Mobile and wearable technology are tipped to play an even bigger role in the organisation of corporate itineraries and traveller management in 2016.
A survey by Carlson Wagonlit Travel of over 1,000 travel managers around the world has identified a number of key elements in the corporate travel sector that are expected to have anything from a moderate to critical impact on how it operates.
The report is broken down into six areas of so-called priority for travel managers as they look ahead into the next 12 months:
- New technology and services
- Air and ground transportation
- Hotels
- Policy and compliance
- Responsible travel
- Reporting and analytics
Highlights from across the study are as follows:
- "Only", says the study, a third of travel managers expect IATA's NDC distribution standards project to have an impact on 2016.
- 80% of travel managers say that safety and security issues remain as a high or very high impact on travel programmes.
- Popularity of virtual credit cards for payments is getting stronger, with 51% of respondents saying they expect a high influence on how plans are paid for by customers.
- Nearly a third (32%) believe sharing economy-type services (Uber/Airbnb) will have an impact next year and only the same number have included such products into existing programmes so far.
- Some 44% of travel managers do not have a policy of combining business and leisure into trips (38% say leisure can be combined, 18% will not allow it).
- Reverse auctions are also gaining traction, with 85% of hotels improving their initial bid, amounting to an estimated 3% savings overall. 84% came from lower rates and the 14% from added services such as breakfast, web access.
- Over half (53%) of travel managers expect low cost carriers to have an impact on travel programmes next year, with 15% of transactions flowing through CWT's systems featuring LCCs.
David Moran, executive vice president at Carlson Wagonlit Travel, says:
"Travel managers have told us loud and clear that the traveler experience will play a major role in the 2016 travel program.
"Whether it’s proactive destination information, help in an emergency, multichannel access or personalized services – everything is designed to provide travelers with a seamless experience at every stage of a trip."
The full study is available here.
NB:Travel manager image via Shuttertock.