Data shows that in-person business travel has advantages over virtual options

Monday, March 28, 2022

San Diego State University School of Hospitality & Tourism Management on behalf of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) in a recent survey has revealed that in-person business travel and meetings have undeniable advantages over virtual options.

It also has revealed that businesses and organizations that have resumed business travel and meetings more quickly are likely to be more competitive than those who do not.

Carl Winston and Professor Dr. Lisa Cain have written that business travel and in-person meetings facilitate productivity, build organizational strength and foster collaboration in a way that virtual interactions cannot.

The study has also revealed that the increased reliance on virtual meetings can negatively impact the workplace culture and team building, while also hurting productivity. The millennials who are currently the biggest demographic in the work-force have said that 80% of them say that they prefer in-person communication with their colleagues, over virtual meetings.

This suggests a potential advantage in employee recruitment, retention and client relations for companies that foster face-to-face connections with coworkers and clients.

As the corporate travel policies still in flux, the business and group travels which are the hotel industry’s largest source of revenue, will take significantly longer to recover than leisure travel. While the current data predicts that a full recovery isn’t expected until 2024, the global business travel is projected to increase by 14% in 2022.

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