The ultimate guide to
business traveler needs
The current state of business travel
Although the darkest days of the pandemic are well behind us, the work ecosystem is
feeling its permanent effects. This is especially true in the corporate travel space, as
COVID-19 pushed organizations to reimagine their travel models and policies. To put it
simply: companies have become more thoughtful about when and why employees travel
for work.
The main factors that have driven this change in business travel are:
• The lasting nature of hybrid work
• Blurred lines between personal and professional travel
• A focus on lessening burnout while increasing retention
• An emphasis on sustainability and diversity efforts
Business travel costs are also still top of mind for companies, but there’s less of a singular
narrative around cost savings now. Overall, spending on trips and travel is increasing,
building off the momentum in 2023. In its early 2024 travel outlook, GBTA (Global Business
Travel Association) reported a third of travel buyers saying their 2023 bookings rose
significantly and 60% predicting an uptick in travel spending and trip volume this year, too.
Not all paint as rosy a picture, however. According to a Business Travel News survey, 86%
of corporate travel managers said airfares affect their organizations’ willingness to travel.
Hotel and rental car prices remain high, too, with 6.7% and 5.7% month-over-month
increases on room and rental car rates, respectively.
So how do you balance all of this and make sure your company’s travel program is a
success? By being hyperaware of what your employees want and need while they’re on the
road for work.
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The goals of business travel
As a travel manager, you have a clear set of objectives for your program, and you do
everything you can to help your teams get their jobs done from wherever they are. That
means creating and implementing efficient systems for managing bookings, controlling
costs, and delivering a best-in-class employee experience. It also means working with
partners who align with your goals on safety, sustainability, and more.
But what are travelers themselves aiming for? And what do they require from their
companies to achieve their goals?
The main reasons for work travel have remained largely consistent. A recent survey
from GBTA cited sales meetings, conferences and industry events, and meetings with
colleagues as the main reasons for work travel.
However, the prevalence of hybrid and remote work has changed the definition of a
business trip and created new types of travelers, like the super commuter. According to
this Deloitte survey, more workers who moved during the pandemic are taking regular,
longer-distance trips to company headquarters.
Regardless of why or how often they’re traveling, certain non-negotiables can make or
break a trip.
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What the modern business traveler wants
Confidence on the road
Safety and security are still crucial for business travelers and travel managers.
→ Travel manager tips
• Consider other factors that may influence travel (such as political instability and
availability of healthcare abroad)
• Work with company leadership to align on safe travel policies
• Select partners and vendors that prioritize safety
Uber has safety built in to many aspects of the platform, including trip
insurance and ride tracking.
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Increased choice and flexibility
Today’s business traveler requires myriad options to meet their individual needs, from
finding new places to stay to being able to adjust their own itineraries.
More employees on the road are also adopting bleisure, as the idea of work-life blending
surpasses work-life balance. Considered a trend pre-pandemic, intermixing jobs and fun
is now a more regular practice. Many major airlines have recognized bleisure seekers as
an established segment of travelers and, as a result, are working through new route cadences,
cabin types, and more. Hotel chains are also recording longer stays than in past years.
→ Travel manager tips
• Add accommodation alternatives such as home-style rentals
• Clearly outline leisure trip guidelines in your travel policies
• Adopt tools, like Uber for Business, that allow travelers to separate business and
personal expenses easily
Technology use for ease and efficiency
The prevalence of AI is affecting the corporate travel space, too, and many business
travelers are eager to adopt new apps or resources for planning and scheduling, easing
disruptions, or cutting down on administrative tasks.
→ Travel manager tips
• Within your company’s policy, explore AI capabilities across travel discovery,
booking, or forecasting
• Find partners that work seamlessly with your existing tools, like Uber for Business;
we integrate with many top providers for automatic ride receipt uploads
With carbon emissions data built into the dashboard, Uber for Business
can help you report on your company’s environmental progress. Learn
more about tracking sustainability metrics.
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Greener travel options
Sustainability initiatives and moves toward zero emissions are almost universal priorities
across companies. It’s no surprise that this extends to corporate travel. In addition to
company goals, employees are asking for greener travel options and taking sustainability
seriously as they plan work trips.
→ Travel manager tips
• Provide alternative means of ground transportation, like ridesharing with Uber
Green or Uber Comfort Electric
• Partner with hotels and other travel vendors that prioritize sustainability
Integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion
Whileless overt than safety or sustainability, corporate travel plays a role in furthering
an organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The corporate travel
industryis making a concerted effort to address barriers and accommodate travelers of
all kinds, from LGBTQIA+ employees to those who identify as neurodiverse.
→ Travel manager tips
• Seek out suppliers that also share your company’s DEI commitments, like those
that have documented diversity and inclusion management programs
• Make sure travelers are equipped with location-specific cultural information that
could affect their trips, which could include pretrip training
• Revise travel policies to accommodate the needs of all employees, including, for
example, nursing parents and people with disabilities
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The business traveler’s roadmap
Being aware of business travelers’ priorities is the first step toward a successful
corporate travel program. The next step is mapping out their journey in advance so
you can anticipate what they’ll need and help them along the way.
Before the trip
Being aware of business travelers’ priorities is the first step toward a successful
corporate travel program. The next step is mapping out their journey in advance so
you can anticipate what they’ll need and help them along the way.
Booking transportation and accommodations
How to get to their destination and where to stay are the first decisions business
travelers have to make. To establish a culture of trust and transparency, it’s
important to educate teams about your company’s T&E policies on flights, ground
transportation, and hotels.
Encourage travelers to do their research early and book well in advance to realize
savings. Last-minute bookings can result in employees (and ultimately the
company) paying more for flights and accommodations.
More lead time also allows employees to mentally and physically prepare for their
trips, which helps minimize the potential stress and complications of traveling.
Did you Travelers can use Uber Reserve to schedule airport rides up
know? to 90 days in advance.1
Getting to the airport
Airport trips look different for everyone, and all business travelers have their own
preferences. Some like to catch up on work with an early arrival at their gate while
others are sprinting to the terminal. Some rely on public transportation, while others
like to drive themselves, get dropped off by a loved one, or use ridesharing.
Uber doesn’t guarantee that a driver will accept your ride request. Your ride is confirmed once you receive your
1
driver details. Uber Reserve is available in select cities.
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During the trip
Earning travel perks
Business travelers—especially frequent travelers—like being able to gain status with
their favorite airline or hotel chain. The benefits are obvious: perks such as better
service, room upgrades, and access to lounges have the potential to improve their
personal experiences and their ability to do their jobs well. When negotiating with
vendors, look for opportunities to provide loyalty upgrades to your travelers.
Did you Marriott BonvoyTM members can earn points on eligible rides
know? with Uber that they can use for future stays.
Getting around the destination
Arriving in a new place can be exciting, but it can also provoke anxiety. While
seasoned travelers may have it all figured out, you still might want to recommend
transit options to help employees get between the airport, their accommodations,
and attractions in the area.
They’ll also need to travel locally for work events like conferences, client meetings,
or in-office collaboration sessions. If employees are staying in the same hotels, they
can share rides to and from these events, which helps save time and money.
Did you With the Uber app, travelers can use ridesharing, view public
know? transportation options in-app, or rent a car.
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After the trip
Getting home
In an ideal world, the return trip is as smooth as the outgoing one. After a fast-paced
business trip, many travelers just want to get back to their own beds and rest up
before resuming their day-to-day.
Providing the same diversity of transit options on the return end of a trip can help
cut down on delays, frustration, and further exhaustion. Long flights, jet lag, or other
sleep disruptions can also wreak havoc on overall health, so consider building in
recovery time for travelers after their trips.
By partnering with leading expense providers, Uber for
Did you
Business helps companies save time with automated
know? expensing and easy billing management.
Submitting expenses
Post-trip expenses can be a bit of a headache—but they don’t have to be. By using
tools to streamline the process and educating business travelers on best practices,
you can create an effortless experience for employees and company administrators.
After clearly communicating your policies, make sure to select vendors that can
easily plug into your company’s existing systems.
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Getting inside the minds of your travelers
Understanding the needs and mindsets of your travelers allows you to start building a
more effective travel policy. While the goal of travelers is to balance business outcomes
with personal well-being, your goal should be to help remove any stress and distractions
so they can focus on the task at hand.
Uber for Business can help you support your travelers at every stage of their journeys.
With Uber, you’re giving people a first-class experience while you get customized
programming, unparalleled visibility, streamlined reporting, and more.
Elevate work travel with Uber for Business ->
