The Least Common Reason for Business Travel

Media Release
10 April 2006

SURVEY REVEALS ‘INCREASING REVENUE’ IS THE LEAST COMMON REASON FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL

The results of a recently published survey conducted at Sydney Airport have revealed most business travel is based on sharing knowledge or creating new alliances rather than increasing revenue.

According to Asia Pacific based FCm Travel Solutions, the surprising results of this Sydney International Airport Survey should start to change the way travel management companies operate.

FCm Travel Solutions Asia Pacific general manager David Burns said business travel is a fast growing industry in Australia and New Zealand, and the survey is important in better understandingthe choices behind business travel trends.

“Data gathered from a sample of more than 200 business travellers revealed that knowledge sharing is the most common motivation for undertaking a business trip while boosting sales is considered the least common and a lesser priority,” he said.

“Knowing the reasons behind business travel and expectations of businesses prior to their departure can make all the difference in ensuring those travellers experience a successful trip.”

Conducted by the University of New South Wales, the Sydney International Airport Survey found only 15 business travellers (of the 179 fully answered surveys) indicated increasing revenue was the principal purpose of their travel. Forty three respondents indicated that the main purpose of their business travel was to foster new alliances through meetings or informal situations, while 54 respondents indicated other reasons amongst which the most common~were some form of knowledge exchange, ranging from acquiring and sharing information at conferences and one-to-one meetings to transferring knowledge through formal training.

“All industries have a vested interest in exchanging knowledge and we can make that feasible through superior travel management, ” Mr Burns said.

“The survey was based on four thematic areas; demographic background, employment characteristics, travel patterns and motivation for travelling.

“36 percent of business travellers occupations were in management, followed by business owners at 25 percent,” he said.

“Just over 50 percent of business travellers are from multinational companies, with manufacturing and finance ranking as the highest industries to utilise business travel. The survey showed government employees were also a siginificant proportion of business travellers.”

* The Sydney Airport Survey has been published in the Asian and Pacific Migration Journal Vol 14, No 4, 2005.

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