Increased travel costs should not deter trips to China

Despite an expected increase in travel costs, buyers should not miss out on opportunities that may come available in the Chinese markets next year.

That's the advice of Priyan Fernando, president, global customer group and COO of American Express Business Travel in New York.

Fernando recently told Purchasing.com that “An economic downturn is the best time to gain market share. And, to gain market share, you need to be aggressive about seeing your customers and winning their business.”

Fernando says that despite all the financial unrest since the survey was conducted in October, the majority of the Fortune 500 is still doing a lot of business in China travel costs are still a high priority for most major businesses.

“They are not just selling to China. They’re also buying from China and manufacturing in China,” he says. “And when doing business in China you need to be aware of how travel is managed in the country.” For one thing, China has its own reservation system and travelers need to use it when traveling in the country.

For another, much manufacturing is being done in remote areas of China. Travelers need to know that they can't take an international flight to these areas. They need to book a domestic flight.

To keep costs of travel down in China, Fernando suggests buyers do as travel buyers in the U.S. and look at travel from end to end and put all expenses under one umbrella as a managed spend.