The research found that 53% of business travel buyers ranked reducing costs as their most important consideration, with 55% attempting to reduce costs by putting a greater emphasis on travel planning and making more advanced air bookings.
Having a flexible travel policy was ranked as the second most important thing when planning a global travel programme.
64% of the study agreed that having sufficient risk assessment in place is also a priority when arranging business travel.
Peter Muller, chief operating officer for Europe and the USA, ATPI Group, said: “Despite optimism at the start of the year regarding economic growth, the message from travel buyers is clear, reducing costs is still the main priority when it comes to business travel.