Survey of travel managers confirms savings, collaboration and traveler experience key priorities
Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) today published its sixth annual CWT Travel Management Priorities for 2014 report, based on a survey* of 970 travel managers worldwide. The record number of respondents confirmed that although finding innovative ways to generate savings remains their number one priority for the next 12 months, traveller experience is also top of mind as technology and data offer new opportunities for tailored, user-friendly services that support their travel program.
Of the travel managers surveyed responsible for the Asia-Pacific region, 73 per cent said finding innovative ways to generate savings is a high priority for them in 2014, followed by optimizing end-to-end processes at 63 per cent, and improving online adoption at 55 per cent.
For the EMEA region, 66 per cent of travel managers said finding innovative ways to generate savings is a high priority for them in 2014, followed by driving growth in online adoption at 53 per cent, and optimizing end-to-end processes at 52 percent. Mobile remains a huge area for development, with 21 per cent of travel managers in EMEA ranking it high priority.
In North America, 70 per cent of travel managers said finding innovative ways to generate savings is a high priority for them in 2014, followed by further promoting the travel program at 62 per cent, and driving growth in online adoption at 53 per cent. Travel managers with responsibility for North America are keenest of all regions to further promote the travel program, while optimizing end-to-end travel processes and redesigning travel policies remain areas of untapped potential, with 42 per cent and 31 per cent respectively ranking them high priority.
Eighty per cent of travel managers in Latin America said finding innovative ways to generate savings is a high priority for them in 2014, followed by optimizing end-to-end processes at 76 per cent, and redesigning travel policy at 59 per cent. Travel managers for Latin America are the most focused of all regions on optimizing end-to-end processes and finding innovative ways to generate savings, while further promoting the travel program remains an area of untapped potential, with 42 per cent ranking it high priority.
Of the travel managers surveyed with global responsibilities, 71 said finding innovative ways to generate savings is a high priority for them in 2014, followed by further promoting the travel program at 66 per cent, and driving growth in online adoption at 65 per cent. Global travel managers are more focused than other respondents on driving online adoption and developing a mobile strategy, with 38 per cent ranking mobile high priority.
More collaboration, increasingly powerful data and a greater focus on travellers are the major themes that run throughout the survey’s findings. As technology continues to change travelers’ expectations, it also opens up new opportunities for travel managers; big data is available, mobile apps are proliferating and social networks are providing opportunities to service corporate travellers like never before. At the same time security requirements remain in sharp focus—to protect not only employees on the road but also the information carried on their devices.
“Identifying savings is still the top priority for travel managers across the globe,” commented David Moran, executive vice president, Global Marketing & Enterprise Strategy, CWT.” However, the greater focus on traveller experience marks a fresh, positive chapter for the industry. We’re working on new, innovative ways to help travel managers achieve their money-saving objectives at the same time as exceeding traveller expectations, from booking to expense management, and everything in between.”
The seven priorities identified in CWT Travel Management Priorities 2014 are:
• Find innovative ways to generate savings
• Drive growth in online adoption
• Optimize end-to-end travel processes
• Further promote the travel program
• Redesign the travel policy
• Develop a mobile strategy
• Reinforce corporate social responsibility
CWT Travel Management Priorities for 2014 explores these seven priorities in detail and focuses on timely trends, tips and concrete examples to help travel managers achieve their objectives. The free report is a vital tool in the travel manager’s 2014 arsenal.
*Based on an international survey of 970 travel managers. The scope of the survey includes companies ranging from mid-sized national programs with travel spend of around US$2 million annually to large, international companies with travel programs spending in excess of than US$100 million annually. CWT asked travel managers to rate the level of priority for each topic as high, medium or low priorities. The percentage shows the proportion of travel managers who selected it high priority.
