Senior managers pay attention to travel data: study

Senior management is paying attention to travel program data more so than in previous years, according to new research from American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) and The BTN Group.

The new report states that nearly 80 per cent of senior managers say savings is the most important metric reported to senior leadership, followed by travel costs and compliance. Additionally, 70 per cent of travel managers say they are reporting on compliance to senior management, the report states.

While data sharing to senior leadership is on the rise, the study also found that data communications with travelers were somewhat lacking. For example: only half of travel managers reported that they polled for business traveller satisfaction, which impacts employee retention and satisfaction, as well as business travel outcomes.

Additional Findings:

• Six out of ten senior leaders reported that travel data distribution is more important than one year ago.
• About half [50 per cent] of respondents track for traveler satisfaction with their program.
• Only 40 per cent of travel managers provided information on policy compliance and cost of trip detail to travellers.
• Nearly seven of 10 respondents said they rely on pop-ups or alerts in their booking portals for communications to cue travellers about non-compliant booking behaviours or cost implications.
• Travel managers reported that the most prominent message they could convey to travellers is to stay within the program.
• Two/three of managers surveyed said they collected insights from travellers to enhance their programs
• Six out of 10 surveyed said more accurate, timely data feeds would make data compilation easier, faster or better
• Half of travel managers reported using price monitoring tools.

To download the full report, click here.