Global Small-Medium Business Traveler Report 2022

Eager to Hit the Road More Often

While business travelers remain willing to travel this year, many at companies with fewer than 1,000 employees are traveling less than they’d prefer right now. Though a significant number are blaming this on a “more travel on fewer shoulders” approach by their companies, many have concerns about the broader travel landscape, particularly from rising oil prices and inflation as well as threats to their budgets.

• Over half of business travelers at companies with fewer than 1,000 employees arevery willing to travel this year. Nearly 2 in 5 (39%) are currently traveling less than they’d like.

These business travelers feel empowered and are poised to act if their travel schedules don’t improve. A significant number are willing to look for a new position, and most are willing to turn down assigned trips that threaten their health, safety, personal life, or mental health.

• 1 in 4 dissatisfied business travelers will look for a new position if their travel schedule doesn’t improve.
• 1,000 employees are willing to take a stand against specific travel assignments: nearly 9 in 10 (89%) are willing to decline a business trip assigned to them for safety, personal, or environmental reasons.

Attracting them to a position with more travel may be less expensive than expected, as they are interested in more than just a higher salary or bonus, leaving room to entice with flexible working and perks that support work-life balance.

SAP Concur surveyed 1,650 business travelers in 6 markets, conducted by Wakefield Research, to gain insight into the state of business travel at companies with fewer than 1,000 employees.