American Express predicts business travel costs to rise next year

American Express Co.’s travel agency has forecast a modest increase in global business travel prices for 2013 as the fiscal crisis in Europe offsets increased business interest in growing economies, such as Brazil, India and Russia.

American Express Global Business Travel predicts Latin America’s strong economies and resulting consistent travel demand will likely result in robust price increases for the region next year…expects only conservative increases in corporate hotel rates, despite relatively constant hotel room capacity.