What women like and men not so much, in business travel
Business travel, whether you’re a man or a woman, does not appear to be that different. This is according to a study released by FCM Travel Solutions in the UK, ‘Women in Business Travel’.
According to the study, 75% of businesses around the world have at least one woman on their senior management teams. In Africa, 89% of companies have women in management positions. Because of this, business travel has become far more gender balanced. Nearly two-thirds of travellers today are women. However, it appears that the tastes and preferences of men and women remain largely the same.
The study concluded that similar numbers of both men and women (39% and 45% respectively) enjoyed travelling for work. Additionally, the reasons for business travel appear the same. Two-thirds of both men and women found the face-to-face interaction that business travels allowed to be the most enjoyable. Meeting colleagues and the experience of travel were listed as other reasons to enjoy business travel.
Similarly, both genders disliked the same aspects of travel. Chief amongst these was being away from families and partners, followed by travel being disruptive to work and having to travel alone.
Frustrations for female travellers include time spent waiting and queuing at airports, while men found delays and cancellations more exasperating.
Another aspect of travel where men and women appear to differ is the reason for business travel. Client meetings are the biggest reason for men to travel for business, while internal meetings and events or conferences make up the bulk of reasons for women’s business travel.
In terms of loyalty programmes, the study reveals that, while more men believe rewards programmes are key in their decision making for airline choice, more women (70%) actually belong to airline loyalty programmes than men (37%).
A quarter of the female respondents said they did not use airport lounges while on a trip. A smaller percentage of women (32% versus 42% of men) would enjoy a drink alone at a bar after a day’s work.
In terms of hotel choice, more than half of all respondents said they were open to using an Airbnb, although fewer women were willing to try an Airbnb for business travel.
According to Nicole Adonis, South African general manager of FCM Travel Solutions, although the report is based on UK findings, the trends identified in the report are noted in South Africa as well.
source: T&M
