GoldSpring Consulting, the leader in business travel and meetings consulting, released benchmark statistics from the firm’s Business Traveler Sentiment Survey, revealing key insights on return to travel comfort levels from thousands of employees worldwide.
Notably, 63 percent of business travelers desire to travel within six months at the time surveyed, or by October 1, putting the industry on track for 70 percent of travelers saying yes to travel by the end of the year. Also compelling, six percent of business travelers opt for travel within the next 30 days, by May 1.
The survey is provided by GoldSpring Consulting as a complimentary service and launched globally each month to employees via participating corporations. Results gauge company-specific traveler sentiment on timing of first post-Covid business trips, willingness to fly, lodging preferences, large meeting attendance, vaccination requirements, return to office timing, and more.
“The Business Traveler Sentiment Survey is unique because it focuses specifically on business travelers,” said Will Tate, partner, GoldSpring Consulting. “It supports corporations by enabling informed decision-making as pressure mounts to get employees back on the road. It helps them implement effective corporate policy and set expectations for their preferred airlines, hotels and other travel suppliers.”
With a 30 percent response rate, the survey is striking a chord with business travelers. More than fifteen thousand travelers from global corporations were surveyed with more than five thousand responses across 60 countries. Participation is growing every day, and while the full report is reserved for participating corporations, here are benchmark highlights:
- Great Britain is the country most eager to return to travel with 24 percent of business travelers wanting to travel within a month. France comes in second at 17 percent.
- 89 percent of business travelers choose traditional hotel stays over shared lodging, expressing confidence in hotel protocols.
- 39 percent of business travelers say vaccination is a priority before traveling, with 19 percent opting for travel supplier screenings and temperature checks.
- 74 percent of business travelers now consider driving vs. flying or rail for certain trips, a surprising shift since pre-Covid business travel days.
- 44 percent, the highest percentage of respondents, see themselves attending their first large meeting (more than 25 people) in 90 days to six months, sometime between July 1 and October 1.
- 26 percent of business travelers see themselves returning to the office within 30 days, around May 1.
“While the results are optimistic for business travel to return significantly by the end of the year, it will be necessary for companies to check in routinely with travelers,” Tate said. “Companies can join the survey now and also redeploy it over time to gauge change in sentiment as travel ramps up in the coming months.”
