Research was carried out across a number of corporate events and trade shows, with 62 percent of respondents citing efficiency as the most desirable attribute of a Travel Management Company (TMC). Travelscene general manager David Padman said businesses are stretching budgets, in the hopes of making the most of their corporate travel experiences. The current global economic situation is starting to have an impact on the travel industry here in Australia and we are now seeing signs of pressure from companies to thoroughly assess the returns from their travel spend, Mr Padman said. Businesses are also looking to be more productive in many ways, so productivity is definitely another key deliverable trending in Australian business travel and marking the fiscal end of 2011/2012. Increasing caution is leading to heightened scrutiny within the corporate travel sector, with companies expecting their business travellers are doing more with less, reflecting on the abilities of the travel management company. Businesses are not only assessing how they travel, but also what they are spending on travel. TMCS are following the same trend and, by being more productive themselves, they are able to offer services and solutions to companies so they can achieve their productivity goals. Measurement reporting on travel spend productivity is simply now a minimum standard. The survey also revealed 31 percent of respondents were under the impression business travel has become more cost-efficient, but just as frequent, while 27 percent argued travel has increased slightly with work opportunities emerging interstate and abroad. TMCs are on the front line when it comes to corporate travel trends and are best placed to keep abreast of fluctuations that may affect a companys travel expenditure and entire bottom line. The end of the financial year is the perfect time for businesses to assess their budgets and speak to a travel professional about adding value and saving money in 2013, Mr Padman said. |
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Corporate travel needs greater efficiency: survey
Source = e-Travel Blackboard: P.T