YYZ to LGA - or EWR - advance fare only

Diane Clarkson | October 27, 2006, 06:00 PM

American Express has released their 2007 Global Business Travel Forecast which is timely given we have just published our US Travel Forecast 2006 – 2011.

The so-called transparency of the internet has lead to a significant shift in how people understand booking travel. It was only a few short years ago that fare rules and classes were as clear as mud to most travelers.

Now travelers converse in fluent city codes.

Transparency has lead to simplification and clear communication. It has also lead to an overall greater understanding of how to cleverly book travel.

This understanding has made its way into corporate philosophy. According to Mike Streit, at American Express Business Travel, Advisory Services, companies "are becoming more sophisticated... they are now looking at travel spending as an investment. So they are not necessarily trying to travel less, but they want to buy it more wisely." This means preferred supplier lists, automated compliance technology, and holistic cost control strategies.

We forecast the online managed travel market will grow from $19 billion in 2006 to $38 billion in 2011.