Half of business travelers return. However, according to a BCD study, companies are overlooking the most important stressors of their employees on business trips.
The weakening of the Corona situation is having an impact on companies. Employees began to travel more again. Air travel is now over 50% of pre-pandemic levels and growing.
Now companies need to know the main stressors for business travelers. They are primarily related to travel disruptions caused by the pandemic, travel restrictions and geopolitical events.
As part of the study, BCD Travel surveyed 875 business travelers around the world about their travel stressors. While 89% believe that the well-being of employees is a priority in their company, only 51% believe that their company cares about the well-being of travelers.
Here are some of the more interesting findings.
The three main pre-travel stress factors for business travelers are:
- Understand the Crown rules and prepare the necessary documents (54%)
- Rebooking tickets in case of re-routing or trip cancellation (44%)
- Balancing travel and personal life (41%)
Booking flights (18%) and accommodation (16%) are rated as the least stressful.
Top causes of travel stress:
- Flight delays and cancellations (64%)
- Short transfer time (53%)
- Economy class on long haul flights (40%)
Orientation or transportation at the destination causes the least stress (13%).
The biggest stresses after the trip:
- Doing office work (51%)
- Preparation of expense reports (45%)
- Fulfillment of household or family responsibilities (39%).
The least stressful causes are jet lag (22%) and meeting appointments while traveling (21%).
How companies can contribute to the well-being of business travelers
Companies can promote the well-being of travelers through the requirements of their travel policies and other measures. They can offer their employees direct flights, allow them to choose their seat on the plane, reduce airport check-in times, and allow business class bookings on long-haul flights.
Business travelers can also take advantage of restaurant recommendations, dietary advice, sleep and rest advice, on-the-go gym memberships, bleisure travel permits (combining work and leisure), and extra vacation time to offset business travel after business hours such as weekends.
In addition, companies can partner with health and wellness solution providers to provide business travelers with exclusive access to airport hotel gyms, pools, spas and lounges without the need to book a room.
Hotel amenities
The choice of hotel is an important aspect of the well-being of travelers. The survey found that hotels in unfortunate locations with substandard service rank fourth among the factors that cause stress for business travelers when traveling. When it comes to hotel amenities, travelers place the highest value on room temperature control, good soundproofing and ventilation, and healthy eating.