David Lang flies to Moscow from the southern Siberian city of Chelyabinsk about a dozen times a year to attend real estate conferences and meetings.
Although he has not cut back on trips, the financial crisis has forced Lang, head of the Zapadny Bereg real estate development firm, to cut short the number of days he stays in the city.
"If you're only going to have two days in Moscow, you have four meetings a day instead of two. The mantra now seems to be more business, less lunch," said Lang, a tall, jovial New Yorker with slicked-back hair and a small ponytail.
As the impact of the world financial crisis ripples through the country's industries, companies — both small businesses like Lang's as well as with major corporations — are slashing their travel budgets, forcing Moscow's hotels, which depend on business travelers, to tighten their belts as well. Some experts see a silver-lining, however, as hoteliers could be forced to consider providing travelers with more affordable alternatives.
