IHG survey uncovers desire to resume business travel

THE TRUE IMPACT of the sharp decline in business travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been revealed in a new survey commissioned by IHG Hotels and Resorts and conducted by OnePoll.

The poll of 6,000 people across the US, UK and Australia unearthed a clear desire to resume travel for work purposes as soon as it is safe to do so, with more than 30 per cent admitting they felt demotivated by the current lack of business travel.

Almost half of those surveyed (48 per cent) stated that business travel enabled them to “create meaningful relationships with colleagues, customers, and/or clients”, with 40 per cent of respondents confirming they missed faceto-face meetings.

More than a third of respondents (38 per cent) stated that business travel improved their overall mood and motivated them, while a quarter said that it helped them to work smarter.

The survey also found people were missing the travel elements of a work trip. Just under half of respondents (46 per cent) missed being able to stay in a different city, with 21 per cent noting how they were missing out on earning loyalty points. Meanwhile, 34 per cent missed staying in a comfortable bed when they travelled for business, 20 per cent missed room service and 30 per cent missed dining with clients and colleagues. Additionally, 38 per cent missed having some time and space to themselves.

Close to 60 per cent of survey respondents said they cancelled up to four trips ( leisure and business) last year.

From a leisure travel perspective, more than half of travellers surveyed said they had now rebooked cancelled trips or planned to rebook them, with family holidays and visiting loved ones topping travel wish lists for 2021.

And while the pandemic isn’t over, the roll-out of vaccines is igniting hope and optimism, as respondents across all age groups, 18 to 55+, said spending time with family and friends was a primary motivator for travel this year.