Ride-sharing services are now allowed by one-half (50%) of all corporate travel policies, a jump from 44% in June 2016, according to the GBTA Business Traveler Sentiment Index Global Report* – Jan. 2017, in partnership with American Express. The Index examines business travelers' habits and experiences.
As policies expanded to include ride-sharing suppliers, such as Uber and Lyft, ridership among business travelers increased 21%. A majority of travelers anticipate using these types of services about the same amount (71%) or more often (18%) in the three months following the survey.
Use of home-sharing services, like Airbnb and HomeAway, also increased 20% from June 2016, despite only 30% of companies allowing this stay option. A majority of business travelers expect to stay at home-sharing properties about the same amount (72%) or more often (13%) in coming months.
"The sharing economy trends that have come to define personal travel are now significantly influencing business travel as well," said Susan Chapman Hughes, senior vice president, American Express Global Commercial Payments. "However, nearly one in five travelers are still unsure whether their employer's policies allow for sharing-economy services; making it especially important for companies to communicate clear details about the services and amenities that their policy covers."
Additional Survey Findings
The GBTA Business Traveler Sentiment Index Global Report also revealed that being on the road can mean less exercising for many business travelers. Of those who work out regularly at home, 45% don't exercise as often during work trips, either because they don't have the time (71%), are too tired (47%), are out of their normal fitness routine (29%) or because their hotel does not have a fitness center (17%).
Business travelers remain dedicated to staying on the road for work. Almost nine out of 10 (88%) say they would prefer to travel the same amount or more in the future and 64% agree their employers feel business travel is important to their organization's overall financial performance.
"GBTA has said many times that business travel drives lasting business growth," said Michael W. McCormick, GBTA Executive Director and COO. "It comes as no surprise that road warriors and their companies see the value in putting travelers on the road to get business done and drive results."
Even More Key Highlights
- Strong demand for reliable Wi-Fi continues, with more than three-quarters (77%) of business travelers saying it is vital to stay productive on work trips. Travelers are most satisfied with Wi-Fi offered by hotels (83%) and less so with service on airplanes (49%) or trains (48%).
- Millennials are often the most active age group on social media during work-related trips, but now other generations are catching up. For the first time in the history of this survey, more than one-half (54%) of all business travelers say they use social media sites at least once a day.
- Business travelers continue to favor corporate cards over other payment forms for trip-related expenses. Though still in the minority, the amount of business travelers using mobile wallets tied to corporate cards increased to 14% from 12% in June 2016.
- Mobile wallets are especially popular in Hong Kong (20%) and Mexico (19%).
The GBTA Business Traveler Sentiment Index™ Global Report – January 2017, in partnership with American Express, is available on the GBTA or American Express websites.
*Survey Methodology: Between Sept. 6-26, 2016, the GBTA Foundation conducted an online survey of 3,220 business travelers whose primary residences are located in Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, the U.K. and the U.S., who have taken at least four business trips in the past year.
