Is business travel coming back?
Apparently yes, according to a new report from Eden Prairie-based Travel Leaders. Of more than 200 travel agents it surveyed, 67 percent said they expected business bookings in 2010 to match or exceed bookings in 2009.
The survey also found indications that corporate travel policies are starting to ease as the economic doldrums of the past two years seem to lessen. Travel Leaders President Roger Block said more business travelers are starting to fly in the pricier first class and business class sections.
According to survey results, business travel remains more of a last-minute decision despite higher fares. Nine out of 10 agents said their business clients book flights two weeks or less prior to their travel date; nearly three-fourths of the agents said international travel is booked one to three weeks prior to travel.
As far as lodging, seven in 10 agents said business clients were booking the same level of hotel accommodations that they had in the past while 17 percent said business travelers were trading up to nicer digs.
NY, NY The Minneapolis law firm of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi last week announced plans to open a New York office, luring three experienced trial lawyers from international legal giant Lovells.
Managing partner Steve Schumeister said David Leichtman, Hillel Parnessand Bryan Vogel are intellectual property lawyers.
Schumeister said additional partners and associates also will eventually staff the New York office, which is Robins' first venture into Manhattan. Robins now has offices in Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles and Naples, Fla.