Exploring the generational divide in business travel preferences

Modern business travelers truly have the world at their fingertips. Whether they’re transported by jumbo jet or web conference, they’re making connections that keep the business running. But let’s face it: while technology has made it easier to transact remotely, there’s nothing quite like the traditional in-person, handshake-pumping meeting of the minds, right? It all depends on who’s answering the question.

The most recent Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Foundation and American Express Business Traveler Sentiment Index™ reveals some interesting distinctions between Millennials (ages 18-34) and their Baby Boomer counterparts (ages 55+). For one, Millennials demonstrate a greater desire to travel. Forty-five percent (45%) of Millennial respondents say they want to travel more for business versus 26% of Baby Boomers. And, in fact, the majority of Millennials (57%) believe technology can never replace face-to-face meetings to get business done.

Here are some other highlights from the study:

Social media

Percent who use social media to meet up with friends when traveling for work:

• Millennials – 46
• Baby Boomers – 17

Percent who say social networking improves their ability to meet up colleagues/business contacts when traveling for work:

• Millennials – 33
• Baby Boomers – 16

Percent who say social networking sites or internal company networks improve their ability to find reviews about suppliers:

• Millennials – 37
• Baby Boomers – 26

Payments

Percent who use their personal credit cards to float business expenses:

• Millennials – 53
• Baby Boomers – 69

Amenities

If only one could be selected, the percentage who would strongly prefer to…

Pay no fee to check bags:

• Millennials – 34
• Baby Boomers – 47

Have free Wi-Fi:

• Millennials – 30
• Baby Boomers – 17

And while you might think of a Millennial as likely to talk on their mobile phones during a flight, think again. Nearly two-thirds of all business travelers in the GBTA study oppose this behavior. Now there’s something they can all agree on.

Takeaways for Tomorrow’s Corporate Travel Manager

To be fair, many Baby Boomer and certainly Gen-X business travelers appreciate the “travel tech” that Millennials intrinsically expect. Technology innovations that are making it easy for professionals to stay productive on the road (e.g. cloud-based file sharing, mobile expense reporting apps) are becoming more widely adopted—but that’s just the beginning.

By 2030, U.S. Millennials will outnumber non-Millennials by 22 million, according to the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. And as the proportion of Millennials in the workforce continues to increase, corporate travel programs will adjust to accommodate their distinct preferences for things such as enabling employees with devices required for 24/7 connectivity and access to self-service trip management—tools that will likely change booking and expense reporting procedures.

Travel industry suppliers, too, will up the ante to attract business travelers of the Millennial generation. Listed among Hotel Interactive’s Top 10 Millennial Traveler Trends are instantaneous service, real-time information, peer review tools, and even a “cool factor.” These elements, and many more, will have to be considered by travel managers as they vet suppliers and build a travel program their employees will embrace.