BCD Travel announced travel agency partnership agreements in Gabon, Madagascar, Mauritius, Senegal and Tanzania, and said five more country partners would be signed in sub-Saharan Africa by year-end. "Oil, telecommunications and non-governmental organizations have all shown strong demand," according to Greg O'Neil, BCD Travel managing director and senior vice president for growth and emerging markets. "Much of this growth is fueled by new multinational companies with head offices based in Africa, the Gulf, India, China" and other rapidly expanding economies.

Global premium airline traffic in June declined 0.4 percent year-over-year, continuing a "deteriorating trend" that began in late 2007, according to the International Air Transport Association. "Prospects are for further weakness in business and premium travel during the second half of this year, as economic growth continues to slow and key financial market activities such as M&A remain depressed." The "weakest premium market" was intra-Europe, showing a 7.8 percent drop "as business passengers continue to switch to the back of the aircraft, or onto economy-only services." Within North America, premium traffic edged downward 0.4 percent while premium traffic across the North Atlantic rose by 1.7 percent.

Hogg Robinson Group's HRG Consulting named as principal consultant Jennifer Mundle and tasked her with managing client hotel requests for proposals. Mundle reports to head of client consulting Mike Orchard, who is leading the division following the announced departure this month of head of global consulting Ian Flint.

InterContinental Hotels Group reported net income of $101 million for the three months ended 30 June, down from $128 million a year earlier. Systemwide average daily rates rose across all brands and all regions, ranging from 4.4 percent growth year-over-year in the Americas to 8 percent growth in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "Market conditions have become more challenging, particularly in the U.S.," said CEO Andrew Cosslett. "However, the long-term trends for the travel industry remain positive."

Sixty-one percent of 90 U.K. business travel agencies reported higher booking activity during the first half of 2008, compared with the same period last year, but half said higher fuel prices have impacted demand, according to Amadeus. Three in 10 business agencies "foresee no change in business over the next six months, with a further 58 percent predicting that bookings will increase between 5 percent and 20 percent."

Hilton Hotels Corporation appointed Mark Komine as senior vice president of sales and commercial development for the Americas. Previously a sales executive for LXR Luxury Resorts and Hotels, Komine is responsible for all Hilton sales strategy and development across the region. Hilton also promoted Rob Scypinski to vice president of sales for the Americas, replacing Hilton veteran Steve Armitage who will retire after a transition period of a few months.

Consulting and business process outsourcing firm Tri-Pen Management will offer its clients IBM's Global Expense Reimbursement Solution as part of a "new multi-tiered" relationship that also includes hosting by IBM of Tri-Pen's TravelMaster data reporting platform.