As a way combating the crisis, Spanish companies have chosen to implement new in-house policies that promote "intelligent purchasing" (cost and time optimization) with the aim of streamlining spending on business trips.
This is one of the most relevant findings of the study “Behaviour of Business and Corporate Travellers in Spain” (2010), jointly conducted by Gebta Spain, the country’s main corporate travel yardstick, and the new generation airline Vueling.
The aim of the study was to analyze the evolution and behavioural changes of business travellers, and to identify how the economic situation in Spain influences the habits of companies as regards business travel.
According to the results of the study, the price is the most influential factor when deciding on which airline to use. Nevertheless, the poll also highlights other determining factors (frequency of flights, world-class airports) when choosing between the different airlines operating in Spain. Business travellers acknowledge the growing importance of the benefits that improve the efficiency of their trips (in terms of time management).
Main conclusions
According the data analysis performed by Gebta and Vueling, the daily efforts of Spanish companies to promote and consolidate their business are heightening the awareness of their employees as regards business travel.
Intelligent purchasing
The keys to intelligent purchasing by companies and business travellers lie in three general areas: time management, cost management, and client centricity.
Time management: Business travellers look for solutions that allow them to optimize and manage their time and adapt to the needs, objectives and travel policies of their companies:
- Optimization and duration of the trip, and overnight stays.
- Responsiveness to flight frequency/timetables.
- Predilection for world-class airports.
- Flexibility as regards changes.
- Mobile boarding card availability.
Cost management: Business travellers interiorize the travel policies of their companies and are price conscious because:
- The price is a decisive factor.
- Price predictability/transparency is valued.
Client centricity: Business travellers value the capacity for satisfying their specific needs, as well as loyalty programmes:
- Client hospitality.
- Loyalty programmes.
Identified behaviours
The following general profiles and behaviours have been identified among companies and business travellers alike:
- Business traveller profile and behaviour: Males aged between 15-44, working for a company, of which 64% have gone on at least one business trip a month in 2009 (11 trips per year, not counting one month of holidays). Ninety percent have a great decision-making capacity as regards the airline they want to use, even within the company.
- Company profile: Fifty-one percent of the companies taking part in the study expect to make the same number of trips as in 2009, and 48% have modified their travel policy as a consequence of the economic climate, highlighting the reduction of trips (26%) and preference for airlines with economic prices (26%).
- Favourite airlines: Business travellers value their favourite airlines for their client hospitality, flight frequency/timetable and price. In order of preference, the most popular airlines are as follows:
- Iberia
- Vueling
- Lufthansa
