Survey of travel managers confirms savings, collaboration and traveler experience key priorities.
Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) today published its sixth annual CWT Travel Management Priorities report, based on a survey* of 970 travel managers worldwide. The record number of respondents confirmed that although finding innovative ways to generate savings remains their number one priority for the next 12 months, traveler experience is also top of mind as technology and data offer new opportunities for tailored, user-friendly services that support their travel program.
In North America, 70% of travel managers said finding innovative ways to generate savings is a high priority for them in 2014, followed by further promoting the travel program at 62%, and driving growth in online adoption at 53%. Travel managers with responsibility for North America are keenest of all regions to further promote the travel program, while optimizing end-to-end travel processes and redesigning travel policies remain areas of untapped potential, with 42% and 31% respectively ranking them high priority.
Travel managers’ priorities for 2014: Global Results
Based on an online survey of 970 travel managers worldwide (November 2013)
Of the travel managers surveyed with global responsibilities, 71 said finding innovative ways to generate savings is a high priority for them in 2014, followed by further promoting the travel program at 66%, and driving growth in online adoption at 65%. Global travel managers are more focused than other respondents on driving online adoption and developing a mobile strategy, with 38% ranking mobile high priority.
In the United States specifically, travel managers said exploring innovative solutions to generate savings is a key focus for them in 2014, with 69% of those surveyed marking it high priority. This is followed by further promoting the travel program to travelers at 64%, and continuing to drive online adoption growth, which 53% ranked as a high priority.
More collaboration, increasingly powerful data and a greater focus on travelers are the major themes that run throughout the survey’s findings. As technology continues to change travelers’ expectations, it also opens up new opportunities for travel managers; big data is available, mobile apps are proliferating and social networks are providing opportunities to service corporate travelers like never before. At the same time security requirements remain in sharp focus—to protect not only employees on the road but also the information carried on their devices.
"Identifying savings is still the top priority for travel managers across the globe," commented David Moran, executive vice president, Global Marketing & Enterprise Strategy, CWT. "However, the greater focus on traveler experience marks a fresh, positive chapter for the industry. We’re working on new, innovative ways to help travel managers achieve their money-saving objectives at the same time as exceeding traveler expectations, from booking to expense management, and everything in between."
The seven priorities identified in CWT Travel Management Priorities 2014
- Find innovative ways to generate savings
- Drive growth in online adoption
- Optimize end-to-end travel processes
- Further promote the travel program
- Redesign the travel policy
- Develop a mobile strategy
- Reinforce corporate social responsibility
CWT Travel Management Priorities 2014 explores these seven priorities in detail and focuses on timely trends, tips and concrete examples to help travel managers achieve their objectives. The free report is a vital tool in the travel manager’s 2014 arsenal.
*Based on an international survey of 970 travel managers. The scope of the survey includes companies ranging from mid-sized national programs with travel spend of around US$2 million annually to large, international companies with travel programs spending in excess of than US$100 million annually. CWT asked travel managers to rate the level of priority for each topic as high, medium or low priorities. The percentage shows the proportion of travel managers who selected it high priority.
