Despite Corona: Business travelers prefer face-to-face meetings

Home office instead of traveling on business: This is what the working day looked like for many employees for weeks because of the Corona measures. According to the German Travel Association e.V. (DRV), 69 percent of business trips have been replaced by virtual meetings since March. This represents an increase of 39 percentage points compared to 2019. Although business trips were possible despite the lockdown, only 16 percent of meetings with external participants such as customers or service providers have taken place since the outbreak of the pandemic, and 16 percent each were postponed or canceled altogether. And one in three conferences was held virtually for the first time. The business travel industry thus came to an almost complete standstill during the acute phase of the Corona pandemic.

Even though virtual meetings are now routine in many places, business travelers want to rely more on face-to-face meetings again in the future. 85 percent of respondents say they prefer this type of meeting. 43 percent of them plan to hold significantly fewer virtual meetings in the future. On the other hand, 42 percent would like to continue holding some of their meetings virtually.

Face-to-face meetings bring more sales - despite Corona

Many employees have noticed in recent weeks that video and telephone conferences do offer advantages. 79 percent mention lower costs, for example, and 73 percent time savings. However, 68 percent also notice a serious shortcoming - the danger posed by technical problems. In addition, there are other aspects that speak more in favor of face-to-face meetings. As plus points, 51 percent mention the personal sense of achievement for employees and 49 percent the better relationship management. Face-to-face contact also seems to be advantageous from a sales perspective: 45 percent say that they generate more sales in face-to-face meetings. With virtual meetings, this is true for only one-third of respondents.

"A face-to-face meeting creates a basis of trust that is difficult to establish virtually," says Verena Funke, Country Director at Egencia. "Important discussions will therefore certainly take place more often in person again in the future. By working with the experts at a business travel agency, Corona-related security risks can be avoided."

Some business travelers are particularly productive on the road

Another advantage of face-to-face meetings and the travel required for them is that 19 percent of business travelers can work more productively on the road than at their fixed workplace. One in two still achieves the same level despite the travel effort. This is mainly due to the fact that solo travelers can use the time between or after appointments to work sensibly. Two out of three respondents cite this as a reason why they are productive on the road. Six out of ten attribute this to the fact that they can relax in between appointments. For one in two, a different environment promotes creativity and thus also helps productivity.

But business travelers don't find the right conditions to work productively everywhere. This is particularly true of airports and train stations. 31 percent are dissatisfied with the WLAN access offered there. 33 percent would like to see more soundproofed cabins for undisturbed phone calls, and 35 percent would like more quiet work areas with a table. "Companies can encourage employee productivity on business trips," Funke says. "This includes, for example, organizing access to lounges and providing WLAN access. Business travel agencies help their partners find the right solution for employees."

So is there now faint hope for the business travel industry?

Source: German Travel Association e. V. (DRV)