Hotel chains and serviced office providers may be on the right track, rolling out telepresence meeting rooms (see news).
American Express’ latest study, Managing Travel in the New Normal, revealed that more than 40 percent of top-level executives approved of investing in the new virtual meetings technologies or are studying ways to use these regularly. The findings come at a time when predictions are rife of travel demand making a comeback.
About 74 percent of respondents said their companies already use or plan to use audio-conferencing as an alternative to travel, while 15 perent said they were currently researching broadband collaboration options. Only 10 percent of respondents had no alternative technology strategy to replace in-person meetings
The American Express Business Travel eXpert survey was conducted to examine how corporations have adapted their travel programmes to the economic downturn and whether these would optimise opportunities provided when travel did pick up. The findings indicate that decision-makers believe that virtual travel is a beneficial investment, while companies are transitioning from just reducing costs to building more efficient strategies to connect their employees.
A Business Traveller/Citigroup Travel Survey’ (see news) has revealed that corporate travel managers also continue to keep a tight watch on travel spend despite the generally optimistic business outlook.
Margie T Logarta
