A SURGE IN DEMAND for video-conferencing as travel budgets tighten has been reported by the Regus Group. Claiming to be the operator of the world's largest network of public access studios, with 1,000 locations in 75 countries, it reports a 40 per cent increase in bookings.
"Given the tough economic conditions, we expect the slowdown in business travel to continue," says Regus Group CEO Mark Dixon. "And given that the quality of virtual tools available has improved dramatically in recent years, I can't imagine any company reverting back to its old way of conducting a meeting."
Regus calculates that a video-conference meeting cuts the average cost of business travel by 75 per cent as well as removing the hassle of the commute. "Remote meetings enable effective collaboration among dispersed colleagues and eliminates the headaches and high-cost of travel," adds Dixon.