Are Corporate Travelers Willing to Travel?
Despite the emergence of the Omicron variant, government restrictions and international policy inconsistencies, travel managers are optimistic about the return of business travel in 2022, according to the latest poll from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). The poll showed that three in four travel managers expect business travel volume at their companies to be “much”: (17% of respondents) or “somewhat” (58% or respondents) higher in 2022 than it was in 2021. More than one in ten (12%) expect business travel to remain about the same as in 2021, but few (5%) expect it to be lower.
Poll results show a decline in the percentage of companies that continue to suspend or cancel business travel. More than two-thirds (68%) of GBTA member companies have not yet reopened international travel, compared with 79% in the October 2021 poll, and 29% have not opened domestic business travel, versus 38% in October. Fewer than four in ten respondents (38% versus 48% in October) report their companies have suspended or canceled all or most business travel regardless of location. Despite Omicron, most travel managers feel employees are willing to travel. Two in three (64%) feel their employees are “willing” or “very willing” to travel for business in the current environment. This was down, however, from 78% in the October GBTA poll, before the emergence of Omicron. Seven in ten (72%) GBTA members and stakeholders report they would definitely or probably travel for business.
