A global study of more than 250 corporate travel managers and buyers has found that nearly six out of ten have no plans to include sharing economy lodging options in their travel policy.
And while other sharing economy lodging options are available, the obvious reference point here is Airbnb.
American Express Global Business Travel and the Association of Corporate Travel Executives have issued the research with findings based on surveys and interviews which took place this September, so the findings are hot off the presses.
One in ten (9%) of all respondents said that sharing economy lodging was now included in policy. But for the businesses whose travellers are mainly aged between 20 and 30, it's 15%.
But whether or not sharing economy lodging is in policy, business travellers are using it - 40% of respondents noted an increase over the past three years. It seems as if the maverick out-of-policy booker is still alive and kicking in the corporate travel world.
The report says:
"Policy is the foundation of managed travel but on the question of adapting to accommodate modern business travellers, travel buyers and managers appear split. While a significant number have modified policy to help travellers integrate work and personal life, a large opposing number declare they have no plans to make changes."
The fact that businesses whose travellers are aged between 20 and 30 are more engaged with sharing economy lodging is a good sign for Airbnb's long game.
As these travellers get older they will expect policy to reflect this, while new employees joining the businesses will keep up the momentum.
And it could be argued that having sharing economy lodging options included in one in ten policies is a decent start for a relatively new concept entering a well-established world.
There's a lot more than sharing economy lodging referenced in the report which is titled "Meet the modern business traveller".
Click here to read ACTE's press release
Click here to read Amex GBT's summary of the findings.
Click here to access the report in full (26-page PDF)