Media Release
20 March 2012
Business Travel to Emerging Markets Rising: FCm
BUSINESS travel to developing countries is on the rise as corporates capitalise on growing economies and new business
opportunities in the emerging markets, according to global travel and expense management company FCm Travel Solutions.
Global director of account management for FCm Travel Solutions Felicity Burke said multinational client travel volumes
to developing markets within Asia, India, Latin America, Africa and Russia had been growing progressively over the past
few years.
“This sector of the corporate travel market is far more buoyant now than it has been in previous years,” Felicity said.
“As part of this, we’re seeing more flights to these markets being booked, a greater selection of employees travelling
and higher room night volumes for clients travelling to these areas.
“High level observations of our clients indicate that over the past 18 months we have seen steady growth of travel to
emerging markets. We’re seeing companies from Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Middle East and the US travelling into
India, China and Africa. We’re also seeing travel volume into Latin America from companies based in the US and UK.”
But, Felicity said that while companies were increasingly looking to do business with the booming developing world,
higher demand for travel services meant corporates were relying on strategic travel management to get the best deal.
“Companies are asking their travel management companies (TMCs) to monitor how far in advance their staff are booking
tickets with the aim of buying fares as early as possible rather than the week or several days before travel,” Felicity
said. “Our account managers have also been providing analysis around a traveller’s return on investment (ROI) to ensure
that what companies are spending on travel they’re getting the financial return on. Companies are also working with TMCs
to secure corporate negotiated discounts for their high capacity air routes to boost savings on long haul air travel.
“Productivity and cost efficiency are key for these companies. The itineraries for travellers flying into remote
destinations are complex and corporates need to be working with TMCs that know the markets and which airline services
have the best routings. Time is money for companies and having executives waiting in airports costs money.”
FCm’s Global Hotel Program director Joe McCormack said growth in the number of mid-range hotels in emerging markets
provided companies with opportunities to save on accommodation.
“In a number of developing markets such as India and China, there has been a flurry of hotel development,” Joe said.
“We’ve seen new hotel brands and chains particularly in the mid-range introduced to the market eg Choice brands Comfort
and Quality, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Courtyard by Marriott.
“In places like India and China where traditionally there had been only the five-star internationally-recognised brands
on offer, now our corporate clients have much more choice and variety in mid-range properties, which is helping
companies contain costs on accommodation where there is high demand.”
Joe added that FCm also works closely with local and regional hotel chains in the areas where customers were travelling
in addition to the well recognised global hotel brands.
“FCm will identify local hotels that are being used and focus on securing these hotels or hotel chains into our global
hotel program to ensure we have the range and type of product to suit our clients’ budgets and requirements.”
ENDS.
FCm Travel Solutions:
1. Is one of the world's leading corporate travel and expense management consultancies
2. Blends global presence with local, flexible and personal service, and provides end-to-end corporate travel and
expense management solutions
3. Has a regionally focused global network that ensures in-depth understanding of each client's local business culture
and travel environment
4. Creates travel savings for companies of all sizes, in all market sectors.