Guillaume Confais-Morieux, the SNCF's Travel Agencies Market Director, was all smiles when he unveiled the results for professional traffic at the tourism trade fair. IFTM Top Resa. " Whereas 2022 was a record year for the leisure sector, 2023 will see the resumption of business traffic with a small increase of 1% since January compared to 2019 "he adds. While business traffic last year was only 85% below its pre-pandemic level, this catch-up is a year ahead of SNCF's initial forecasts. " The jump was particularly marked with a 22% increase in business traffic. compared to 2022 "he adds.
Pro products in demand
This positive trend can be seen at every level of the rail company, starting with.., the signing of 10,000 Pro contracts with very small businesses, SMEs, the self-employed and self-employed professionals...". This volume is not insignificant, as we now have 42,000 active contracts. "Frédéric Miel, director of the SNCF's business market, points out that free membership opens the door to price reductions based on rail consumption.
Similarly, the promotion of Carte Libertéwhich ends this Friday 6 October, generated sales of some 70,000 cards, an increase of 35% on last year. " We exceeded our target with a total of 270,000 Liberté cardholdersThis product is particularly attractive to very frequent travellers who make two or three TGV journeys each week. "he adds. He added: " New entrants will increase their train consumption by an average of 30% ". Finally, a recent survey shows a 5-point increase (to 29.5%) in companies' intention to make business trips by train in the coming months.
" We are clearly taking advantage of the eco-responsible commitment of companies that choose to include rail in their travel policy. "says Frédéric Miel. In this context, the companies will be looking not only at the train's favourable carbon footprint, but also at all the actions put in place by the carrier, such as selective sorting on board the trains, zero-emission passenger lounges, reduced energy consumption, etc. Pending the arrival in 2025 of the TGV M, which will be more eco-responsible in its manufacture and operation.
Pushing the TGV as a third office
On routes where the SNCF is in the balance with air travel (Zurich, Amsterdam...), the choice of train has increased by 15 points. The switch to air travel would now take place at 3.45 am, compared with 3 am previously. " Companies value long journeys in first class which represent useful time for work "Frédéric Miel, reminding us of the accuracy of the SNCF's slogan: "Going to work in an office". Today, 85% of companies authorise their employees to travel 1st class for journeys of more than 3 hours.
