66% now book without agent travel
UK companies are moving away from using travel management companies (TMCs) for their travel programmes, according to a new survey by HRS.com.
The hotel booking agency said that 66% now book travel without a TMC, a 20% rise on last year's figure.
The UK Companies Travel Barometer 2009, which quizzed 300 company directors and travel bookers, also found that 68% of those which did use TMCs thought the service did not match the fees charged.
This was a drop in satisfaction compared with 2008 of 22%, HRS said.
The agency said that it also found that procurement managers were "twice as aware" as last year (22% against 11% in 2008) that TMCs "push them towards using their preferred suppliers rather than the most cost effective option."
The survey found that travel was being "re-centralised" with procurement "taking over the reins" of travel budgets.
HRS said this showed travel managers and buyers had "gone full circle" after outsourcing much of their functions to TMCs or giving more autonomy to travellers.
The number of companies "re-centralising" rose by 21% compared with last year.
It said the aim of the change was to make significant savings.
HRS said another factor influencing companies was their policy on corporate social responsibility (CSR).
More than a half (54%) said their carbon footprint was an "important consideration" when organising their travel programme.
Nearly the same number (53%) also rated environmental issues as being a leading factor in whom they chose as suppliers.
Nearly 60% said they would be influenced in their choice of a preferred hotel supplier by its carbon footprint.
Other major findings from the survey were that 40% of companies flew only economy class, that 72% of companies now booked standard rooms only and that only 21% of trips required an overnight stay compared with 40% last year.
Jon West, HRS's commercial director, said: "Current budget pressures are making it increasingly important for companies to take advantage of all cost-cutting potentials at their disposal.
"As a result more companies are looking towards transparency and standardisation as a way to save money."
www.hrs.com