Research and White Papers
Report: Meetings, Events Are Top Priority for Travel Managers in 2012
By Matt Alderton
January 27, 2012
"Tackling meetings and events" is a top priority in 2012 for nearly a quarter (22 percent) of travel managers, according to a new survey from Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT), the results of which were released this week.
Titled "Travel Management Priorities for 2012," the survey asked 290 travel managers around the world what their priorities are for the year ahead. Although meetings and events only ranked 10th out of 11 priorities — outranking only "making the program more environmentally friendly," which is a priority for 12 percent of travel managers — CWT said the figure is "significant" considering that meetings-and-events responsibilities typically aren't centralized in travel management departments, but rather are dispersed across organizations.
Other top priorities for travel managers:
1. Driving air and ground transportation savings (63 percent)
2. Improving traveler compliance (68 percent)
3. Optimizing hotel spend (60 percent)
4. Optimizing online adoption (56 percent)
5. Optimizing the travel policy (42 percent)
6. Enhancing the traveler experience (39 percent)
7. Developing key performance indicators (34 percent)
8. Further consolidating the travel program (33 percent)
9. Addressing safety and security needs (27 percent)
"In 2012, moderate price increases are expected on the whole, with some stronger variations between countries and travel categories," said Christophe Renard, vice president, strategic marketing and business intelligence. "This cautious market context is reflected in travel managers' priorities, which focus largely on cost control in all regions."
Strategic Meetings Management
Based on its findings, CWT predicts increased adoption of strategic meetings management techniques in 2012, focusing on the following areas of needed improvement: reducing costs/increasing savings, improving data analytics, globalizing strategic meetings and events, and improving event policy compliance.
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