Although spending for business travellers has increased in 2011, ‘forking out’ money for meals and food has declined.

Average accommodation costs in the United States rose approximately four percent since 2010, while food expenses dropped four percent on the previous year, the Los Angeles Times reported.

A reduction in food consumption could mean a tighter expenses budget for future business travellers according to Concur co-founder Mike Hilton.

“The reality is that for most companies, when the price of air travel goes up, they try to get cost savings from somewhere else," he said. "Instead of eating at a nice steakhouse, you are dropping it down a notch or two.”

Meanwhile, budget hotels and chains are more likely to be the prevalent energy-efficient lodgings, according to a report released by Brighter Planet.

Last year, four percent of all commercial building energy in the US was consumed by hotels, expelling 34.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gases.

A ranking of the most energy-efficient hotels was liberated, citing Vagabond Inn, Red Lion Hotels Corporation and Red Carpet Inns as the most eco-friendly.

Brighter Planet director of business development Robbie Adler said the study aimed to encourage hotels to divulge their carbon footprint to future guests.

“There is no reason why they can't provide you that information," he said.

“There is a difference between hotels."