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  • Written by Charlie Le Rougetel


Business Travel Show 24-25 February 2016, Olympia Grand, London. Registration now open at www.businesstravelshow.com
 

6 January 2016: The results of the sixth annual Business Travel Show forecast suggest 2016 could be a challenging year for buyers with budgets increasing at a slower rate, half of buyers worrying about rising travel costs and compliance, new distribution methods and traveller wellbeing causing concern.

 

It’s not doom and gloom for everyone, however, as almost one third (29 per cent) of buyers will have more money to spend in 2016, this compares to 32 per cent in 2015. At the same time, a quarter expect budgets to drop, a 5 per cent increase on 2015.

 

The pressure on buying more for less seems to have lessened for 2016. 44 per cent of buyers will arrange more trips this year, a drop of 6 per cent on 2015, and 19 per cent will arrange fewer trips compared to 14 per cent last year.

 

AIRLINE SPEND

76 per cent of buyers will have the same or more to spend on airline travel in 2016. For one third, budgets will increase, the same as in 2015. One quarter (24 per cent) expect budgets to shrink. Last year, just one fifth had less to spend.

 

  • The use of low cost carries remains unchanged at 86 per cent.

  • In 2015, 26% booked more low cost flights, this year it rises to 27 per cent.

  • The number of buyers booking fewer business class flights increased again, from 38 per cent in 2015 to 42 per cent this year.

  • The number of buyers operating no time threshold for business flights dropped slightly from 33 per cent to 28 per cent.

 

ACCOMMODATION SPEND
One third of buyers will have more to spend on accommodation in 2016, the same as last year. The use of budget hotels dropped slightly. They now account for fewer than 25 per cent of bookings for three quarters (78 per cent) of buyers; down from 70 per cent in 2015.

 

TOP ISSUES FACING BUYERS

 

More than half of buyers (51 per cent) worry that travel costs will rise this year, which explains why cutting costs is their number one concern (moving up five spots since last year’s top 20). The following were given in response to an open question: What will be the biggest issue facing you as a buyer in 2016?

 

 

2015/2016

2014/2015

2013/2014

Cutting costs while maintaining quality

Airline pricing – increases, lack of transparency and negotiation concerns

NDC

Increasing compliance

Controlling costs and managing spend

Travel management 2.0

GDS content

Compliance and enforcing policy adherence

Data

Risk management vs costs savings

Increased hotel rates

Sustainability

Increasing hotel rates

Traveller safety

Meetings management

Airline pricing

Cost savings

Mobile apps

Supplier negotiations

Ancillary fees

Technological developments

Securing value for money

The role of the TMC

Free Wi-Fi in hotels and on airlines

Online adoption/booking

Online adoption

CSR

Mobile apps

Cost increases

Terrorism

Data and how to use it

Balancing traveller needs while staying within budget

Gamification

Russia

Online vs TMC pricing

Relaxation of policy

Changing traveller profiles

Sustainability

Airline bankruptcy

Global purchasing responsibility

GDS content

Integration of social and travel tools

Cost increases

Supplier consolidation

Ancillary fees

Supplier consolidation

Mobile technology & solutions

Airline consolidation

NDC

Airline consolidation

Risk management

Discovering new destinations

Availability and variety of low cost leisure tools

Virtual meetings

Last minute bookings

The move towards traveller management

Fuel increases

Stakeholder management

Stakeholder management

Less reliance on TMCs

 

Buyers were also asked how they plan to change the way they manage travel this year:

 

1

Increasing use of online booking

53%

2

Increasing compliance

31%

3

Changing relationship with TMC

22%

4

Improved focus on traveller wellbeing and communication

9%

5

Use of data

9%

 

 

The Business Travel Show takes place at Olympia Grand in London on 24-25 February 2016. It is Europe’s leading event for corporate travel buyers and registration is free at www.businesstravelshow.com.

 

Notes to editors:

 

182 travel buyers took part in the seventh Business Travel Show annual survey in November 2015. 72 per cent of respondents worked in the UK and the remaining 28 per cent in continental Europe.

 

Respondents’ travel budget: %

Less than £150k/€185k 9

£151k-£500k/€186k-€625k 5

£501k-£1m/€626k-€1.3m 8

£1m-£3m/€1.3m-€3.75m 17

£3m-£10m/€3.75m-€12.5m 14

£10m+/€12.5m+ 47

 

Number of travellers responsible for: %

Fewer than 50 11

51-100 8

101-500 13

501-1000 13

1000+ 51

N.A. 4

 

 

16 v ‘15

15 v ‘14

14 v ‘13

13 v ‘12

12 v ‘11

Buyers with bigger budgets

29%

32%

37%

39%

39%

Airline budgets

33% greater

24% smaller

33% greater

21% smaller

39% greater

37% the same

 

 

Accommodation budgets

38% greater

21% smaller

37% the same

30% greater

27% smaller

43% the same

30% greater

43% the same

 

 

Number of trips managed

More – 44%

The same – 37%

Fewer – 19%

More – 45%

The same – 41%

Fewer – 14%

More – 48%

The same – 31%

Fewer – 22%

More – 57%

The same – 22%

Fewer – 22%

 


About the Business Travel Show:

The Business Travel Show, held annually in London for 21 years, is Europe’s largest specialised exhibition and conference bringing together 7,500 European travel professionals. This long established and reputable event provides business travel buyers and managers with the suppliers, knowledge and contacts to help create and develop successful travel programmes.

It is the major event in Europe where travel buyers and managers can evaluate thousands of products and services from over 250 global travel brands to innovative start-up companies covering air, accommodation, travel management and expenses to traveller services, technology and duty of care.

Running alongside the exhibition is Europe’s largest conference programme designed to meet knowledge requirements of beginners through to experienced travel buyers. Independently produced and supported by 175 expert speakers, the 60 topical sessions cover the full spectrum of travel management facilitating peer to peer learning and debate to enable buyers to understand how to buy and manage travel better.

The Business Travel Show provides the opportunity to meet with 7,500 professionals from across the European business travel community. From peer-to-peer and supplier networking sessions to informal social events, the event allows attendees to build new relationships and to share knowledge and best practice.