A new study by Direct Travel finds that business travellers are increasingly comfortable with having AI make their travel arrangements.
The study, which could be a message of things to come, found that 87% of respondents would be okay with letting AI automatically make travel arrangements and choose their hotel, flight and local transportation based on their typical behaviour and personal preferences.
Direct Travel’s study also reports a surge in bleisure travel and the need for greater innovation when booking a trip, especially among Gen Z business travellers.
Nine in ten respondents said they have bleisure travelled, and nearly all of them (93%) said TMCs must innovate with technology to maintain a role in the business travel ecosystem.
“Today’s business travellers have made it clear: the status quo is not enough,” said Christal Bemont, CEO of Direct Travel.
“Travellers are demanding an overhaul of the way travel is managed, emphasizing the need for personalized, tech-driven solutions that offer delight in all aspects of the travel experience, from reservations to reimbursements.”
Other key findings from Direct Travel’s research report include:
- Innovate or Stagnate: More than one-third (37%) of business travellers do not believe the industry is innovative, with almost two-thirds (63%) seeking a wider array of options for content, signalling a demand for industry-wide innovation.
- Gen Z’s Got the Business Travel Blues: 18-29 year olds are the least satisfied with corporate travel, rating their business travel experience the lowest of all other age groups.
- AI Optimism: Business travellers are overwhelmingly optimistic about the role AI can play in the business travel experience: 96% are at least somewhat interested in a business travel digital assistant that could anticipate needs and make recommendations based on personal preferences and travel routines.
- Bleisure is More Than Just a Trend: Of the 90% of business travellers who have extended a business trip for pleasure, more than half acknowledge doing so “frequently.” Almost all respondents (98%) agree that incorporating leisure into business trips positively impacts overall work performance.
WHY THEY USE ADVISORS
Direct Travel also asked biz travellers why they use an agent.
Thirty six per cent of respondents said that talking to an advisor gives them confidence their trip is being handled properly, while 25% said they use an agent because travel disruptions are complex and cannot be solved by automated menu options or chatbots.. Thirty percent said advisors have a line of sight into my entire trip and can manage all of the impacted interdependencies in one call,” while 9% said they’re usually frustrated and that talking to an agent helps them calm down.
“At Direct Travel, we’re not just listening to these travellers - we’re actively responding with new technology, tailored solutions, and exemplary service," said Bemont.
"Our goal is to set a new standard in corporate travel management, ensuring that every journey is as close to perfect as possible."
To access the full report, visit https://travel.dt.com/survey-findings-july-2024.
