IHG Hotels and Resorts released on Twitter some findings from a new survey about the impact of almost zero business travel over the past year, due to the pandemic. Here are some interesting insights:
According to the survey, 30 percent of workers globally, and 40 percent in the U.S., the lack of business travel in 2020 demoralized them, and nearly 45 percent shared that travel for business bolsters their working mood and overall motivation.
More than 50 percent of respondents said business travel allows them to “create meaningful relationships with colleagues, customers, and/or clients”, and 40 percent admitted that they missed face-to-face meetings.
The survey also found that business travelers miss some key elements of a work trip – 30 percent noted they would love to go back to “sleeping in a comfy hotel bed,” 25 percent noted they miss room service, 21 percent mentioned the inability to earn loyalty points, and 30 percent missed dining with clients and colleagues. Interestingly enough, yet not surprisingly, 38 percent admitted they miss some time and space to themselves.
Commenting on these findings, Karin Sheppard, SVP, Managing Director for Europe at IHG Hotels and Resorts, said: “With so many looking forward to rebooking missed experiences, whether it’s travelling to spend time with family, a trip away with friends, or travelling for work – it’s evident that there’s a hunger for human connection again. We know travel may still look a little different this year, but we are committed to continue innovating and finding new ways to help people connect and experience our own backyard and beyond. So, when the world is ready to travel again, they can feel confident doing so with us.”
