A recent Business Impact Survey from The Advantage Travel Partnership, Britain’s largest consortium of independent travel agents, has revealed the latest business travel booking trends members are seeing as the corporate travel sector continues to recover in 2023.
48 percent of The Advantage Travel Partnership’s business travel members surveyed reported seeing an increase in approaches from clients who had previously worked independently, without a TMC. This continues the trend seen in 2022, as previously ‘unmanaged’ corporate travel teams seek the assistance and professional knowledge of a TMC as travel has become increasingly more complex, disrupted and potentially difficult.
Over half of the members seeing an increase in approaches said the reason companies were opting for a TMC’s support is to prepare for the potential travel disruption caused by late changes and cancellations. TMC’s are also able to provide guidance on key travel issues such as traveller wellbeing, sustainability, and more.
Advantage members generate over £3bn (approx. USD 3.71bn) in business travel spend annually and 35 members feature in the UK’s top 50 Travel Management Companies (TMC).
One in three of Advantage business travel members surveyed has also seen an increase in the length of business travel trips, as hybrid working continues and many companies introduce ‘work from anywhere’ polices to enable travellers to stay in a destination for a longer period. More members are also now providing both business and leisure travel services to clients, as more independent business travellers want the reassurance and confidence of booking with an expert.
Guy Snelgar, global business travel director of The Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “We are seeing a rise in members on both sides of the industry offering both business and leisure travel services. Travellers are looking for the reassurance and confidence of booking with an expert whom they trust, who knows and understands them, and will look after them if and when travel plans are disrupted, which is happening more regularly, particularly with the recent strikes, airport disruption and cancellations.”
“Business travellers who received significant assistance during the pandemic from their TMC, whether returning from being stranded abroad or dealing with the complications of vaccine or quarantine requirements, have established strong connections with the TMCs and individual travel agents who supported them. As a result, travellers are increasingly turning to their trusted experts to ask about their leisure travel and family holidays. On the other hand, we are also seeing a number of business travellers now booking corporate travel packages with their independent local agent, having previously established relationships through booking personal holidays.”
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