In an increasingly fragmented travel marketplace, and amid the proliferation of technologies that offer more choice than ever, corporate travel buyers must walk a tightrope between flexibility and sensible travel policy. According to new research from ACTE Global (Association of Corporate Travel Executives), developed in conjunction with American Express Global Business Travel (GBT), travellers are increasingly demanding to control their travel experiences – and travel executives must adapt as they continue to align travel programmes with organisational objectives and resource constraints.
The study, “Balancing Business Travel Tools & Policy for the Traveller Experience,” reveals how managers are addressing travellers’ growing demands for quality of life and autonomy on the road. Thirty-seven percent of travel managers surveyed report an increase in enquiries about work-life balance, a slight increase from the October 2017 research, when the figure was 31 percent. The options sought by travellers appear to present real cost-saving opportunities: Thirty-two percent of managers saw growth in requests to use chain hotels, while 22 percent saw more employees asking about sharing lodgings with colleagues. Nearly two-thirds (61 percent) say more travellers are asking for improved technology to manage travel.
Business travel can be exhausting and stressful but pursuing a collaborative process can go a long way towards supporting healthy, rested and productive employees. You never want to lock your travellers into strenuous itineraries and overly-strict policies. A two-way dialogue that addresses both employee and employer requirements, however, can actually help all parties meet their objectives. In this case, compromise need not leave both sides unhappy. Find out more about this research at acte.org.
ACTE – Finding Balance Infographic
Resumen ACTE Research – Finding Balance Narrative
Association of Corporate Travel Executives
By Greeley Koch
Executive Director
