How Expedia Wants to Help Small Businesses Save on Travel CostsThe online travel agency wants to offer small businesses the same perks that larger companies get.

Despite advancements in conferencing technology, 51 percent of small-business travelers say the frequency of their travel has increased over the past five years, according to a poll by Expedia. The online travel agency noted that the average small-business traveler takes eight business trips per year and stays 17 nights annually in hotels, spending an average of $987 on a round-trip flight and $288 nightly for a hotel.

Acting on that data, Expedia has jumped on what it sees as an opportunity: to provide the same travel-volume clout to small operators that large corporations enjoy. Thus the launch of Expedia+, a loyalty program for small-business owners.