Global travel programs have gone mainstream, according to a survey of 89 travel buyers conducted by AirPlus International late August through early September.

A 60 percent majority of survey respondents indicated their companies maintained global travel programs, while nearly 20 percent categorized their programs as multinational. Just a quarter revealed that their programs were domestic in scope, while about 6 percent of respondents said travel within their companies was unmanaged.

As more corporations participate in the global economy, it stands to reason that a global approach to operations would follow. In many ways, travel programs have benefited from a global strategy, which at its best can simplify data capture and improve quality, reduce costs and allow volume leverage to improve supplier service levels. There are clearly challenges, as well, with language, cultural and regulatory issues among the most common.

In emerging markets, however, the challenges are magnified. Yet for many corporations, emerging markets – namely, Brazil, Russia, India and China – are the focal points of their current growth strategies. These markets have suffered somewhat less from the global economic downturn and corporations headquartered on every continent are looking to these markets to bolster sales or reduce costs. That means an increase in business travel to, within and from these markets – and an increase in the need to manage it.

China was the most heavily traveled emerging destination cited among survey respondents. Nearly 80 percent of buyers indicated that their companies were managing some travel either into or out of that country. Very significant was the volume of travel in China. While many companies surveyed were dabbling in the market, more than 16 percent of respondents said that more than 15 percent of their total travel either originated from or landed in China. No other emerging market came close to commanding that kind of travel volume among survey takers.

Download the free PDF for full survey results.

AirPlus: The Wire October 2010 (PDF, 239 KB)

Additional Resources:

ACTE/AirPlus China whitepaper- Business Travel Management in China

NBTA: Global Travel Spending Resumes Growth