Business travel costs rising

from today's Meetings Focus (8/25):

AMEX Study Shows Rising Biz Travel Costs
NEW YORK

"American Express Global Business Travel released business travel pricing trends for the second quarter of 2011 from its eXpert insights Business Travel Monitor (BTM), its long-term price trending index for domestic and international trips originating in North America. The BTM data demonstrates continued rate increases for flights and accommodations as suppliers continue to take advantage of the return in demand and other market factors to raise rates.

According to the BTM data. the average domestic one-way airfare increased by 8 percent to $260 in Q2 2011 over the same period the year before, while average international one-way fare increased by 9 percent to $1,970. Average hotel rates in Q2 2011 increased by 3 percent to $156 over the same period in 2010, while international hotels increased by 11 percent to $258."

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