TTD: ‘More UK firms turning to internet for travel’
The internet is enabling more businesses to organise their travel than in the past, a new survey shows.
The Visa Europe research found that 52% of businesses questioned said more employees are now organising their travel and 48% said that more staff are involved in purchasing travel services than previously.
Forty four per cent of small firms said staff organise their own business travel, rising to 54% for medium-sized companies and 58% for larger organisations, where traditionally travel arrangements would be made by a personal assistant or through a central resource, the research found.
Larger businesses tend to use the internet more and are more committed to using budget hotels and airlines.
Overall, 66% of companies said they actively encouraged the use of budget hotels and 54% were asking staff to use low cost airlines.
The poll of 360 respondents from across small, medium and large businesses found that 46% had encouraged the use of more conference calls.
More than three quarters of businesses spend more time shopping around for better deals than two years ago, the research found. Seventy per cent of large companies believing the online option made it easier for them to shop around and save money in the process.
Online was important or very important for 57% of businesses for the purchase of travel and transport, and 53% said online was important for buying accommodation.
Visa Europe’s head of Visa commercial Gabriele Cappelletti said: “Tools like the internet, traditionally used for consumer purchasing, are a really useful way for businesses to shop around for the best price. However, saving money can also be about the simple things like making sure employees take advantage of flexible rail fares.”
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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