the survey included procurement personnel, who are increasingly overseeing managed travel programs at companies big and small. One consistent theme - managing business travel expenditures is a top priority for all respondents, especially among senior executives, of which 72 percent said it is “very important.”

Other findings released in the executive summary include:

• Senior-level executives, procurement managers and travel managers increased their direct involvement with their company travel programs, and plan to stay as involved or more involved in 2008.


• 58 percent of all respondents indicated their travel budgets would increase over last year.


• US & European travel programs employ a full range of demand management tactics to control travel spend, while programs in Asia and Latin America are evolving in implementing measures that will allow them to better manage costs.


• All survey respondents reported that using an online booking system is an effective tool for managing travel expenditures.


• Online booking systems have become core tools in the U.S. and Europe, while Asia and Latin America are quickly migrating toward implementation of these tools.


• Across the board, the vast majority of survey respondents reported that online booking systems provide savings on overall travel expenditures.


• More than a third of U.S. respondents stated they received “significant” savings from moving their programs online, with Europe (25.6) and Asia/Latin America (26.1) not far behind.


• 72 percent of respondents believe they are not receiving timely and accurate data from their suppliers.

Susan Gurley, ACTE’s Executive Director said, “These results validate that travel expenses are coming under increased scrutiny in the executive suite – and the fact that more companies are working with travel management companies and technology providers to manage that spend and drive efficiencies.” Gurley went onto say, “It is also apparent that companies around the world are embracing technology to deliver savings mandated by their procurement departments.”

Methodology

The fifth annual Executive Corporate Travel Survey was conducted in August 2007 by the Phoenix Marketing Group, an independent market research firm, and sponsored by ACTE, ProMedia, GetThere, Sabre Travel Network and Travelocity Business. The survey generated 305 qualified responses from companies based in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Forty percent of participants spent between $5 and $59 million in air volume, while a third spent less than $5 million, and a quarter spent in excess of $60 million. Nearly 27 percent of respondents employ less than 1,000 people, with the same percentage also coming from companies with 1,000 to 10,000 employees. A little over 20 percent employ between 10,000 and 50,000, and about 19 percent employ more than 50,000.

The survey was geared toward senior executives, procurement managers and corporate travel managers. Respondents were screened to ensure they were directly involved in managing corporate travel policies or budgets. Executive responses include senior executives with financial responsibilities such as CFO’s, Senior VP’s, Executive VP’s, Presidents, CEO’s and COO’s.

Procurement responses include procurement executives with purchasing responsibilities such as CPO’s, Procurement/Purchasing VP’s and Directors. CTM responses include Corporate Travel Managers affiliated with ACTE or ProMedia.

Sponsors

ACTE

Founded in 1988, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives is the only organization wholly dedicated to the science of business travel management with an international constituency. ACTE membership totals more than 2,500, including entities in Asia, Europe, Canada, and the United States. The organization is headquartered in Alexandria, Va. More information is available at www.acte.org.

ProMedia

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Ridgefield, Conn., ProMedia.travel LLC, www.promedia.travel, is an integrated media company serving the managed travel and meetings markets. The company provides information services via publications, Web sites, newsletters, RSS feeds, conferences, events, webcasts, custom publishing, list rentals, research, database marketing and market intelligence. ProMedia.travel produces The Beat, www.thebeat.travel; Management.travel, www.management.travel; The Transnational,www.thetransnational.travel; and Procurement.travel, www.procurement.travel.

GetThere

GetThere is the world’s leading corporate booking solution, surpassing $8 billion in gross travel bookings in 2006. Through its unique technology sharing arrangement with Travelocity(R), GetThere is an established innovator in the travel arena. To help companies manage their travel spend, GetThere combines innovation and travel industry expertise to bring the best in online travel technology to corporations and corporate travelers around the globe. More than 3,000 corporations worldwide use GetThere. For more information visit www.getthere.com

Sabre Travel Network

Sabre Travel Network provides the world’s most efficient corporate travel marketplace for travel agencies and corporations. We are committed to helping you achieve best-in-class travel procurement results by providing end-to-end solutions that help drive maximum savings for your company as well as enhanced service and improved security. For more information, visit www.sabretravelnetwork.com.

Travelocity Business is a full-service corporate travel management company that helps companies easily manage travel and reduce costs, while providing more choices to travelers. Travelocity Business combines the expertise, service and travel choices of Travelocity with corporate experience gained from serving more than half of the Fortune 200 companies. For more information, visit www.travelocitybusiness.com.

Contact

Michael Brophy
1 (214) 356-4326
Sabre Holdings, GetThere & Travelocity Business
[email protected]


Cass Helstrip
Rooster Public Relations for ACTE
web www.rooster.co.uk
press www.rooster.co.uk/news
tel  +44 (0)20 7953 8779
fax  +44 (0)20 7953 8780
[email protected]

For more information, contact:
Debbie Flynn
CEO
Brighter Group
The Pod, London's Vertical Gateway
Bridges Wharf, Battersea
London SW11 3BE England
T: 020 7326 9880
F: 020 7326 9890
E: [email protected]
W: www.brightergroup.com