Some 60 per cent of business travellers would like to return in a post-pandemic environment to pre-pandemic levels of business travel, and another 9 per cent want to travel more, according to a new BCD Travel survey. More than one in four (26 per cent) prefer to travel less than before the pandemic.
BCD surveyed 738 business travellers worldwide from July 6-20 and found that 76 per cent said business travel helps them to perform their work efficiently. Concerning corporate travel policies, 64 per cent want to be able to decide for themselves whether to travel. Most also indicated they want a more simplified trip-approval process (58 per cent) and the prioritisation of direct flights (53 per cent).
Most business travellers want to get back on the road, and 74 per cent of respondents rated in-person client meetings as the most important reason to do so, according to the survey. Other reasons for travel included teambuilding, sales meetings, and meetings with partners or suppliers.
Most respondents acknowledged that virtual meetings and remote work are likely here to stay, but noted that the weaknesses of virtual meetings include lack of human contact (66 per cent), limited interaction (58 per cent), easy distraction (54 per cent) and unsuitability for some meeting types (51 per cent). Nearly half (49 per cent) cited 'Zoom fatigue' and technology issues as further virtual meeting weaknesses.
"While in some parts of the world the pandemic is slowly receding, other parts might continue to rely on virtual meetings," said BCD Meetings Events global president Scott Graf in a statement.
"Event planners and managers need to up their game with a new skill set that allows them to compensate for the weaknesses of virtual meetings, such as the lack of interaction. Training or outsourced support can be the answer to keep employees focused and motivated in a continually challenging environment."
Additionally, 57 per cent of respondents indicated they were working remotely compared with 24 per cent who said they were doing so before the pandemic. More than seven in 10 (71 per cent) prefer a mix of remote and office work in the future, with 20 per cent wanting full-time remote work.