Travel managers challenged by cost pressures, report reveals

Worldwide: Travel and expense management company SAP Concur has released the sixth edition of its Global Business Travel survey.

The global survey features insights from 3,750 business travellers in 24 markets, as well as 600 travel managers across Germany, the UK, US, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Findings include:

• 67 per cent of global business travellers feel that business travel is critical for career advancement, yet 66 per cent feel they haven’t had an equal opportunity to take trips compared to their colleagues. 

• Nearly nine in 10 (88 per cent) have been forced to take unanticipated steps in the past 12 months because of unexpected delays, cancellations, or the need to re-route during business travel.

• Safety concerns are the biggest reason that business travellers decline business trips (44 per cent), but more than a quarter of respondents (29 per cent) are willing to decline a business trip due to the likelihood of delays or cancellations.

• Around one in five (22 per cent) say they’re willing to decline a business trip that doesn’t allow them to extend it for personal travel.

• Nearly all business traveller respondents (91 per cent) have seen their company cut back on allowing flexible travel options in the past 12 months.

• When asked what will make their job more difficult this year, two in five travel managers (42 per cent) say company directives to cut travel costs.

• According to travel managers, their companies are most focussed on: meeting employees needs for flexible travel (35 per cent), increasing the use of sustainable travel options(33 per cent), and cutting back on business travel costs (32 per cent).

“The current economic environment is driving tension among business travellers, travel managers, and company leadership,” said to Charlie Sultan, president of Concur Travel at SAP Concur. “Balance between flexibility and cost is delicate, not to mention pressures from new distribution channels and ongoing geopolitical issues. This year’s report demonstrates the need for a mutual understanding of these realities and compromise in corporate travel programs.”

To the read additional takeaways from the SAP Concur Sixth Annual Global Business Travel Survey, click here.