Business Travel May22

Business Travel

Travel Leaders Group, the largest traditional travel agency in North America, released the 2017 Business Travel Trends survey. More than 540 agents participated in the survey, each with a portfolio composed of at least 50 percent business travel clients. The survey highlights industry trends as well as business travelers’ leading concerns. The business travel sector is projected to remain strong with 86% of agents expecting bookings to remain “as high or higher” than the same time last year. With potential growth in mind, industry professionals search for ways to improve the traveler experience. Top Concerns Each year, agents reported the top travel three concerns for their clients. The chart below reflects changes from year to year.   While agents can do very little to ease difficulties within the airlines and TSA, they have committed to tackling the problems within their reach. Agents reported that they are most able to address or mitigate the following concerns for corporate travelers: Delayed flights 48.6% Making sure someone has their back 39.2% Earning frequent flyer/loyalty points 32.3% Limited airline seat availability 28.7% Travel costs 25.1% Wish Lists Skift, the nation’s largest industry intelligence platform, created the Supertraveler’s Wish List this year. Beyond the woes of airlines and agents, this list hones in on what business travelers seek on a personal level. The most sought-after features include better apps for hotels and improved retail in and around accommodations. Those are great additions for short term stays. But for travelers on assignment for several weeks or months, more is needed to help them feel comfortable. Corporate housing provides a more permanent feel than hotels—but they rarely get it right. Beyond pots and pans in the kitchen, corporate housing fails to address personal needs. Yardi has created a travelers’ wish list to...