The latest GBTA Business Traveler Sentiment contains a few snippets on where so-called sharing economy companies are in the corporate travel space.
The study, carried out in conjunction with Amex and based on a decent sample of 3,500 business travellers, shows 44% of companies have policies that allow employees to use the likes of Lyft, Uber etc. And, 28% allow the use of accommodation players such as Airbnb for travel for work.
These peer-to-peer type services are still perceived as new in the space with more than 20% of travellers not sure if the options are on the corporate travel policy.
Companies in some countries seem more accepting of these new entrants with 79% of business travellers in Mexico and 61% of those in the US allowing their travellers to use the ride-hailing services.
The GBTA research also finds Millennials are more likely than business travellers from other age groups to have used the ride-hailing or accommodation platform. for work trips taken in the past three months.
Reports differ on the impact on business travel of these new entrants with many showing their gradual increase in usage while others reveal they haven't even found favour amongst Millennials.
Further insight from the study shows that social media adoption is increasing with 61% of Millennials and 50% of all business travellers now using Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Xing (Germany-based social network) or Mixi (Japan) at least once a day for work-related reasons.
Compared to last year, more employees say using social media helps their ability to connect with work contacts, colleagues and friends when on the road, with Millennials leading the way. During work trips, 61 percent of Millennials and 50 percent of all business travellers use social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Xing or Mixi once or more per day for work-related purposes.
As you would expect, mobile device usage remains strong with 72% of Millennials and 64% of business travellers overall using devices to check itineraries at least once a day during trips.
In addition, more than half of Millennials and 44% of all business travellers use them to check expenses at least once a day whilst travelling.
The GBTA research was conducted online at the end of March amongst business travellers who live in Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, the UK and the US. All have taken at least four business trips in the past 12 months.
Related:
Airbnb ramps up business travel focus, adds employee management tool
Think leisure players aren't touching business travel, think again
NB: Image from Angela Waye for Big Stock Photo.