Travel managers remain focused on savings: survey

Feb 3, 2010

Optimising hotel spend, improving traveller compliance, optimising simple bookings, and driving air and ground transportation savings are the top four areas of higher priority for travel managers in 2010, according to a recent report published by Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT).

Published: 03 Feb 2010

Optimising hotel spend, improving traveller compliance, optimising simple bookings, and driving air and ground transportation savings are the top four areas of higher priority for travel managers in 2010, according to a recent report published by Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT).

A survey of 169 travel managers worldwide was conducted by CWT in the fourth quarter of 2009.

When questioned about which of the following areas will become a higher priority in your 2010 travel programme compared to 2009, the response was as follows:

      • Optimising hotel spend 60%
      • Improving traveller compliance 55%
      • Optimising simple bookings 50%
      • Driving air and ground transportation savings 50%
      • Further consolidating the travel programme 37%
      • Developing key performance indicators 36%
      • Optimising the travel policy 34%
      • Enhancing the traveller experience 33%
      • Tackling meetings and events 32%
      • Addressing safety and security needs 26%
      • Making the programme environmentally friendly 13%
      • Optimising hotel spend 60%
      • Improving traveller compliance 55%
      • Optimising simple bookings 50%
      • Driving air and ground transportation savings 50%
      • Further consolidating the travel programme 37%
      • Developing key performance indicators 36%
      • Optimising the travel policy 34%
      • Enhancing the traveller experience 33%
      • Tackling meetings and events 32%
      • Addressing safety and security needs 26%
      • Making the programme environmentally friendly 13%
      • Optimising hotel spend 60%
      • Improving traveller compliance 55%
      • Optimising simple bookings 50%
      • Driving air and ground transportation savings 50%
      • Further consolidating the travel programme 37%
      • Developing key performance indicators 36%
      • Optimising the travel policy 34%
      • Enhancing the traveller experience 33%
      • Tackling meetings and events 32%
      • Addressing safety and security needs 26%
      • Making the programme environmentally friendly 13%
      • Optimising hotel spend 60%
      • Improving traveller compliance 55%
      • Optimising simple bookings 50%
      • Driving air and ground transportation savings 50%
      • Further consolidating the travel programme 37%
      • Developing key performance indicators 36%
      • Optimising the travel policy 34%
      • Enhancing the traveller experience 33%
      • Tackling meetings and events 32%
      • Addressing safety and security needs 26%
      • Making the programme environmentally friendly 13%

    • “Driving savings was the mandate for travel managers throughout 2009. Often, this meant reducing business travel. It also meant applying the fundamentals of smart travel management more diligently than ever. This will be the case in 2010 as well, even as the economy improves and business travel picks up,” said Cathy Voss, executive vice president, Global Programme Solutions, CWT.

    CWT anticipates a decline in negotiated hotel rates; little, if any, demand for dynamic hotel pricing from travel managers and buyers; higher average ticket prices for air travel as industry consolidation and capacity reduction continue; and the reinforcement of ancillary fees.

    Furthermore, competition for rail travel will increase and car rental companies will continue to control costs while increasing rates and no-show fees.

    CWT also foresees efforts to enhance the traveller experience through mobile services, paperless boarding passes, and wireless Internet for air and rail travel.