Today’s business traveller

Conducted by the European cabinet B&P at the request of Mondial Assistance and the magazine Voyage et Business, the survey titled “What are business travellers like in 2008?” is the first barometer of its kind.Carried out between 9 and 27 July 2008 using a sample of 864 business travellers coming from all types of businesses (with 144 extra interviews conducted between 9 July and 6 August), this survey tends to demonstrate that the fun image of travel conceals certain expectations and queries about the evolution of individuals in charge of representing their companies to the outside world. But first of all, what are business travellers like these days?Today’s business travellers are generally quite young (79% of them are under 45 years old) and consider travelling as an important part of their work. Men are slightly more numerous than women, but this gap tends to be less significant in the fields of fashion, publishing or communications where a quasi-perfect balance exists (51% men, 49% women). As far as destinations go, Europe is still top of the charts (37% of trips) even if 63% of travellers surveyed believe that “technology could rapidly become a substitute for trips within Europe”. Asia, in second position with 31%, is in the process of becoming a common destination. The proportion travelling to the American continent has fallen slightly (20%) as well as the proportion bound for Africa (9%).Internet remains the most frequently used means to organise business trips: 68% of interviewees use the Web to prepare trips, as opposed to 15% who rely on guides, trade press and generic documents. However, 80% of trips are then managed by purchasing departments, travel managers or agencies specialised in business trips.The survey also indicates that all business travellers are extremely flexible: 48% of them say that they are prepared to depart on a Sunday, even if 89% of interviewees wish for “financial compensation” for days spent away from home.Trips are considered as “globally well  organised” by 90% of interviewees; 82% of the persons surveyed nevertheless demand a clear travel itinerary and 78% a telephone assistance number 24 hours a day. On the topic of security, 88% state that they are “not very well insured” and 58% are unaware of the insurance contracts linked to their trips. Many say that they are willing to undergo training on travel security (82 %). Finally, turning towards the future, 57% wish they could intervene more often in decision-making about trips and the same proportion would like to be consulted in the definition of the company’s travel policy. Clearly, while business travel is generally well accepted by employees, it would be preferable for the latter to have more of a say in the matter. Hotel / restaurant rates offered to business travellersLess than 120 euros              23%Between 120 et 200 euros  67%Over 200 euros                      10%  Source: “What are business travellers like in 2008?” survey for Mondial Assistance and Voyage et Business.