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One in five flout travel policy, survey reveals
BTS Special Report: One out of five business trips are made outside of travel policy with employees of larger firms flouting the rules more than most, according to new figures.
The Institute of Travel Management said non-compliance affects almost 30% of corporates spending more than £20 million on travel, twice the figure of companies with a budget of less than £1 million.
A survey of 80 business travel buyers said 10% of trips ignore policy altogether with a further 10%, although using the correct channels, bypassing preferred suppliers because the policy does not meet their needs.
ITM executive director Paul Tilstone said: “Between 15% and 30% of travellers are simply doing their own thing. The key drivers behind this are Internet access and choice, increased traveller awareness of alternative booking methods and the appeal of airline and hotel loyalty scheme.”
An unwillingness to pay TMC transaction fees are also behind the non-compliance along with TMC staff accepting non-policy bookings.
“There are instances where the individual travel consultant allows an out of policy booking to satisfy the booker,” said Tilstone.
But the ITM research, conducted in association with market intelligence firm Argate Consulting, revealed corporates are attempting to fight back by having access to pre-trip data which can identify rogue itineraries.
Many businesses are also accessing the data without the need of a TMC.
The study showed that educating staff and better communication are regarded by companies as the key ways of enforcing the policy rather than penalising the booker or traveller.
Buyers are currently spending 10% of their working week trying to enforce policy – a figure that is set to rise in 206.
The survey also revealed that 60% of buyers believe technology will help improve compliance while 40% said employees will continue to flout the policy no matter what.
Report by Steve Jones
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