UK/EU: Meetings, events and technology provider Cvent commissioned a survey with research company Censuswide to understand the demands and sentiment of more than 500 corporate travel managers (CTMs).
Stringent health and safety protocols (including Covid-tests), larger rooms better equipped for working and meetings, and more outdoor space ranked as amongst the key considerations for CTMs across the United Kingdom and Europe.
58 per cent stated that they will request dual or dynamic rates during their negotiations for 2022 bookings. Negotiated amenities such as late room availability, late arrival, and cancellation policies are also required.
High on the list when planning trips is that preferred hotels are complying with duty of care requirements. External sales and marketing communications should clearly state the quality of health and safety protocols in place at the property.
Generally speaking, 51 per cent of CTMs in the UK and Europe agree that travel budgets are set to increase. This percentage is high in Spain and in the Netherlands, at 62 per cent and 60 per cent respectively.
In terms of business travel resuming, 35 per cent of CTMs in the UK expected travel to return to 2019 levels between June and December this year. 46 per cent of CTMs from the Netherlands indicated their organisations are keen to resume business travel.
The majority of respondents from the United States also indicated they are likely to increase their travel volume to Europe, stating the continent remains an important destination for US business travel.
Chris McAndrews, vice president of marketing for Cvent, said: “The results of this report show that hoteliers must be prepared to evolve their sales and marketing practices in a post-pandemic era where top priorities for corporate travel managers have changed. A willingness to adapt and evolve will not only allow for more seamless negotiations, but more importantly, enhance planner and supplier relationships long-term.”
Diana Marin Acosta, SVP sales and distribution at NH Hotel Group, said: “At NH Hotel Groups we foresaw the need and opportunity to be able to adjust our pricing model more quickly, in order to react to market demand and hotel industry trend behaviours. For that reason, we pioneered the implementation of an ‘open pricing’ revenue model strategy, which we called Open Corporate Rates, providing NH with a competitive advantage. NH Hotel Group’s Open Corporate Rate enables us to offer clients the best price in market by adjusting rates according to demand and occupancy levels. Together with Cvent we are able to provide our client’s the ability to introduce hybrid travel programmes and dual rate loading (fix rate + open corporate rate) via the Cvent Transient RFP Platform.”
Cvent’s suite of products support event organisers and marketers with online registration, venue selection, marketing management, virtual and onsite solutions, and attendee engagement. The company serves 230,000 users worldwide.
