Only 16% of UK business travellers have had their travel budget reduced, according to an Opinium survey, commissioned by World Travel Protection.
The survey of 501 travellers found only 13% say it’s harder to get travel signed off than it used to be.
The poll also found:
- 60% say it would be detrimental to business if travel budgets were reduced
- 54% are concerned that travelling less would affect their ability to be successful at their job
- frequent business travellers, who travel at least once a month, feel this the most strongly (78%)
- 49% said if travel budgets are cut they would consider leaving their organisation
- only 15% must stay in less premium hotels, only 10% now fly Premium Economy or Economy instead of Business and only 11% must fly at cheaper times or are encouraged to use cheaper non-direct routes.
Kate Fitzpatrick, Regional Security Director, EMEA at World Travel Protection, said: “It’s clear business travel remains crucial to allow employees to do their job properly. Despite the Covid enforced period of limited travel and rising costs of travel associated with the Ukraine war, many companies continue to place business travel at the heart of their business strategy.
“It may be somewhat cliched to say it, but meeting face-to-face is very different to meeting over teams or zoom, and of course it offers opportunities for activities that simply can’t be done remotely such as team building activities and inspection of supply chains and monitoring production quality.”
Opinium surveyed UK business travellers, who travel internationally for business at least once a year, from 23 January to 2 February 2023.
