According to recent research by Morning Consult, COVID-19 concerns and extended cutbacks to business travel continue to hinder the travel industry’s full recovery, even as U.S. borders reopen, bookings exceed 2020 numbers and consumer comfort levels with traveling continue to grow.
To that end, four in 10 (39 percent) of American business travelers say they’ll never go on a work trip again. In addition, shorter, close-to-home trips are becoming the new normal in business travel, with data showing that one in five business trips in the next year will be day trips.
Overall, business trips have lagged behind leisure trips during the pandemic recovery, especially in Western Europe, where more than half of French business travelers plan to stay off the road indefinitely. Signs are more promising in the Asia Pacific region, although even there, most plan to wait months before traveling again.
“Air rage” is also a concern. Forty-one percent of consumers have traveled less due to concerns about fellow travelers’ behavior. Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of consumers are at least slightly concerned about an “air rage” incident on their next flight, with 21 percent saying they are very or extremely concerned. More than half (59 percent) of adults blame the passengers for air rage incidents, while 22 percent blame airlines or their employees; 11 percent blame TSA or other airport authorities and 5 percent blame current travel-related anxiety.
Also on the air travel front, 63 percent of Americans said vaccines should be required of patrons when flying internationally. When flying domestic, 60 percent of Americans said vaccines should be required of patrons.
Travelers Return With New Mindsets
Road trips and individualized travel is here to stay: Despite the vaccine rollout, consumer comfort with shared transport remains low. Price and safety were named as top priorities in booking travel, reflecting the ongoing impact of the pandemic—both financially and from a health perspective.
Overall, American travelers are primarily driven by relaxation, connection and escape—with the exception of millennials, who are more likely than other generations to travel for adventure and luxury, attend specific events and invest in solo travel. Globally, motivations differ by region: Chinese travelers have a strong desire to seek out cultural experiences, and those from Japan are more likely to favor luxury than consumers in other markets.
Travelers are willing to pay premiums for flexibility: 10 percent of travelers are willing to pay an extra $100-plus for a flexible flight. That figure jumps to 18 percent among those in households with annual incomes of more than $100,000. Also, one-third of consumers would spend at least $20 for added flexibility from hotels.
Source: Morning Consult
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