Taking a Look at Business Travel Trends for 2022

Even during the pandemic, business travel has remained present. Yes, the pandemic did increase the use of technology and video for certain meetings that don’t require an in-person presence. However, it also proved that many things still require those in-person interactions. To help you map out your company’s future travel plans, we’ve listed down the travel trends we have seen in 2021. With these trends, you’ll know what to look forward to in 2022.

What We’ve Seen in 2021

The 2021 Business Travel Trends Report from Motus unsurprisingly found a decrease in travel spend in favor of videoconferencing. The report indicates that, as of the second quarter of 2021, less than a fifth of companies reached 25% of their 2019 quarterly spend on travel. This falls in line with an overall estimate. Specifically, that as of November, U.S. business travel spend had dropped $192 billion in 2021.

By the end of 2021, most employees felt safe enough to travel. However, travel managers were reevaluating their policies. As a result, August 2021’s travel spend was 11% less than the equivalent level in 2019. The reduction in flight travel comes with an increase in driving. By March 2021, driving activity in the United States was 30% higher than the levels before the pandemic.

Based on the data from 2021, the Motus report also found the ideal cap for driving on business trips. They say that drives should not be greater than about 600 miles or 10 hours. After that, the cost of the drive would start to become larger than the cost to fly. These additional costs include meals, accommodations, and travel time. Some of these trends from 2021 are likely to continue into 2022, and there will also be some other noteworthy trends.

The Decision to Fly or Drive

In 2021, many companies focused on driving on business trips instead of flying. As such, many companies are likely to continue considering it. But this will not always be a practical option. Companies have to consider the value of their team’s time and the preferences of employees. This is even true on trips less than 10 hours or 600 miles.

Pushing for Flexibility

The Motus report also found that 72% of employees prioritize flexibility for their business travel. This will continue to be a trend in 2022, as employees require that flexibility to feel safe in the pandemic and post-pandemic world.

Incorporating Leisure into Business Travel

The requirements for traveling during the pandemic have increased. As such, employees want to get more out of their business travel than before. Even prior to the pandemic, 90% of business travelers who are millennials added some leisure activities to their travel. This ties closely into the idea of flexibility with travel. Employees follow the mindset that if they are going to spend time to travel to a destination, they want to also be able to appreciate the city they are in. This is true even if it requires some out-of-pocket expenses for them.

Considering Accommodations Other than Hotels

Hotels remain a popular choice for business travel accommodations. After all, they are familiar and have loyalty programs. However, there is also an increase in companies booking accommodations that are less traditional. Airbnb and similar accommodations that offer the comforts of home are becoming more popular. These are particularly popular among employees looking for leisure activities on business trips. When planning business trips, travel procurement teams should consider using the accommodations as an incentive. It can motivate employees to return to business travel.

Self-Booking is More Popular

There is also an increase in companies allowing employees to book their own travel or accommodations. This is done within a set of restrictions and policies. It is also done without eliminating the role of travel bookers. This option can reduce labor costs for the travel booking team and gives employees an element of control. It does, however, come with a caveat. It takes time out of the day of those employees. After all, they are less likely to be able to book efficiently compared to someone dedicated to that role.

Even when companies do not offer self-booking for their employees, they can provide some of the benefits. One example is by offering employees several choices for flights or accommodations. This ties back into the trend of flexibility mentioned above.