This is now a well-established event. Since the upheaval caused by the Covid crisis, Accor has been going out to meet its corporate clients, bringing together European leaders in the technology, legal, energy, engineering and pharmaceutical sectors for the Masters of Travel. Held this year in Brussels, this advisory board took stock of the state of business travel and corporate meetings post-pandemic. " The ideas gleaned will shape Accor's thinking on travel, in order to fully understand what companies think and to be able to work in collaboration with them to create solutions that meet their objectives" said Sabine Toplak, co-host of the event and VP of Corporate Sales and TMC for Europe and North Africa for the French hotelier.
The new Business of Travel 2023 report notes first and foremost the upturn in business travel, as well as meetings and corporate events. This is despite the fact that, in 2023, business travel expenditure is expected to remain 24% below pre-pandemic levels. But catching up with 2019 is not so far off, according to a study by Deloitte, which estimates that spending should return to the same level by 2024. This optimism was confirmed by a recent global survey conducted by the hotel group, in which 57% of respondents predicted an increase in their travel budgets in 2024 compared with 2023.
At the same time, as far as the current year is concerned, almost half (46 %) of the professionals surveyed had no plans to limit business travel for the rest of the year, despite financial and geopolitical uncertainties. However, 14% have introduced a plan to limit travel, while others are reducing the number of participants at international meetings because of rising air fares and limited seat availability.
More generally, the Business of Travel 2023 report outlines the panorama of meetings and business travel, which could not remain the same after such a trying period for employees, nor in the face of the environmental challenges to come. Balancing work and leisureTraveller experience" is the second most important consideration for companies in 2024, just after cost savings. " Companies are striving to strike a balance between productivity and purposecommented Saskia Gentil, Accor's Senior VP Sales for Europe and North Africa. It's a time of great change and re-evaluation for the industry" .
All the Masters of Travel delegates agreed that today is the time for business travel". with a defined goal" . " The 'why' behind the trip is a crucial factor in approving a trip" according to the report published by Accor.
Entering into a partnership and signing a contract will also remain essential, at least ". until technology catches up and holograms can smile with emotion" the study points out. However, while the value of face-to-face meetings is undeniable - with professionals estimating that face-to-face meetings generate 25 % in additional revenue - it is no longer a case of packing your suitcase and heading off on a whim for an in-house meeting, but rather of carefully analysing the situation. the return on investment of the trip. As an alternative, virtual meetings are now a well-established part of business practice, which also helps to limit the growing stress of travel, with its attendant strikes, cancellations and flight delays.
Focus on sustainability, trend towards bleisure
Limiting non-essential travel is also in line with the environmental concerns that have come to the fore for many companies. For example, 54 % of Accor's corporate customers consider that carbon emissions as their main priority in terms of CSR. This is leading to increased pressure on their accommodation suppliers, whose commitment to sustainable development is becoming an important criterion. " Supplier sustainability performance for hotel search and selection in 2024 was ranked at 6.57/10, demonstrating its importance in booking decisions" stresses the report.
In addition, the delegates taking part in the Masters of Travel stressed that their companies' reduction targets could be often more ambitious than those of hotelsSome are aiming for carbon neutrality by 2025. As a result, they are inviting their hotel partners to speed up the deployment of CSR solutions, and in particular hotel scorecards that can be linked to the tendering process. In this context, Accor has been able to give some major pledges, with more than 70 % of its hotels equipped with tools for measuring carbon emissions, and the desire to see 100% of its fleet eco-certified by 2026.
As part of their thinking on costs and carbon footprint, some companies are talking about new habits emerging with the development of travel. to secondary markets and low-season travel to major destinations, to take advantage of lower fares and avoid the need for air-conditioning.
Bleisure is also part of this reflection on the carbon footprint. Longer trips, more professionally intense but who also tick the "leisure" box This win-win solution for both companies and their employees has become commonplace. According to a survey carried out by Accor, 67% of customers questioned extended their business trips in 2022. This is the case for younger employees, who are more inclined to combine business with pleasure, but the trend is " increasingly widespread across all demographic categories "according to the Business of Travel report.
This bleisure trend, which is undoubtedly only just beginning to take shape, is favouring long-stay accommodation products. But these different aspects still suggest a few grey areas. Notably the breakdown between business and personal expenses - enough to give the accounting department in charge of allocating the bills for an extended hotel stay a few headaches - or, even more so, insurance - are not only the traveller, but also his family and friends who come to join him for the weekend, covered? - and risk management.
While the duty of care is one of the other major priorities for companies, the Accor study nevertheless notes that ". delegates revealed that the companies they work for are increasingly taking into account this "pleasure" aspect in their insurance policies - because leisure activities and taking advantage of a destination offer benefits to employees -, thus demonstrating their goodwill" . Since these mysteries are beyond me, let's pretend to be their organiser: Cocteau couldn't have said it better.
