North America’s largest traditional travel agency company revealed the results of its 2017 Business Travel Trends Survey, which indicates that there is no slowing down for business travel next year. Conducted from November 17 to December 9, 2016, the Business Travel Trends survey collected responses from 541 Travel Leaders Group travel agent experts throughout the United States whose portfolio consists of 50% or more business travel clients.
According to the Travel Leaders Group’s survey for 2017, 86% of business travel-focused agents are reporting that they expect bookings to remain as high or higher than the same time last year. The participating travel agents also noted that while business travelers’ top concerns are travel logistics, ranging from delayed or canceled flights to limited air seating, they have the expertise in mitigating them.
When Travel Leaders Group’s business travel agents were asked “Comparing your overall 2017 business travel bookings so far to your 2016 business travel bookings at this time last year, which is true?” they said:
| 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |
| Booking levels will increase | 32.0% | 36.6% | 45.5% | 38.4% | 38.7% | 34.5% |
| Booking levels will remain on par | 54.0% | 40.2% | 34.0% | 39.4% | 40.8% | 42.2% |
| Booking levels will decline | 14.0% | 6.6% | 4.9% | 5.7% | 9.8% | 4.7% |
Top Business Travel Concerns
When asked, “What are the top 3 concerns for your business travelers?” agents said:
| 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |
| Delayed flights | 73.2% | 78.7% | 68.5% | 70.1% |
| Limited airline seat availability | 43.8% | 38.3% | 42.0% | 46.7% |
| Earning frequent flyer/loyalty points | 41.0% | 37.6% | 32.9% | 37.5% |
| Ease of passing through security | 31.4% | 33.8% | 33.1% | 28.3% |
When asked, “Which concerns are you most able to address or mitigate for your business travelers?” the business travel agents were able to name up to three concerns. The top five are:
2017Delayed flights 48.6%
Making sure someone has their back 39.2%
Earning frequent flyer/loyalty points 32.3%
Limited airline seat availability 28.7%
Travel costs 25.1%
Making sure someone has their back 39.2%
Earning frequent flyer/loyalty points 32.3%
Limited airline seat availability 28.7%
Travel costs 25.1%
Ancillary Fees for Business TravelersThis year, travel professionals were asked “Which ancillary fees do you most consistently assist your clients in avoiding?” The top five were:
• Hotel fees for cancellations (53.2%)
• Airline fees for changing flights (41.4%)
• Airline fees for seat assignment (39.9%)
• Airline fees for baggage (21.8%)
• Hotel fees for early check-in/late check-in (16.6%)
• Hotel fees for cancellations (53.2%)
• Airline fees for changing flights (41.4%)
• Airline fees for seat assignment (39.9%)
• Airline fees for baggage (21.8%)
• Hotel fees for early check-in/late check-in (16.6%)
