Tag Archive for: BizTravel

What do Female Business Travelers do Differently from their Male Counterparts

What do Female Business Travelers do Differently from their Male Counterparts

While not everyone fits into a stereotype, and no one practice is better than another, it is important for travel managers to know that female business travelers do things somewhat differently than their male counterparts. Here are some of the differences in travel habits that tour operators and researchers have uncovered:

Women Pack Sooner and Bring More Stuff

What do female business travelers do differently

Typically, a female business traveler will care a lot more about what they bring on their trips than men in the same office. Statistics from hotel research show women:

  • Care more about what they pack.
  • Plan their outfits ahead of time.
  • Pack twice as much as men.
  • Get their suitcases packed more than 24 hours ahead.

What this means for a company travel manager is that they can eliminate stress from their female business travelers by making sure they know their travel arrangements as far ahead as possible so they can pack accordingly and feel prepared.

Female Business Travelers Care More About Safety

When traveling alone on a business trip, women are much more concerned about the hotel that they are staying at and other travel arrangements. Since a business is responsible for the safety of their business travelers, using a travel management company to arrange travel can be an additional level of security for female travelers because:

  • Someone is available to call 24/7 in emergencies.
  • The management company will handle re-routing travel in case of interruptions and delays so the traveler or company doesn’t have to worry.
  • Hotels, flights, and other transportation will be arranged with highly-rated services that have been vetted by in-country travel agents.
  • Secure transportation arrangements can be made for in-city travel to business meetings.

Female Business Travelers May Spend More

A survey by International Currency Exchange (ICE) found that women tend to spend more money while traveling. While some of this spending may be personal money used for shopping, a company might want to make sure that business travel expense policies are clear so that all travelers know what is expected of them. Travel management by GTI can help a company manage business expenses and track ways to make more effective use of business expense money.

Female Business Travelers Feel Under-Prepared

According to the Women in Business Travel Report, one third of women encounter sexual harassment while traveling and over two-thirds of women feel unprepared to deal with what they encounter. Corporate travel management can help address these needs by:

  • Making sure travel policies prepare all travelers for the possibility of crime while traveling.
  • Ensuring suppliers for travel pay particular attention to the needs of female travelers.
  • Providing live, personal assistance to travelers worldwide day and night by phone or email.

Assisting Female Business Travelers is Important

Business travel by women is increasing. According to a survey by Maiden-Voyage, 47% of female travelers are traveling on business and 80% of travel is managed by women. In a risk-filled world, corporations need to be mindful of caring for the needs of all their employees. Choosing GTI Corporate Travel agency to manage your corporate travel is a wise choice to make sure that female business travelers get safely to their destinations and safely home.

How is Business Travel Different from Personal Travel

How is Business Travel Different from Personal Travel

Business Travel vs Personal Travel

Personal travel allows people to visit friends and family, explore other places and cultures and experience freedom and personal growth. While some business travel also provides some of the same experiences, the motivation for the business traveler is primary attending a business event rather than touring. Here are some other ways business travel is different from personal travel:

Corporate Needs Determine Travel

When you travel for pleasure, you can create your own itinerary and interests in traveling. Business traveling, on the other hand, is determined by company guidelines about whether the trip is revenue-generating. If the outcomes of the trip can be achieved by other means, the company may decide the travel isn’t necessary. Travel management companies can help a corporation evaluate their company guidelines about travel to determine whether they are effectively using travel to increase business.

Business Travelers Must Follow Company Travel Policies

While some companies allow business travelers to book their own flights and accommodations as they would for personal travel, business travelers still need to follow company policies about travel. Corporate travel agents can ensure that company travel policy dictates are followed correctly and eliminate the need for travelers to spend additional time at the end of a trip filing extensive business expense reports.

Business Travel is More Complicated

Because a business traveler often has a short trip with specific deadlines of when they need to arrive at destinations ready to work, planning business travel is more involved. Business travel agents are more experienced at planning this sort of travel than the individual who usually plans only leisure trips or goes with a tour group. In addition, business travel agents can save your corporation money because:

  • They have access to a network of travel providers and discounts that are not available to individuals.
  • A professional travel management company can ensure that a business has thoroughly reviewed their travel policies for efficiency and cost-savings.

Company Responsible for Business Traveler Safety

A leisure traveler is responsible for their own safety, but companies are responsible for the safety of their business travelers. Corporations need to consider the possibility that:

  • Trip interruptions can cause travelers to miss business meetings.
  • Flight delays can leave travelers stranded.
  • Businesses will need to find assistance for their travelers when they lose luggage or have problems with accommodations.

Help in Planning Travel is Cost Effective

You might save money planning your own personal travel but getting help from a travel management company like GTI Travel is cost effective for companies because they:

  • Offer 24/7 personal assistance to travelers needing help.
  • Arrange new flight when one is canceled.
  • Have offices around the world.
  • Provide supplies to a traveler whose luggage is lost or delayed.
  • Make sure accommodations are safe and within easy travel distance from business meetings.
  • Arrange for help in medical emergencies.

Corporate travel may also be something that the traveler enjoys but can also cause a lot of stress. Choosing to have a corporate travel agent arrange the travel can create a better travel experience for the traveler as well as making travel expenses more profitable for the company.