The travel industry in general has had an interesting couple of years. There have been challenges as well as innovative solutions within the corporate travel sector as it looks forward to a bounce back in demand in 2022. Skift suggests “robust industry momentum is pointing to a strong recovery” and technology is one factor making this recovery possible.
Companies and their employees have adapted how they travel, why they travel, and how long they travel for in the face of shifting restrictions and safety concerns. These behavioral changes and altered priorities will shape the outlook for corporate travel in 2022. Many will want to unpause global mobility programs for their teams and encourage face-to-face meetings to do business. This is all possible with the right technology and duty of care checks in place.
Here are 3 corporate travel trends we’ll see in 2022:
1. Extended travel is here to stay - employees will take fewer trips but stay for longer. The pandemic highlighted how workers can be just as productive, or more so, when working from a remote location. This has drastically changed how we are living, working, and staying away from home.
We’re now in the era of the digital nomad. Some employees experienced a better work/life balance, improved mental health, and flexibility with remote working and many don’t want to go back. McKinsey reports 52% would like a flexible work model post pandemic and 30% would switch jobs if they had to return to fully on-site working.
With the rise of flexible working, guests have been staying longer in accommodation to combine business and pleasure. And so Bleisure was born. The moments around our work day now matter more than ever - who wouldn’t want a coffee break while staring out at the mountains? Or to swap their commute for more time with family? These opportunities have been snapped up by many workers, who’ve taken extended family vacations over the last year.
In turn, there’s now a need for extended stay amenities, such as in-room kitchens. This is where employee accommodation blurs into serviced apartments, as guests require all the conveniences of modern living like laundry facilities and expanded living spaces which provide the feeling of being “at home”.
A Global Rescue survey states 54% of business travelers reported their company using, or will be using, a hybrid work model on and off site. But 61% said this won’t reduce their traveling as 90% agreed in-person business and sales meetings are “without a doubt” more successful than virtual ones.
2. Tech will power the global relocation journey - from the [booking process](https://www.3sixty.tech/) down to the smart tech features on offer to employees in their accommodation. So far, advancements have driven flexible working and we predict proptech will continue reshaping the industry’s future.
Corporate travel has come back, albeit slowly, with a 27% rise year on year. Smart home tech features and software platforms create a safer and more trusted environment for travelers, through contactless check-ins, seamless communication, and assurances around cleanliness. Technology in its broadest sense is now an expected amenity by guests, especially business travelers, as they rely on devices for most of their daily activities.
Tech supports companies to streamline their operations for more efficient employee travel. Digitisation is an essential part of global mobility, as automated processes can keep up with the ever changing requirements of staff, like if they need to be located nearby a particular school for example.
3. Duty of care means going above and beyond now - safety, security, and health are key priorities for both companies and employees. Covid-19 spotlighted corporate duty of care and compliance, safety, and due diligence have become industry buzzwords.
Staff look to their employers for guidance, but 68% of surveyed workers didn’t receive clear or any notification of company post-pandemic plans. This lack of communication causes anxiety, which 47% agreed was a concern. We’ve had a turbulent couple of years and employers need to be mindful of the impact unstable plans and changes have had on their staff, by implementing return to work policies and by listening to employee needs.
Companies are accountable for keeping their staff safe and not exposing them to unnecessary risk. They should be conscious of changing travel policies to safely plan and mitigate risk. From what the industry has learnt in 2021, we predict a renewed focus on employees and their needs in the coming year. Reside believes that duty of care is an essential part of the global relocation journey - with the right checks and tech in place, corporate travelers can move around the world with confidence. If companies book accommodation for their teams that is professionally vetted, through trusted booking platforms, everyone enjoys peace of mind.
Tech automation can also support companies in safeguarding employees against things like missed flights, not having the correct testing and misplaced IDs, using reminder messages, and on app personal certifications.
Positive future for business travel
We expect 2022 to welcome the return of corporate travel and for tech to continue advancing the sector as well as how we travel. Employers are becoming more conscious of their teams’ needs and will adapt ways of working to address these. Guests will be staying for longer and accommodation will need to add smart tech to make them feel at home during their visit.
3Sixty
3Sixty is a state-of-the-art marketplace that reduces the noise in extended-stay travel. Our HomeMatch™ technology leverages machine learning and human expertise to curate quality, cost effective housing where your employees feel safe, comfortable, and at peace.