New technology, the euro and the boom in no-frills airlines are all having an effect on jetsetting executives. Travel Editor Lisa Piddington reports.
Cutting queues: For 60 per cent of business travellers, speed of service is most important when checking in.
International corporate travellers are turning to the latest in new technology to cut company costs and speed up their work, according to a major new survey.
The fourth American Express Corporate Travel Barometer - conducted at the Business Travel '99 exhibition in February - asked executive travellers their views on the corporate travel industry.
"The pressures facing travelling executives are greater than ever.
"The globalisation of the world economy is creating increased demand for corporate travel, but at the same time economic uncertainty is forcing companies to become more cost conscious," said Mr Iain Robinson, American Express Head of UK Corporate Travel.
"Our survey shows corporate travellers are turning to new technologies, such as self-booking solutions, to help them manage their time and money more effectively."
The survey revealed:
Mobile Working: Being able to work effectively on the move is increasingly important for corporate travellers. Almost all (98 per cent) said mobile working is important or very important for company productivity, and viewed new technology as indispensable.
Two fifths (39 per cent) of respondents said e-mail is vital for staying in touch with colleagues, compared with 32 per cent who relied on mobile phones.
Just under a third (30 per cent) of those surveyed access their e-mail three or more times a day when travelling and 45 per cent once or twice a day.
Looking into the future, the Internet is forecast to continue revolutionising the way corporations do business. More than half (55 per cent) said the Internet will be the most important new technology in the Millennium. Of those surveyed, 13 per cent believe smart cards will change the face of corporate travel, with applications ranging from electronic cash to e-ticketing.
Self-booking technology: These methods are becoming more popular with time-conscious executives. About 84 per cent say they are looking forward to self-booking to help them plan their travel and book accommodation. A quarter predict self-booking technology will be the most important new technology of the future.
Nearly three fifths (59 per cent) say speed and the ability to book travel quickly are the main benefits of self-booking technology, while 15 per cent appreciate the flexibility of 24-hour access and 13 per cent cited ease of use. Cost savings achieved through self booking technology are seen as secondary benefits, one in ten said purchase and process savings were the most important advantage of self-booking.
Airport facilities: As productivity becomes increasingly important for the mobile workforce, corporate travellers are demanding improved facilities at airports.
More than a third (34 per cent) would like airports to provide virtual offices or workstations, 16 per cent want meeting facilities and nine per cent video/teleconferencing.
Airline check-in: For 60 per cent of corporate travellers, speed of service is most important when checking in for their flight; 14 per cent would like a separate check-in desk for business travellers to speed up the process, while for a fifth (19 per cent) said courteous customer service was crucial.
For the busy traveller, wasted time at airports is a major frustration. A third complained about having to check-in early, while 27 per cent resented having to queue.
Flight delays were cause for complaint for 26 per cent of those surveyed. Only five per cent of respondents complained about the time taken to go through security clearance/passport control, compared with eight per cent last year and 41 per cent the year before.
'No Frills' airlines: These are becoming very popular with cost-conscious corporate travellers. About 40 per cent of corporate travellers have used no-frills airlines in the last 12 months and more than half plan to use them in the next year.
Flying is a time to relax: While mobile working is clearly on the increase, many business jetsetters still consider flying to be a time to relax from the pressures of work.
Quality over cost - hotels: The quality of the service was the most important factor in choosing a hotel for nearly half of those surveyed, compared to only 14 per cent who cited cost as the crucial factor.
Convenience was the second most important reason for selecting a hotel. More than a third (37 per cent) considered the distance of the hotel from the business venue before deciding where to say.
The main complaint about hotels was lack of flexibility, with 46 per cent resenting the inconvenience of having fixed check-out times, while 12 per cent wanted facilities to be available 24 hours a day.
The impact of the euro: The majority were enthusiastic about the introduction of the euro, although whether it will deliver the promised cost savings is in question. More than half thought the euro would have a positive impact on their business, compared to 11 per cent who thought it would be negative.
With the advent of the euro, 59 per cent said they would be using corporate cards to purchase goods and services in the 'in' countries, compared with 11 per cent who said they would use travellers cheques and 22 per cent who thought they would use cash.
THE RESULTS AT A GLANCE - PANEL IF NEEDED
A survey of more than 270 international corporate travellers attending BT '99 revealed:
New technologies and mobile working
55 per cent believe mobile working very important for company productivity
83 per cent likely to make own business travel arrangements in next year
25 per cent believe self-booking schemes will be the most important new technology in the next 12 months
30 per cent access their e-mail three or more times a day while travelling
And six per cent cited video-conferencing as a time saving innovation, proving it is yet to make a real impact on corporate travellers as a substitute for travel itself
At the airport
60 per cent say speed is most important when checking-in for flights
34 per cent would like virtual offices and workstations provided
'No Frills' Airlines
40 per cent have used 'no frills' airlines in the last 12 months, while 56 per cent say they will use them in the next year
In the air
54 per cent like to relax while flying
26 per cent work during the flight, although only two per cent use on-board telephones
At the hotel
43 per cent choose hotel because of quality of service, compared to 14 per cent who believe cost is crucial
46 per cent complained about fixed check-out times
Impact of the euro
57 per cent think the euro will have a positive impact on their business
38 per cent say business trips will become more important as a result of the new currency
59 per cent will use corporate cards to pay in euro's during the transition phase
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