Media Releases

4 Oct 2010

Corporate keen to wheel and deal over liquid lunches

COURTING new business clients over an extended 'liquid lunch' is the best way to seal the deal, according to more than a quarter of respondents in an online survey by specialist business travel provider Corporate Traveller.

Thirty respondents or 27 per cent of the business travellers that took part in the poll said the extended liquid lunch was the best style of luncheon date to woo new business. Following closely behind this group was the poll's most frugal contingent including 29 or 26 per cent of respondents that believed new business was more likely to be won over a $12 express lunch.

However, the bulk of respondents thought a more traditional approach to business would do the trick, with 53 or 47 per cent of voters favouring a standard three course meal followed by a cappuccino to seal the deal.

Corporate Traveller's online poll garnered a total of 112 votes and was conducted over a month long period between August and September 2010. Respondents were asked what style of lunch meeting they thought was best for winning new business - the $12 express business lunch, a standard three-course meal followed by a cappuccino to seal the deal or the extended liquid lunch.

Corporate Traveller marketing manager Chris Preston said the fact that over two thirds of respondents thought a standard three course menu or a liquid lunch provided the best opportunity to wheel and deal over a meal was an encouraging sign for the economy.

"A more positive attitude towards the state of the economy and a loosening of the purse strings for small to medium sized companies and mid to large clients, is seeing corporate expenditure on business travel and entertainment, start to rise again," Chris said.

"Since the start of 2010 Corporate Traveller has noticed increased spending on business travel across sectors, along with higher travel volumes and activity. As travel and entertainment go hand in hand, activities such as business lunches, corporate events, conferencing and social networking also have been boosted by the turn in the economy.

"Corporates are keen to get a solid start to the new financial year and in 2011 we expect they will be more likely to inject funds into any opportunities that will help to drive growth."

Mr Preston said Corporate Traveller expected to see a few changes to travel policies over the next 12 months as a result of the rebounding economy.