BCD Travel’s Research and Innovation team recently conducted a new survey of 100 travel managers around the globe to explore the impact of COVID-19 on travel programs and to better understand companies’ needs as business travel slowly resumes.
Survey insights
The most used measures introduced for employees traveling during COVID-19 are additional pre-trip approvals (75%), specific travel advice (62%) and traveler tracking (47%).
When travel restrictions are lifted, the top three challenges for travel programs are:
- Reduced flight schedules (73%)
- Quarantine upon arrival (72%)
- Social distancing while traveling (68%).
As a result of the pandemic, travel policy will change. Topping the list of changes are:
- Stricter approval process (65%)
- More detailed information about travel procedures (55%)
- More detailed destination information (55%)
When asked about supplier management changes, most respondents aren’t planning to engage with new suppliers. However, re-negotiating existing supplier agreements and issuing new requirements to preferred suppliers are relevant for half of the respondents.
Buying behavior is also expected to change
Travel modes: 6 in 10 respondents expect the frequency of car travel—private or rental—to increase, while air travel will go down according to 85% of the respondents.
Accommodation: Survey participants expect bookings at independent hotels and alternative accommodations to go down by 49% and 45% respectively. Staying with friends/relatives or in private lodging is expected to be more popular by around 3 in 10.
