Corporate travel experts always try to peer the crystal ball to predict what to expect in the coming year. Among the top trends predicted include larger purse strings for travelers with a greater embrace of some budget-friendly hotels, transportation and accommodation options.
Five Travel Trend for 2017
1.) Bigger budgets
Travelers expect to have inflated budgets in 2017, per a study from the Business Travel Show. According the forecast, 32 percent of buyers reported they should have more money to spend in 2017, compared to 29 percent last year. This follows ears of annual drops in budgets since 2013.
2.) Embracing mid-priced hotels
Half of respondents in the Business Travel Show study used more mid-priced hotels in 2016. One-third also increased their use of upscale hotels.
3.) Uber, please
An estimated 40 percent of companies allow employees to use Uber as a matter of policy. This percentage is higher than the amount of companies that allow open booking, alternative lodging and virtual cards.
4.) Affordable flying
Coach prices in the United States have reached their lowest point in five years. Though road warriors should keep in mind that the average U.S. Coach Net Effective Airfare Discount (savings as a percentage of the published spend) has declined from 24 percent to 14 percent in the past 10 years.
5.) Low cost carriers gain fans
The Business Travel Show’s study also revealed that 81 percent of companies used more low cost carriers in 2016. This preference is expected to continue throughout 2017.
For more information, visit www.businesstravelshow.com.
