Car rentals were one bright spot in the United Kindgom during the last three months of 2011 compared to the same three months in 2010, according to figures from the U.K.-based Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC). Rentals jumped by 21.1%. The figures were reported on Air and Business Travel News.

Other news wasn’t so good. Business travel air sales in England fell during the last three months of 2011, the first drop in transactions since 2009. Air transactions by the GTMCs 36 members fell by 0.2% to 1.51 million from October to December. And the U.K.’s GDP fell 0.2% over the same three-month period.

GTMC chief executive Anne Godfrey said one cause for optimism was a growth of 5% in overall transactions over the year. The fact that the 0.2% fall matches the drop in GDP shows how important business travel is to the U.K. and how it drives the economy.

Godfrey is “cautiously optimistic” about the prospects for business travel in 2012, however. Hotel transactions were up by 6% and rail increased by 3.1%.

For the full article from Air and Business Travel News, click on the URL: http://www.abtn.co.uk/news/2516866-flight-sales-fall-first-time-2009