FREE NOW for Business has conducted its first European study with GBTA Europe, the world’s premier business travel trade organisation. It explores the new requirements of Travel Managers and business travellers. Have a look to see some of the key takeaways!

At FREE NOW for Business – FREE NOW’s ride-hailing solution for simplified business travel – we’re delighted to reveal our very first white paper produced in conjunction with GBTA Europe! This study is the result of qualitative and quantitative interviews of European Travel Managers and business travellers from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Poland, Portugal and Ireland, conducted between September 3, 2020 and September 20, 2020.

The aim of this study was to gain key learnings and insights from the current ground transport situation and what it means for future business trips. No industry sector has seen more significant change in recent years than ground transport and the recent pandemic forced necessary evolution.

How can companies’ adapt their travel policies in a changing landscape? This question is at the core of what this whitepaper hopes to discover.

Ride-hailing among business travellers in Europe is growing in popularity.

• The majority of European business travellers (ranging from 58% – 87%) note they “always” or “often” use a ride-hailing mobile app during business travel.
• Around 7/10 corporate travel policies always or sometimes allow ride-hailing trips.

Sustainability is a key priority for many European travel programmes and business travellers but it also presents challenges.

• In Europe, a large number of Travel Managers (46%) say sustainability is the one of the greatest pain points within their ground transportation programme.
• Around one-quarter of business travellers in Europe say sustainability is one of their top priorities when choosing a ground transportation provider.

Few corporate travel programmes address micro-mobility services in their travel policies, although there is interest among business travellers for this option.

• In Europe, some business travellers are interested in using bicycles or e-scooters on work trips (ranging from 31% to 57% depending on the market). However, less than half of corporate travel policies in these countries even address micro-mobility.
• About half of business travellers would b interested in using micro-mobility services if they were to take a work trip in the current COVID-19 environment.

The Coronavirus is changing traveller choices and ground transportation policies to focus on safety and vehicle sanitisation.

• 50% of Travel Managers say their company has changed its policies toward ground transportation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Almost three in five Travel Managers say their company will be less likely to allow or encourage public transport as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• More than 1/4 of travel programmes are more likely to allow or encourage traditional taxis as a result of the pandemic.
• Almost 9/10 are interested in using “preferred” ground transportation providers they have vetted to ensure they meet safety/sanitation standards.

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