Business travellers from small companies believe they pay more for travel and that it is more time-consuming and difficult to book compared with larger firms.
A study from IHG conducted by Kelton Global found a third of business travellers from small businesses feel they are not treated as well those from larger companies.
The Holiday Inn Small Business Travel Study showed more than half of small businesses don’t have a travel policy but are still careful to choose the most cost-effective option to help keep costs down.
The cost in time, however, is high. On average, SMEs take as many as nine different steps just to book a hotel, and those that visit hotel websites will do so an average of three times before they pick the right place.
While 98 per cent of small business travellers believe there are perks to be had from their business trips, they often have to deal with a lot of planning and stress when booking. According to the survey, the top pain point for business trips is the stress of travel itself (56 per cent).
The research follows IHG’s launch of a new offer where SMEs can earn benefits through the new Business Inn offering.
The survey was conducted between March 23 and April 8, 2016, among 1,005 small business travellers ages 25-65, using an e-mail invitation and an online survey.
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