Analysing the business travel landscape, surveying the main players, anticipating tomorrow's major trends, and providing the expertise of our teams CWT This is the aim of the first study of its kind devoted by TMC to the French market, entitled " CWT Perspectives France 2019 ". Some sixty decision-makers took part in the exercise to draw up an overview of the sector, in order to better identify their expectations and issues. Their message was clear: business travel - like MICE - is set for growth in 2019. Indeed, a large majority of travel managers (83.6%) are forecasting stable or increasing budgets for 2019, with a third planning to increase their spending. The trend is much the same in Meetings & Events, where only 17.7% of respondents plan to reduce their budget this year.
This upward trend reflects a certain optimism in the business travel industry... but also appears to be an imperative necessity in a context of rising fares. According to the CWT Perspectives France 2019 report, the hotel and air fares will increase significantly this year on a global scale - +3.7% and +2.6% respectively - and French travel managers will be particularly exposed, with increases of 6.8% and 6.9% expected in France. As a result, travel managers will have to redouble their efforts to ensure passenger comfort while controlling costs. According to CWT, this means not only using existing savings levers, but also identifying new areas for optimisation. Moreover, one travel manager in two (50.9%) mentions negotiating new categories of suppliers (VTC, meals).
Savings... but not at any price
However, while the quest for savings is the focus of attention for French travel managers, they are not forgetting their responsibility towards the traveller, and in particular the "duty of care. As a result, the security of nomadic employees appears to be the priority number 1 for 2019 (89.3%), ahead ofimprovement in travel policy (76.8%) and finally the savings on travel expenses (71,4%).
When it comes to defining hotel programmes, travel managers are also looking beyond 'simple' cost reduction. According to CWT Perspectives France 2019, the search for savings comes in third place, behind the 'cost of travel'.improved passenger satisfaction (76.8%), and above all the compliance with booking channels and travel policy (85.7%). It's one thing to define objectives, but it's even more important to succeed in carrying out these three missions simultaneously, and reconciling priorities that are not always compatible. That's where the know-how of CWT Solutions Group's experts comes in, as they add a layer of advice and case studies to the CWT Perspectives France 2019 report. " In order to keep travellers on the programme, you must first ensure that their needs are met. Offer them choice, comfort and control while rewarding them "The authors of the report, who point in particular to loyalty programmesand the importance of communicating with travellers.
After a few difficult years, during which business travellers saw travel policies tightened and savings take precedence over comfort, their travelling conditions now seem to be the focus of attention. And the phenomenon is set to continue, if the CWT report is to be believed. When asked to identify the major trends likely to have an impact on business travel over the next two years, almost one travel manager in two mentions the well-being of the traveller (49.1%). But the main expectation of travel managers for 2021 is technological. " Thanks to new cutting-edge algorithms, it is now possible to accurately predict a company's spend. 52.7% of decision-makers/Travel Managers rely on this new tool to achieve their objectives "The authors of the study note. " Predictive analytics can improve forecast accuracy and provide greater visibility of key travel indicators. These algorithms sift through large sets of historical travel data, as well as public data such as commodity prices, macroeconomic indicators, weather conditions, etc. " they added, promising "up to 10% in additional savings". ".
L'Full CWT Perspectives France 2019 report - figures, case studies, practical advice - is available hereWith a whole section devoted to the Meetings & Events sector, you can keep your travel and MICE policy up to date.
