Research conducted by the Institute of Travel Management (ITM) has revealed that companies face increasing pressure to adopt more formal travel planning as the distinction between commuter and business travel becomes blurred in today”s working practices.
”Although trips to or from the office are basically business travel, the main consideration has always been who pays for it,” said ITM executive director, Paul Tilstone.
”However CSR [Corporate Social Responsibility] is changing corporate thinking: 25% of companies already consider the carbon footprint associated with their employees” commuter travel to be their concern. And whilst only a minority recognise this type of trip as business travel right now, 42% are unsure.”
Companies now face new challenges such as corporate manslaughter legislation, CSR and, with more and more employees working for home, what exactly constitutes business travel and in turn what responsibility the firm has for such travel.
Aspects such as duty of care, the environment and security traditionally associated with booking air travel, are now becoming a concern for ground transportation procurement, says ITM, as travel buyer remits now extend beyond rail and car hire to taxis, chauffeur drive, fleet management and public transport.
ITM”s survey revealed 65% of travel buyers have already reviewed, or are in the process of reviewing, their company”s fleet and private car use due to new laws on corporate manslaughter, with 33% also having selected taxi and car hire businesses based on their environmental credentials.
However, CSR has yet to affect all aspects of ground transportation, as ITM”s research partner, Argate Consulting managing director, Colin Goldney, explained. ”Recognising that rail is better for the environment than air or road is the easy part. Few are comparing public and private transport; bus or tube versus the taxi.
”Another challenge is that of overcoming human nature. Convenience is still a major decision making factor for travellers, with 54% of buyers believing that convenience and cost are of equal importance. However if travel buyers are handed responsibility for commuter travel, it”s unlikely that employees will take much notice of any attempts to influence what is basically a lifestyle decision.”