Travel manager stress affecting corporate programmes – The Business Travel Magazine

More than a third of travel managers (37%) believe that increased stress is making it harder for them to succeed in delivering high-quality travel programmes.

That was one of the key pain points identified by SAP Concur’s sixth annual Global Business Travel survey of 600 travel managers from across industries conducted in April 2024.

Nearly a third of travel managers (31%) said they were struggling to remain motivated due to feeling undervalued and 21% said they will look for a new role away from their current company within the next 12 months.

A further 20% intend to leave the sector and seek a position outside of travel management.

Ominously, as many as 99% agreed that their job will become more challenging over the next year. The survey found that travel managers are facing disconnects with factors such as the tasks they are being asked to perform, the tools being used by their company as well as the support and budget being provided.

Providing more sustainable travel options without an adequate travel budget was identified by 36% of travel managers as making it difficult for them to be successful in their role.

Employees not using company-approved travel tools to make bookings or to update travel plans is a reason why 38% of travel managers expect challenges in the coming 12 months.

Airlines not sharing full content from traditional channels is a factor in why 36% of respondents predict will make their job more challenging over the next year.

Approximately one-third of travel managers (33%) ranked increasing the use of sustainable travel options as their company’s top focus when it comes to business travel. Meanwhile, 39% said that new or increasing sustainability regulations and requirements will make their job more challenging over the next year.

concur.com