Business travelers trying to cut costs, survey says

More business travelers and corporate travel planners are passing up higher-end hotels as they try to save on travel costs, according to a new survey.

Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed by Orbitz for Business and Business Traveler magazine said they were staying at less expensive hotels with lower star ratings.

Nearly four-fifths, meanwhile, said they were feeling some pressure to cut travel-related expenses.

Here are some other results from the May survey of 610 Business Traveler subscribers:

44 percent say they or their company plan to attend fewer trade shows this year or will send fewer employees.
25 percent said they’re taking day trips whenever possible rather than spending a night at a hotel.
47 percent reported changes to their companies’ rental car policies, including requirements that they rent smaller, less expensive cars.
42 percent are exploring alternatives to travel, including video and Web conferencing.

Related Orbitz resources: