Slow Recovery Likely for Business Travel
Firms are a long way from returning to the days of big spending.

Business travel faces a long comeback. Although the industry will grow this year and on through 2013, the number of trips in 2013 will be only 485 million compared with nearly 567 million in 2000.
Videoconferencing is one reason. It’s now cheap enough and of sufficient quality to replace many face-to-face meetings, says Suzanne Cook, senior vice president of the U.S. Travel Association. Still, “not all travel can be replaced by sitting in front of a screen,” says Cook. Corporate travel policies that were tightened during the recession will be eased but will continue to require road warriors to justify each and every trip.
That will restrain any recuperation of hotels and restaurants. A modest uptick of 3% in revenue per hotel room is likely this year, followed by a 6.5% increase in 2011. It will take four to five years before the industry will fully recover from the downturn, analysts say.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Luxury hotels, which were particularly hard hit by the recession, will also make gains this year. Revenue per hotel room will be up about 5% after dropping 23% last year as companies, fearing bad publicity from having employees attend events in luxury surroundings, canceled trips and group meetings at those properties.
Full-service restaurants will see a slight increase of 1.2% this year after a 4% drop last year. But fast-food outlets and nonalcoholic beverage bars (think Starbucks) are sitting pretty. Fast-food establishments grew throughout the recession, while this year the Seattle coffee giant will enjoy a smart revenue rebound after a sales decline in 2009.
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

-
Dow Hits New Intraday High on Fed Day: Stock Market Today
Not even the most important stock in the world could keep the oldest equity index down on a significant day for markets.
-
Savings Goal Calculator
Tools Want to know how much you need to save each month to reach your financial goals? Our calculator helps you build a realistic savings plan.
-
Small Businesses Are Racing to Use AI
The Kiplinger Letter Spurred on by competitive pressures, small businesses are racing to adopt AI. A recent snapshot shows the technology’s day-to-day uses.
-
How AI Puts Company Data at Risk
The Kiplinger Letter Cybersecurity professionals are racing to ward off AI threats while also using AI tools to shore up defenses.
-
AI Start-ups Are Rolling in Cash
The Kiplinger Letter Investors are plowing record sums of money into artificial intelligence start-ups. Even as sales grow swiftly, losses are piling up for AI firms.
-
What is AI Worth to the Economy?
The Letter Spending on AI is already boosting GDP, but will the massive outlays being poured into the technology deliver faster economic growth in the long run?
-
Kiplinger Special Report: Business Costs for 2026
Economic Forecasts Fresh forecasts for 2026, to help you plan ahead and prepare a budget on a range of business costs, from Kiplinger's Letters team.
-
Trump-Era Regulations Will Broaden Access to Crypto
The Kiplinger Letter The president wants to make the U.S. the leader in digital assets.
-
How to Adopt AI and Keep Employees Happy
The Kiplinger Letter As business adoption of AI picks up, employee morale could take a hit. But there are ways to avoid an AI backlash.
-
The Rise of AI: A Kiplinger Special Report
The Kiplinger Letter Our special report looks at the opportunities and challenges of generative AI and how its rapid move into the mainstream is impacting every aspect of our lives.