Major growth in firms with meetings policy
The adoption of self booking tools (SBTs) by UK companies has increased by 25% in the past two year, according to the Institute of Travel Management (ITM).
Its research results in its annual publication, the Industry Observer showed adoption had leapt from 13% in 2006 to 38% last year.
Another key finding was that the number of companies with a meetings and events policy rose from just 50% in 2006 to 75% in 2008.
The research also found there was an increasing focus on environment and cost, greater compliance and attention on traveller tracking than two years ago.
The survey was conducted among 200 travel and meetings managers who between them spent £2bn a year.
Other key findings were:
- Respondents were split equally over whether their programmes would expand or contract over the next year
- Nearly half said they planned to review their travel management company in the next year
- Demand for business class seats will fall but demand for low cost carriers and meetings and events services will rise
- Traveller tracking has increased with 76% of companies saying they can trace a traveller in an hour compared with 50% in 2006
- Risk assessment for travellers going outside Europe and the US rose from 20% in 2006 to 69% in 2008
- The number of buyers who believe they can make a difference to the environment increased from 17% in 2006 to 47% in 2008.
Paul Tilstone, ITM's ceo, said: "This new annual analysis will allow us to test the development of key issues within the travel and meetings market over time.
"Even the results of this first comparative analysis, however, have demonstrated astounding advances in opinions and behaviour especially when it comes to SBT adoption, policies and compliance and CSR elements."
But he said the report indicated a very difficult time ahead.
"With transaction numbers down at the end of 2008 by up to 23%, variable by sector, I think it's fair to say that we are entering unchartered waters.
"The economic situation we find ourselves in is likely to accelerate the key trends identified in the research and I think we shall see greater transaction automation, even greater compliance and further reduced trips through the combined economic/environmental effect in the year ahead," Mr Tilstone said.
www.itm.org.uk