TORONTO — The American Express Global Business Travel Forecast 2015 predicts air, hotel and ground transportation prices to be neutral to slightly higher across all regions in 2015.

At a country-by-country level, airline consolidations, stricter corporate travel policies and limited hotel supply are changing supply and demand dynamics and are also expected to impact pricing next year. In North America, an improving economy in the United States will likely cause price increases across all categories. Canadian air and hotel suppliers are expected to benefit from this improvement, as well as a stable domestic economy. Increased business travel combined with weak competition in the airline industry and nominal room supply growth in major cities including Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal will make price increases in 2015 likely.

Despite static economic progress across Europe, the United Kingdom is a bright spot for the region, with strong country-level financials and expectations for continued growth next year. Following years of positive growth predictions for Asia Pacific, the region is expected to experience more moderate price increases next year, as China stabilizes. In particular, this will be reflected in tempered hotel rate increases for the year.

American Express Global Business Travel’s annual Forecast provides subscribers with over 2,000 pricing predictions across airfares, hotel rates and car rental rates in the Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA); and Asia Pacific (APAC), as well as related travel management program recommendations.

“Canada’s economy is expected to remain stable or grow in 2015, increasing business travel across the country and abroad. The reality of supply and demand along with a focus on yield management will benefit Canada’s air and hotel suppliers who will likely increase pricing. This will place even greater emphasis on companies and travel managers to find ways of evolving their travel programs to improve the returns on their travel expenditures,” says Colin Temple, Vice President & General Manager at American Express Global Business Travel, Canada.

In North America, business travellers can expect price increases across travel categories in 2015. With an improving economy and greater corporate confidence, capacity discipline by U.S. carriers, and the recent consolidation of the domestic market, airlines are predicted to raise their long- and short-haul fares in the coming year. Inventory controls are likely to improve yields for airlines, leading to fewer seats in lower fare classes on busier routes.

In Canada, the Forecast predicts prices to rise as the country continues to benefit from the improving U.S. economy. Additionally, North American companies continue to redefine their cabin eligibility policies, which may create greater opportunities for Asian and European carriers who offer distinctive ‘premium economy’ classes for companies looking to book cheaper seating options with minimal traveller resistance.

In 2015, North American hotel rates are expected to trend upwards, buoyed by favourable economic growth, increasing demand, and a lack of new inventory. After an extended period of relative weakness, hotels are looking to capitalize on favourable market dynamics to increase profitability. As the economy picks up and business demand grows, price increases are anticipated across the region; however, the degree of these increases will vary significantly city-to-city. In this environment, moderate and upscale hotels continue to explore ways to further differentiate themselves from the competition.

Consolidation, fleet management, and pricing dynamics continue to shape the North American ground transportation market. Recent industry consolidation has posed several challenges for the three key industry players, with some facing excess inventory issues due to a large number of retail vehicles that were acquired during mergers. Base rates and average daily rates are predicted to increase slightly as car rental companies raise prices to remain profitable and continue to push ancillary fees; however, corporate buyers are expected to continue to push back and negotiate their rates, making it likely that rental companies will work with their customers to keep their corporate rates generally flat next year.