According to the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) there could be fewer business travelers in the air and staying in hotels in 2009. ACTE recently surveyed its members and 33 percent said they would be spending less on business travel in 2009 while 31 said that they would be cutting back in order to spend the same as they did in 2008. The number one cause for the cutbacks in travel spending, according to 47 percent of the survey’s respondents, is a combination of economic uncertainty and rising fuel costs.

“Equally significant is the manner in which corporate travel managers are directing the cutbacks,” said ACTE Executive Director Susan Gurley. “Thirty-one percent are cutting back on travel straight across the board. Thirty-nine percent are cutting back on internal meetings, while 16 percent are reducing international travel. Nine percent have eliminated training trips as part of their agenda.” An additional 14 percent cited “other means.” Thirty-six percent said that they will spend more in 2009.