Egencia Releases 2010 Forecast and Annual Hotel Negotiability Index for
Corporate Travel

    
    Index Shows Corporations to Retain Hotel Buying Power into 2010




    
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<p>BELLEVUE, Wash., <chron>Nov. 3</chron> /CNW/ -- Egencia®, an Expedia, Inc. company, today unveiled its 2010 Corporate Travel Forecast and Hotel Negotiability Index, finding that average ticket prices (ATPs) for corporate travelers to top business travel destinations are expected to increase globally, with a 5 to 10 percent increase anticipated in key North American cities. Egencia's Hotel Negotiability Index looks at city-specific data to help business decision makers gauge travel program opportunities while planning.  This year's Index analyzes corporations' buying power in nearly 40 global cities.</p>
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<p>The study evaluates global industry trends, macroeconomic factors, in-depth research of supplier markets and capacity to deliver a current report on air, hotel and car rental trends in both domestic and international destinations.</p>
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<p>"Overall, we expect to see some year-over-year recovery of business travel in 2010 as economies stabilize around the world," said Rob Greyber, President of Egencia. "The resulting demand coupled with suppliers maintaining capacity discipline is expected to push air prices higher in many business destinations."</p>
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    North America
    
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<p>Despite continued depressed demand for front of cabin travel, increased low-cost competition and ancillary fees contributing downward pressure on ATPs, several factors are likely to push corporate travel prices upward, including: the post-recession economy impacting corporate travel demand, airlines maintaining capacity discipline, recent airline industry mergers, and the persistent inflation risk.</p>
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<p>Conversely, average daily rates (ADRs) for business travelers are expected to stay flat or decrease up to 5 percent year-over-year for key cities. Though pent-up demand, renewed strength in certain business sectors and increased meetings/conference spend are expected to contribute upward pressure on pricing, lower air capacity bringing fewer travelers is likely to maintain or decrease ADRs. Additionally, the abundance of short term hotel supply from 2008 - 2009, rising air prices and corporate contracts leveraging reduced rates already in place for 2010 will add further downward pressure.</p>
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<p>Charts below illustrate year-over-year 2010 vs. 2009 ATP and ADR figures in the local currency in selected business travel destinations around the world for North American points of sale.</p>
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<p>          <location>North America</location></p>
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    Destination      ATP YoY    ADR YoY
    -----------      -------    -------
    Atlanta           -1%          3%
    Boston             2%          2%
    Calgary            3%         -1%
    Chicago            3%         -2%
    Dallas             5%         -3%
    Denver             9%         -5%
    Houston            6%         -4%
    Los Angeles        4%         -1%
    Minneapolis/St.
     Paul              5%         -1%
    ---------------   ---         ---
    
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<p> </p>
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    Destination      ATP YoY     ADR YoY
    -----------      -------     -------
    Montreal            5%        -1%
    New York            5%        -4%
    Philadelphia       11%        -4%
    Phoenix            12%        -6%
    San Diego          16%        -6%
    San Francisco       4%        -2%
    Seattle            10%        -3%
    Toronto             5%         0%
    Washington, DC      9%        -2%
    Vancouver           2%         0%
    ---------          ---        ---


    
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<p> </p>
<p>         International</p>
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    Destination   ATP YoY       ADR YoY
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    Hong Kong       1%              -4%
    London          3%               1%
    Paris           2%               1%
    Tokyo           1%              -1%
    -----          ---              ---

    
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<p>For the U.S. car rental industry, 2009 was an unusual year. Car rental prices for business travelers increased 10 to 20 percent, while lack of financing coupled with the troubled automaker industry made it difficult for rental agencies to replenish their fleets. Egencia expects the situation to be alleviated somewhat in 2010 with car rental prices decreasing 5 percent year-over-year due to restored financing and increased competition for consumers/business travelers.</p>
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    Supply Outlook: Hotel Negotiability
    
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<p>Egencia's Hotel Negotiability Index, an indicator of the overall supply landscape in top North American cities, suggests that 2010 will remain a buyer's market for corporations during at least the first two quarters. The majority of major North American business destinations will maintain high negotiability, with the exceptions of <location>Boston</location> and <location>Washington DC</location>.</p>
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<p><location>Boston</location>, for example, has been less affected by the recession compared with other business destinations, so the anticipated influx of business travel and limited new capacity could make negotiations for that region more challenging. <location>Washington DC</location> will be a challenging destination for negotiations due to the increased role government is playing in multiple sectors of the economy.</p>
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    2010 Hotel Negotiability Index for North America

    (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091103/CG03756)

    
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<p>"With a few exceptions, the hotel negotiation opportunity for travel and business decision makers is strong for 2010," said <person>Pam Keenan Fritz</person>, Senior Vice President of Egencia <location>North America</location>. "We advise our clients to move forward with negotiations now or in the near term to take full advantage of the climate, arming themselves with data to show how they can influence volumes."</p>
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    Travel Management Trends
    
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<p>Egencia surveyed more than 100 travel managers on cost control measures, travel spend and expectations for 2010. According to survey respondents, 59 percent say company travel has slightly or significantly reduced this year, compared with 48 percent a year ago in <chron>October 2008</chron>. Ten percent reported a slight increase in business travel compared with only 3 percent a year ago.</p>
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    The top cost-cutting measures travel managers are using include:
    --  Advanced booking of airline tickets (57%, up from 55% in fall 2008)
    --  Rigorous enforcement of travel policy (52%, up from 44%)
    --  Active tracking of unused tickets (45%, up from 44%)

    --  Requiring pre-trip approval (44%, up from 43%)


    
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<p>"The difficult economy of 2009 coupled with better travel management reporting and tools has driven travel and procurement managers to take stronger control of their programs," said <person>Keenan Fritz</person>. "This is evident in the trends we are seeing with policy enforcement data and negotiations - one third of travel managers say they are evaluating and making changes to their travel programs more frequently.*"</p>
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<p>Strategic meetings management has been a growing theme for the corporate travel industry in 2009, and there is healthy opportunity for further consolidation between meetings and business travel programs into 2010. As companies resume investment in meetings and incentives, there is a greater focus on budget management and delivering significant ROI on meetings spend.</p>
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    Europe
    
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<p>Pricing for both corporate travel ATPs and ADRs in top European business travel destinations are expected to rise slowly. European cities have shown signs of positive growth, and business demand will begin to increase in travel especially in finance markets. Recent airline capacity cuts, increased focus on carrier profitability and recent shifts in the airline industry including the Delta/Northwest merger and Air <location>France</location> and Air Italia consolidation are also contributing upward pressure. Hotels located in these business hubs are likely to benefit from the increased demand.</p>
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<p>Charts below illustrate year-over-year 2010 vs. 2009 ATP and ADR figures in U.S. dollars in selected business travel destinations for European points of sale.</p>
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    Destination  ATPYoY      ADR
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    Amsterdam       3%        0%
    Barcelona       7%       -1%
    Berlin          0%        2%
    Brussels        0%        3%
    Frankfurt       4%        1%
    London          1%        1%
    Madrid          1%        2%
    Milan           2%        1%
    Munich          2%        1%
    Paris           0%        1%
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    Asia-Pacific
    
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<p>Corporate travel ATPs are expected to rise just slightly across Asia-Pacific cities due to increased demand outstripping supply. However, Egencia expects fewer business travelers to the region to mean lower to flat ADRs, with the exceptions of Sydney and <location>Singapore</location>, which may see a small rebound in pricing.</p>
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<p>Charts below illustrate year-over-year 2010 vs. 2009 ATP and ADR figures in U.S. dollars in selected business travel destinations for Asia-Pacific points of sale.</p>
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    Destination      ATP        ADR
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    Beijing           4%        -8%
    Delhi             4%        -4%
    Hong Kong         4%        -4%
    Melbourne         3%        -1%
    Mumbai            1%         0%
    Shanghai          2%        -1%
    Singapore         1%         1%
    Sydney            0%         1%
    Tokyo             0%        -1%
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<p>Negotiability Indexes for APAC and <location>Europe</location> are available. Further insights into Egencia's 2010 Corporate Travel Forecast and Negotiability Index are available upon request.</p>
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    Research Methodology
    
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<p>Projections are based on the statistical analysis of the past and current industry trends, macroeconomic factors, research of supplier markets, and vendors' capacity forecasts for 2010.</p>
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    Disclaimer
    
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<p>This data refers to business destinations and business travel pricing. These projections are based on information gathered from various internal and external sources. The forecast represents an opinion based on current market factors and is not a representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the forecasts or projections made herein. Actual changes in ticket prices and hotel rates could vary significantly from forecasted numbers, impacted by unforeseen future economic and political factors.</p>
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    About Egencia, an Expedia, Inc. Company
    
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<p>Egencia is the fifth largest travel management company in the world. As part of Expedia, Inc., (Nasdaq: EXPE), the world's largest travel marketplace, Egencia helps businesses get ahead by offering the only truly integrated corporate travel service. Egencia's industry expertise helps drive results that matter, delivering meaningful advancements that have a real impact. By combining a powerful offline and online service, Egencia delivers a complete corporate travel offering supported by global market expertise and a best-in-class technology platform.</p>
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    For more information, go to www.egencia.com

    
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<p>This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations as of the date of this press release and assumptions which are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual results and the outcome of events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including declines or disruptions in the travel industry caused by, among others, prolonged adverse economic conditions, health risks, increased adverse weather, war and/or terrorism and bankruptcies.</p>
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<p>Egencia and the Egencia logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.</p>
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    © 2009 Egencia, LLC.  All rights reserved.  CST #: 2083922-50/

    
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<p>*33% evaluating/negotiating programs more frequently versus 6% doing so less frequently</p>
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For further information: Lauren Berg of Edelman, [phone], [email protected]; or Canada, Noor Marzook, [phone], [email protected], both for Egencia Web Site: http://www.egencia.com http://www.expediacorporate.com