COMPANIES MAY be actively discouraging employees from travelling, but according to research by Forbes Insights among 760 executives from businesses of all sizes, the vast majority (84 per cent) prefers face-to-face business meetings. Respondents cited such meetings as most effective where the objective was persuasion, leadership, engagement, inspiration, decision-making accountability or candour. Web conferences, video-conferences and teleconferences were best for disseminating information and presenting data.
However, over half of those questioned said they are travelling less frequently than in 2008, one-third much less frequently, and 57 per cent reported that their companies' use of technology for meetings has increased.