CWT’s Sales Volume Grew in 2008

Despite the sour economic news of 2008, Carlson Wagonlit Travel reported its sales volume rose from $26 billion in 2007 to $27.8 billion last year, a 7 percent increase, according to CEO Douglas Anderson.

He said the corporate travel agency, which brought on $2.4 billion in new business in 2008, benefits from a growing desire of larger companies to consolidate their travel buying either regionally or globally. In addition, the agency’s 2008 client retention rate was 97 percent, he reported.

Anderson said he expected those factors, plus clients’ demand that Carlson “bring the same discipline to meetings management that has been brought to air fares,” to help Carlson weather the current economic storm and emerge a stronger company.

He acknowledged that the business was stronger in the first three quarters of 2008 and “the slowness of quarter four certainly has continued into January.” He also said business is currently down globally “in the low double digits.” He added that he was “not sure we will grow the top line in 2009.”