SAP Concur has been studying the challenges of business travel for six years through its annual "SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey." Year after year, safety and sustainability have emerged as major concerns. In 2019, 58 percent of global business travelers reported that they had altered their travel plans because they felt unsafe, while nearly a quarter of travelers in 2020 ranked Sustainability among their top three considerations.
The survey conducted this year shows that safety continues to remain a major reason for declining trips, with 44 percent citing destination safety concerns, 35 percent worried about political or social unrest and 33 percent concerned about transportation safety. Additionally, 27 percent were willing to decline a trip due to sustainability concerns, up from 23 percent in 2023.
The recent survey gathered insights from 3,750 business travelers across 24 markets and 600 travel managers across six markets, revealing that technology is now at the forefront of ensuring safety.
Here are some of the highlights of the current survey:
Business Travelers Look to Technology to Ensure Safety
- Safety concerns are the biggest reason that business travelers would decline a business trip. Respondents to the 2024 survey said they’d consider declining due to:
- Safety concerns about the trip destination (44 percent)
- Political or social concerns about the trip destination (35 percent)
- Safety concerns for the mode of transportation required (33 percent)
- Safety is top of mind for travel managers, as well. Nearly two in five (39 percent) said increased safety concerns amid geopolitical tensions will make their job more challenging in the next 12 months.
- Part of that challenge stems from travelers booking travel outside of corporate booking tools. More than one in three travel managers (37 percent) said supporting traveler duty of care without visibility into all travel is making it difficult for them to be successful in their role.
- Indeed, only 23 percent of business travelers said they’re required to use their company’s booking tool. Yet, travelers recognize the value of company booking tools and said the following features and capabilities are critical:
- Rebook or change easily due to cancellations or delays (33 percent)
- Book or update travel using desktop or mobile (31 percent)
- Compare all available travel options in a single booking tool (30 percent)
- Top-of-the-line features to ensure safety and well-being (29 percent)
- Integrations with other workplace tools to make administrative work easier (28 percent)
- Safe travel recommendations for travelers with alternative lifestyles (28 percent)
- Business travelers are willing to lean on technology to ensure their safety. More than a third (37 percent) would consider using AI-powered automation to help support their safety and well-being when booking business travel.
Cost and Regulations Create Barriers to Sustainable Business Travel
- Although safety is of the utmost importance, it isn’t the only reason a business traveler would decline a business trip. Environmental concerns are also top of mind for employees, and they’re cognizant of their employers’ impact. More than one in four (27 percent) would be willing to decline a business trip due to the environmental impact of the travel or the inability to choose sustainable options—up from 23 percent in our 2023 study.
- Nearly a third (29 percent) of business travelers and their company is more focused on increasing the used of sustainable travel options than meeting employees’ need for flexibility or cutting travel costs. Yet, 27 percent of business travelers indicated their company has cut back on allowing employees to pay more to use more sustainable travel options over the past 12 months.
- Similarly, 33 percent of travel managers said their company is more focused on increasing the use of sustainable travel options. However, there also are roadblocks:
- 37 percent of travel managers said providing more sustainable travel options without an adequate travel budget is making it difficult for them to be successful in their role.
- 39 percent of travel managers said new or increasing sustainability regulations and requirements will make their job more challenging in the next 12 months.
- As with safety, business travelers feel there's an opportunity for technology to support sustainable travel:
- Around one in four business travelers (23 percent) cited recommendations for reducing carbon emissions as a critical element in their company's travel booking tool.
- More than a third (37 percent) of business travelers would use AI-powered automation to find sustainable travel options when booking business travel.
The SAP Concur Global Business Traveler Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research April 5-26, 2024, among 3,750 business travelers in 24 markets: U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Italy, Spain, ANZ (Australia, New Zealand), Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia), Japan, Korea, India, Mexico, Brazil, SEA (Singapore, Malaysia), South Africa, Portugal, Switzerland and Austria.
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