The NBTA Foundation, the education and research foundation of the National Business Travel Association (NBTA), released its findings from the 2010 Travel Management Compensation and Benefits Survey revealing total compensation for corporate travel buyers and meetings managers increased in 2010 by 5.3% for an average of $96,851, based on the responses of 250 corporate travel and meetings managers working in the U.S. and Canada…
The NBTA Foundation, the education and research foundation of the National Business Travel Association (NBTA), released its findings from the 2010 Travel Management Compensation and Benefits Survey revealing total compensation for corporate travel buyers and meetings managers increased in 2010 by 5.3% for an average of $96,851, based on the responses of 250 corporate travel and meetings managers working in the U.S. and Canada.
Overall, more than six in ten (63%) travel buyers surveyed said they were satisfied with their compensation, up from last year (56%).
“The industry is breathing a sigh of relief as we begin seeing and experiencing the long awaited business travel recovery, which is demonstrated by this year’s respondents who observed considerable increases in their travel budgets and reported a bump in their own salaries as well,” said Craig Banikowski, CCTE, C.P.M., CMM, NBTA President & CEO. “Travel buyers remained optimistic last year despite hardships and cutbacks. They are building on positive momentum in 2010 as growth returns to companies and travel budgets and travel professionals continue to contribute to their companies’ performance by using the cost-saving disciplines they’ve acquired during the recession.”
Compensation levels for travel professionals were clearly correlated with the sales volume of their employers, with salary levels tending to increase as company sales volumes increase.
The average year-over-year salary adjustment among respondents also varies by job title. Please note when comparing compensation by job title, percentages vary by the sample sizes of respondents in each category:
- Vice Presidents saw a salary increase of 39.7% to $170,375
- Directors, a 2.0% increase to $132,643
- Managers, a 2.8% increase to $91,865
- Supervisors, a 17.4 % increase to $74,714
- Coordinators/Specialists, a 13.4% increase to $58,274
Additionally, travel managers with earned designations of Certified Corporate Travel Executive (CCTE), or Corporate Travel Executive (CTE) or Global Leadership Professional (GLP) certifications earned 1.2% more in compensation than their peers without these certifications.
Concluded Banikowski, “As the economic environment continues to improve we see travel taking a greater role in the growth of businesses overall. Likewise our survey shows that travel managers’ own compensation continues to improve as their value to the corporate top- and bottom-line is increasingly evident.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
