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