Business travel is returning quickly this year as restrictions are lifted, but travel in general has certainly not been without its challenges in 2022. Airlines are also dealing with staffing shortages, leading to flight cancellations, delays, and traveler frustration.
New research commissioned by travel and expense management platform SAP Concur and conducted by Wakefield Research examines the impact of the current state of travel on business travelers and their levels of job satisfaction as travel becomes more complicated and companies rethink their policies.
This year’s survey polled 3,850 global business travelers across 25 markets and 700 global travel managers across seven markets. Overall, willingness to travel is extremely high, with 96 percent of respondents eager to reclaim the advantages of travel this year, but there are some important caveats.
Following close to two years of very limited travel, 61 percent of respondents indicated that their current travel schedule doesn’t match their expectations, while the vast majority (82 percent) feel that their companies are increasing travel for a smaller number of people compared to pre-pandemic.
These changes in company approach to corporate travel will have consequences if not addressed: according to the survey, 23 percent of business travelers who are not currently traveling at their ideal frequency reported that they will look for a new position if nothing changes. This is particularly true of people who are currently traveling more than they would like to — 30 percent of this group noted they would look to change jobs if their schedule doesn’t change.
Finding candidates will to accept more travel comes at a price: 92 percent of respondents say that they would require a higher salary, more benefits, or increased travel flexibility to accept a position that requires them to travel more than they are currently.
Travel is also causing more stress this year, with 38 percent of travelers noting that the trip itself is the most stressful part of business travel — up from 31 percent in 2021 — with health and safety the top concern cited by 34 percent of business travelers. The next most common concern (14 percent) is rising oil prices and inflation.
“Year-over-year changes in business travelers’ stress levels are some of the most telling findings about the state of business travel,” said Charlie Sultan, president of Concur Travel. “They remind us that industry challenges aren’t theoretical. In these moments of change—the pandemic, the Great Resignation, and inflation—the impacts are very real, and global business travelers are feeling and experiencing them directly.”