Business Travel News - November 24, 2008 - (Page 1)

NOVEMBER 24, 2008 Benchmarking INSIDE Buyers Reexamining TMC Status . . . . . . . . . 3 WestJet Partnering With Oneworld . . . . . . . 8 Final Call For 2008’s Most Influential. . . . . 12 Hilton Names Asia/Pac Leader. . . . . . . . . . 24 Amex: Cost Controls Wane In China . . . . . . 42 6 10 E Europe’s ’ Biggest 29 CONSULTATIVE CALL FOR DATA EURO BUYER CONSOLIDATOR STANDARDS BENCHMARKS MMC travel buyer HRG’s Bill Brindle BTN/ACTE survey Judy Bauer changes makes the industry and dialogue with operations, role. cooperation case. many of the biggest. BTNonline.com 11TH ANNUAL AIRLINE SURVEY Top Domestic Carriers Ranked By 189 Corporate Buyers Financial Fallout Flips ’09 Forecasts BY MICHAEL B. BAKER, JAY BOEHMER & SETH HARRIS 1. CONTINENTAL AIRLINES 2. AMERICAN AIRLINES 3. NORTHWEST AIRLINES For more, see page 14. Revised and recent pricing forecasts from analysts and travel management companies project a more favorable environment for business travel buyers in 2009 than previous predictions. The newer outlook follows FIRST OF A TWO-PART SERIES ON MULTINATIONAL ONLINE BOOKING U.S.Tools Meet European Resistance BY AMON COHEN a reversal of fortune, as business travel demand deteriorates and oil prices moderate. Before late September’s financial fallout, travel management company forecasts suggested domestic fares would grow as much as 12 percent in 2009, while more recent forecasts show more modest increases or even decreases next year. A National Business Travel Association forecast released this month projects published airfares to rise 7 percent to 10 percent in 2009, bringing the average domestic fare to $354, its highest level since early 2001, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. NBTA also said average international airfares would near $2,100, with a decline of 7 percentage points Continued on page 46 Postmaster: Newspaper Handling/Periodicals Postaage booking tool providers GetThere and Facing sustained criticism from Eu- Concur Cliqbook say they have improved ropean travel managers that their prod- rail sourcing capabilities and added othucts remain inadequate for the Euro- er content not available through global pean marketplace, United States-based distribution systems. Though the vendors claim European criticism is outdated, the near-unanimous opinion of more than 20 buyers at BY MICHAEL B. BAKER two roundtable discussions Tightening credit availability as a result of the hosted by BTN at the Assoglobal financial crisis could hinder corporate trav- ciation of Corporate Travel el and entertainment card negotiations, particular- Executives’ global conference ly for small and midmarket companies looking to in Rome last month was that implement new programs. Simultaneously, the cri- U.S. booking tools are not desis could bring new opportunities for buyers, with livering in Europe. consolidation giving some bank players new strength “We changed our booking in the market, the potential for banks to focus more tool last year [from a U.S. ONE-ON-ONE BRITISH AIRWAYS CEO WILLIE WALSH Corp. Cutbacks, Carrier Pacts British Airways CEO Willie Walsh this month spoke with BTN senior editor Jay Boehmer to discuss premium travel, the nature of corporate client cutbacks and the status of new business agreements with other carriers. BTN: From your first-half results, you seem somewhat optimistic about the revenue outlook. Willie Walsh: It’s a strange one in that we reported a 92 percent fall in profitability but it was generally perceived as a positive performance. It Continued on page 48 Credit Crunches Corp. Cards Continued on page 6 Continued on page 50 You think big. You’ll pay small. Saves you money Call 1-800-331-3550 or visit Thrifty.com/business today. ©2008 Thrifty Rent-A-Car System, Inc. Thrifty.com is a trademark of Thrifty, Inc. All rights reserved. Thrifty features quality products from Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep® and other ﬁne cars. http://www.BTNonline.com http://www.Thrifty.com/business http://www.Thrifty.com/business http://www.Thrifty.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Business Travel News - November 24, 2008

Business Travel News - November 24, 2008
Contents
Inside Track
Profiles In Travel Mgmt.
Forum
11th Annual Airline Survey
Aviation
Travel Management
Lodging
Payment & Expense Systems
Benchmarking Europe’s Biggest
Asia/Pacific

Business Travel News - November 24, 2008