Looking across all travellers, a strong majority (79 per cent) noted they commonly bring technology on their trips to stay in touch with their family and friends. At least two-thirds bringing laptops, wireless broadband, portable GPS, and Smartphones also utilising mobile travel apps, among other tools.
The Business Traveller Market Segmentation Study survey findings were released by the Global Business Travel Association Foundation (GBTA), the research arm of the Global Business Travel Association.
Types of Travellers
Understanding the differing needs and habits of business travellers is crucial to identifying pain points and easing them through new technological developments and market approaches.
The study identifies five segments of travellers in the market today:
- The Veteran (33%)
- Road Weary (25%)
- Wide-eyed and Anxious (21%)
- Passionate High-Tech (14%)
- New Recruits (7%)
The Veteran – The Most Experienced
- Average of 12 trips taken per year with an average of four nights away from home per trip; (88%) are 35 years of age or older
- Typically older travellers who have no problem with managing travel, handling arrangements and keeping track of expenses.
- The most important goal identified by Veteran travellers is ensuring they are not hindered by a lack of equipment of connectivity showing a high receptiveness to new technology for more productivity on the road.
- This group enjoys travelling with almost all (94%) bringing laptops on the road to stay in touch with those back home.
Road Weary – Frequent and More Reluctant
- Average of 15 trips taken per year with an average of three nights away from home per trip; Majority are older in age with (74%) being older than 35 years of age.
- The most important goal to Road Weary travellers is feeling safe when on a trip (42%) and staying in touch with family (41%).
- Road Weary travellers’ are most likely of all groups to bring a portable GPS on trip.
Wide-eyed and Anxious – Less Frequent Travellers’ Who Experience Travel Challenges
- Average of 11 trips taken per year with an average of four nights away from home per trip; typically younger travellers, (89%) are less than 55 years old.
- In general, Wide-eyed and Anxious travellers are younger travellers with less experience on the road, these travellers tend to enjoy travel but get nervous navigating new destinations and following policies
Passionate High-Tech – Enthusiastic Travellers’ and Early Adapters of Tech
- average of 13 trips taken per year with an average of four nights away from home per trip; almost all younger travellers with (91%) less than 54 years old.
- Passionate High-Tech travellers love to travel for work and look to technology to make them more productive and stay in the know with their friends and family.
- Likely to spend more per trip and fly to their destinations, Passionate High-Tech travellers embrace new technologies such as tablet devices (25%) while on the road.
The New Recruits – Less Experienced Travellers Who Want to Share their Adventures
- Average of 14 trips taken per year with an average of six nights away from home per trip; the youngest group with (98%) less than 54 years old.
- Generally this group of younger travellers is eager to explore new destinations while on business and are eager to travel more and share experiences, often using social media to meet up with friends and other colleagues on the road.
- Likely to do more international travel and work in the computer technology industry