Business and Group Travel Make a Stellar First Quarter Comeback
Photo Credit: There's been a rise in group bookings as restrictions lift. Unsplash / Priscilla Du Preez
Skift Take
Encouraging signs from a host of companies releasing first quarter statistics, but a recurring theme is: Can it last?
At first glance, the first three months of this year mark a decisive turnaround for corporate travel, based on statistics from a range of specialists.
No doubt it's a relief for many hotels and airlines, but some reports warn this recovery momentum might not last due to fears suppliers won’t be ready in the coming months, with corporate travel agencies particularly unprepared.
Hyper Growth ModeOmicron proved to be a bump in the road, rather than a brick wall, with group bookings in particular leading the pack, according to corporate travel agency TripActions, which said the first three months saw the kind of "hyper-growth" last seen before the pandemic.
“Once Omicron cases dipped and restrictions dropped, February’s rebound resulted in TripActions’ biggest month ever. Biggest, that is, until March,” the company said. It put this down to more offices reopening, but also gave a nod to the rise of super commuters.
Travel spend, ac
