AA Survey- Positive Outlook for Business Travel, but cutting back on the frills

An AA Travel Insurance survey shows that business travel is on the up. 7,000 Irish adults were asked about their business travel plans for the next three months*.  16.5% of respondents were planning at least one business trip abroad, and 17.8% were planning at least one business trip within Ireland. While the numbers are healthy, many respondents reported that while travel remained essential for business they were looking to economize in other ways. “Companies will increasingly examine how they can get the best return on investment from travel. They may significantly reduce costs for example by going for a cheaper hotel but travel itself is not predicted to be affected.” says John Farrell, AA Commercial Director. “No business is willing to waste money these days, and costs are being scrutinized as never before. The travelling executive is now much more likely to be on a budget flight to a budget hotel.” Says Farrell. “Sandwiches and coffees are more in vogue than five star meals. The business trips of 2010 are tending to be functional, frugal and fruitful.” The most popular business destinations highlighted in the AA survey were UK based, followed by key European cities; Paris, Geneva, Brussels, Lisbon, Berlin to as far afield as the US, Canada and New Zealand.  Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Galway were the most popular centres for business trips in Ireland.