Business travel to soar by 2015, announces Barclaycard

The research reveals that long haul air and rail services will see the most growth with business travel to global destinations expected to increase. Distance travelled per week will increase to approximately 700 miles per person, compared to 609 miles currently. In addition business people will on average spend an extra night away from home each month, up from 4.1 nights in 2005/6 to 5.2 nights in 2015.

The tenth anniversary results of the annual Barclaycard Business Travel Survey reveals that whilst distances travelled for business travel are predicted to increase, growth will be seen at a slower rate than the 32% increase seen between 1996/7 and 2005/6.

Meanwhile, individual days away for business per week will decrease to 2.0 in 2015, from 2.4 in 2005/6. This can largely be out down to the increasing role of technology. The use of video conferencing, for example, is expected to be used by 50% of workers by 2015, compared to 26% currently.

Tim Carlier of Barclaycard Business comments, "These trends have significant implications for the business travel industry. Long distance travel providers will need to respond to the increasingly demanding business traveller who is travelling further distances for longer periods of time. Furthermore, the decline in shorter journeys may provide a challenge for the industry to consider other ways in which to grow business."

Air travel
With long haul travel increasing, the number of flights taken per business traveller will increase by 12% from 7.6 flights per year in 2005/6 to 8.5 flights in 2015. Low cost air travel is predicted to be near saturation point and will therefore level off, with 74% of business travellers expected to use these services in 2015, no change from 2005/6.

Rail travel
Conversely, the number of business travellers regularly using trains is predicted to decrease from 34% in 2005/6 to 25% in 2015. However, there may well be growth opportunities for long distance rail travel providers.

Improved services
As journeys become longer, the desire for improved services and better working conditions will rise. It is predicted there will be an increase in:

Preference for electronic check in procedures 2005 - 23% 2015 - 90%
Preference for online booking 2005 - 37% 2015 - 70%
Business class air travel 2005 - 25% 2015 - 33%
Premium class rail travel 2005 - 22% 2015 - 25%

Snapshot of business travel in 2005/6
Nearly half (45%) of business travellers say they are travelling for business more in 2005/6 than they were in 2004/5. In contrast, actual miles travelled per month have decreased from 642 in 2004/5 to 608.5 in 2005/6.
The main reason given for the increase in business travel is business expansion, both overseas (33%) and in the UK (18%). Of those who say they are travelling less, 25% put this down to technology reducing the need.

Trade in the UK is already becoming more global, affected not only by new countries such as Poland joining the EU but also by the opening up of economies such as China. The top three business destinations over the last twelve months were:
UK and Ireland (75%)
Western Europe (56%)
US and Canada (23%)

However, Asia Pacific (10%), Eastern Europe (10%), China (7%) and Africa (4%) were also cited.

The 2005/6 business traveller
The typical male business traveller is aged between 41 and 65 and is married with children. He has a managerial position in a company with a turnover in excess of