Why would anyone reduce their salary to travel more on business? It is a question that some travel managers and HR directors will be asking themselves in the light of a new study by hotel group Crowne Plaza of regular business travellers which shows a disparity between the views of the French and their neighbours over the Channel.
The group asked 500 French business travellers aged between 25 and 45 about their attitudes and found that 40% felt that business trips helped with career and personal development. As a result, some 28% said they wanted to travel more but not at the expense of their pay packet.
Among French travellers who wanted to travel more on business, 46% said that they wanted to do so to discover new destinations. The second most important reason was to have face-to-face meetings and meet new people. Escaping the office was the third most popular reason.
However, the research also showed that the proportion willing to take a pay cut was reversed between France and Britain, as shown in this week's chart.
The results show that companies may need to think about business travel costs as part of an overall remuneration package. If business trips are considered as a perk then reducing travel costs may have the effect that employees — at least in the UK - demand higher salaries. Well-being is clearly a growing factor for companies, as shown in this survey looking at bleisure travel reveals.
It is a sign that business travel does not exist in isolation in companies and that a more holistic view of company spend and employee satisfaction needs to be taken.