The Business Travel Magazine December/January 2018/19

THE REVIEW
T H E L O W D O W N
Travellers
confess to
card abuse
Nearly 40% of business
travellers admit to using
corporate cards for personal
purchases, according to a Carlson Wagonlit Travel study.
The figure is highest among European and US travellers,
where 46% of business travellers surveyed confessed to
using company-issued cards for buying personal items
despite it being widely banned. While six in ten travellers
said their employer issues them with a corporate credit card,
nearly half always use their personal card when on business.
“If companies don’t want to issue credit cards – which is
understandable – virtual credit cards are a useful
compromise,” says Christophe Renard, Vice President of
CWT Solutions Group.
lure of hotel loyalty points
causes compliance issue
over two-thirds of travel managers say enforcing travel
policy compliance is among the most challenging
aspects of their job, with the pulling power of hotel
loyalty programmes remaining problematic.
The new research from GBTA and RoomIt by CWT
reveals that compliance, reducing costs and boosting
traveller satisfaction are the top tasks for buyers.
Although 78% of travellers say they are satisfied with
their rate allowances for booking hotels, there is still
evidence of employees booking out of policy to stay at
preferred properties or collect loyalty points.
Nearly three-quarters (71%) of travellers say that if
they should have the ability to earn loyalty points, while
51% would risk being reprimanded if it meant they
could book a hotel where they could earn points.
St. Ermin’s Hotel, 2 Caxton Street,
London SW1H OQW +44 (0) 207 222 7888
www.sterminshotel.co.uk
sterminshotel
Business & leisure
in equal measure
Business stays like
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