Business travel is expected to increase significantly in 2014, sparking growth in the travel and hospitality industries, according to a recent survey conducted byFrequent Business Traveler?magazine.
This marks the second consecutive year more than one-third (35.7 percent) of business travelers surveyed said they will travel more in the coming year than the current one, while almost half (47.2 percent) said they will travel the same amount.
But with growth in business travel comes more demand for quality service. So far, hotels and airlines haven’t generally inspired travelers.
Of those surveyed, 88 percent of hotel guests and 76 percent of airline passengers said their experiences were “inconsistent.” Last year, 83 percent of hotel guests and 77 percent of airline passengers said the same thing.
“Business travelers are professional travelers and they need to balance this aspect of their lives with getting the job done when they get to their destination,” said?Jonathan Spira, Frequent Business Traveler magazine’s editorial director.? “The amenities and services they require are not always what hotels and airlines provide, and travel executives need to pay heed to what the business traveler is saying.”
According to the survey, business travelers are generally more loyal to airlines than hotels. Nearly 75 percent said they would be fly a preferred airline even if the flight wasn’t as convenient, compared to 45 percent who said they would ditch more convenience for a particular hotel brand.
Click here to read more.