Publication Summary

Demand for business travel has recovered substantially after its 2009 plummet, but driving growth in the years ahead will prove more challenging for travel companies than in the past. Effectively catering to the wants and needs of business travelers will be increasingly important for industry players hoping to grow their share in this lucrative segment.

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Carroll Rheem, Director, Research


PhoCusWright's U.S. Business Traveler: Managed, Unmanaged and Rogue helps travel companies gain holistic perspective from the range of business travelers in the U.S., including both those who are managed by a corporate travel policy and those who are not. Unmanaged business travelers represent tremendous opportunity and command billions of travel dollars – but they can be elusive targets. And with unprecedented marketplace transparency and robust travel planning tools available to all, there are more enticements than ever for managed travelers to go rogue. This in-depth study of business travelers explores these issues and more, uncovering key trends impacting the business travel marketplace.

Report topics include:

• Differences among managed (compliant and non-compliant) and unmanaged travelers
• General travel behaviors, including number of trips, expenditure and travel products purchased
• Purpose of trips and the impact of virtual meeting technology by trip purpose
• Travel policy reach, policy elements and structure
• Managed travel compliance factors and drivers of rogue behavior
• The travel planning process, with detailed analysis of shopping and booking channels

Purchase PhoCusWright's U.S. Business Traveler: Managed, Unmanaged and Rogue to gain rich, actionable insights into how best to serve the needs and wants of unmanaged and managed business travelers.

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Table of Contents

50 Pages

Section One: Overview, Methodology and Research Highlights
Overview
Methodology
Research Highlights

Section Two: General Business Travel Behavior
Quick Stats
Incidence of Travel Policy
Business/Leisure Crossover
Trip Frequency and Duration
Purpose of Trips and the Impact of Video Conferencing
Travel Components
Travel Expenditure
Off-Hours Activities

Section Three: Formal and Informal Business Travel Policies
Quick Stats
Flexibility of Travel Policies
Policy Compliance
Reasons for Going Rogue
Managed Traveler Program Sentiment
Additional Travel Policies

Section Four: Travel Planning
Quick Stats
Travel Booking Decision Factors
Shopping Channels
Booking Channels
Ease of Business Travel Processes
Differentiation from Leisure Travel Planning

Section Five: Demographics
Position
Number of Employees
Household Size
Children in Household
Household Income
Education
Age
Gender
Employment


LIST OF TABLES

Business Traveler Population

Incidence of Travel Policy: Managed vs. Unmanaged

Managed Travelers by Position and Company Size

Incidence of Trip Types

Business Travel Statement: % Strongly Agree + Slightly Agree

Number of Business Trips

Share of All Business Trips and Leisure Extensions by Length

Business Trips by Primary Purpose

Web-based Presentation/Video Conferencing Replacing Business Travel

Type of Business Trips Replaced by Web-based Options

Business Travel Components

Average Annual Business Travel Spend by Gender and Age

Average Annual Business Travel Spend by Policy Type and Position

Off-Hours Activities

Company's Travel Policy

Company's Travel Policy - How I Book My Travel

Adherence to Travel Policy

Managed Travelers Who Always Comply with Policy

Reasons for Not Following Corporate Travel Policy

Travel Policy Statement

Business Travel Processes

Pre-Trip Authorization Requirements

Business Travel Booking Decision Factors: % Very Important + Substantially Important

Information Sources Used for Business Travel Products Booking Decision

Websites/Apps Used for Business Travel Booking Decision

Reasons for Using Particular Websites

Business Travel Products Booking Channels

Ease of Business Travel Aspects: Managed

Ease of Business Travel Aspects: Unmanaged

Unmanaged Travelers: Business Differentiation From Leisure

Methodology

PhoCusWright fielded an online consumer survey September 2-10, 2011 through Global Market Insite, Inc. The survey targeted the general U.S. population that travels for business. To qualify for participation in the study, respondents were required to have taken at least one business trip in the past 12 months that included a flight and/or paid lodging.

For the purposes of this study, PhoCusWright defined managed travelers as those whose business trips are governed by a policy that covers which suppliers they use and/or what channel(s) they use to book. Because the natural incidence of managed travel is low relative to the unmanaged group, PhoCusWright established a quota during data collection in order to ensure a minimum of 800 managed respondents. With quota, the ratio of managed to unmanaged business traveler respondents was 38% to 62%, respectively. The study results are weighted to reflect the ratio that would have occurred had the quota not been implemented (30% managed to 70% unmanaged).

PhoCusWright received a total of 2,053 qualified responses, and the respondent pool can be projected with confidence onto the U.S. online business traveler population. The error interval for analysis is +/-2.2% at a 95% confidence level.

Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau and PEW Research, PhoCusWright projects the number of U.S. adults with Internet access who have taken at least one business trip (as previously defined) to be 30.7 million people in 2011 (see Figure 1). These travelers represent 13% of the total U.S. adult population.