77% Respondents Say Return of Business Travel Is More Important Than Ever – New Survey

Business travel seems all set at making a strong comeback in the coming months. The attitude towards business travel is undergoing a massive shift. A recent survey by Morning Consult on behalf of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has brought this to light.

Around 77% of business travelers say the increased reliance on remote work which gained prevalence during the pandemic is negatively impacting productivity and workplace culture. They feel that the return of physical travel is becoming more and more essential so that business activities can continue as earlier.

Nearly 70% Americans welcomed the recent move by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) to relax mask requirements. A lot of people made additional travel plans following CDC’s move.

Around 40% Americans said they are more likely to undertake business related travel as compared to 2020-21 period.

The survey also brought to light many other interesting observations:

• 80% of employed Americans and 86% of business travelers say face-to-face interactions are important for maximizing company success
• 44% of adults and 64% of business travelers agree that an increased reliance on virtual work negatively impacts productivity
• 80% of employed Americans and 83% of business travelers say face-to-face interactions are important for keeping morale high

“The last two years of virtual work arrangements and travel restrictions have underscored the importance of travel and face-to-face meetings for businesses, employees and customers alike. Most Americans recognize the unmatched value business travel and face-to-face meetings provide,” observed AHLA President and CEO Chip Rogers.

According to AHLA’s State of the Industry report, business travel overall is expected to increase in 2022 compared to last year, and, according to an analysis by Kalibri Labs, by quarter three it is projected to reach 80% of 2019 figures