Travel is often an early indicator of a softer consulting market. So when it comes to planes, trains and automobiles, consultants are reporting fewer trips for the second year in a row. But unlike last year's results, clients don't seem overly concerned with cutting travel costs.
Last year's Best Places to Stay survey saw a pretty significant pull back on travel from previous years, with consultants' trips shorter than they had been and clients growing more and more cost-conscious about those trips. This year's results could best be described as a mixed bag. With the economy continuing to hum along and consulting pipelines still strong, consultants continued last year's trend of traveling less, but this year's results don't indicate that their clients are pushing back on travel costs quite as much they did last year.
In 2016, 51 percent of consultants reported they spent more than 100 days a year on the road, but that number dipped to 46 percent last year. It's more of the same this year as that number is now 45 percent, the lowest since we began the survey more than a decade ago. And consider this: Road warriors who report spending more than 150 days on the road dipped from 22 percent last year to 16 percent this year. That number was 25 percent just three years ago.
For the purposes of measuring consultants' travel, the 150-day threshold works out to about three or more days per week, which is considered the benchmark for achieving "road warrior" status in the profession. There was a pretty significant increase in the number of consultants traveling in the 26- to 51-day range, which is about a day a week. This year, it measured 15 percent, up 6 percentage points from last year.
In 2018, 205 consultants participated in Consulting's annual Best Places to Stay survey, reporting their travel habits and preferences for the last 12 months. The survey was conducted between April and July.
DAYS AWAY DOWN 3%
Meanwhile, the average number of days away this year was 94—a 3 percent decrease year-on-year from 97 last year. In 2015, the number was 120 days. In just three years, the overall number of days dropped a whopping 28 percent; this is certainly significant.
While the economy is still strong, there may be a bit of correction coming as client travel is often one of the first indicators of any shifts in the macro economy. Or, perhaps, consulting firms and clients are beginning to see a way around the often unsustainable work/life balance issues consultants face with too much travel. Technology, most likely, is also playing a role.
When it comes to clients wanting to control travel costs, it's a bit of mixed bag. In 2018, there was no real change in clients requesting less travel than last year—6 percent this year vs. 7 percent last year; and fewer clients were requiring lower travel costs at 7 percent vs. 11 percent. When we asked consultants to tell us about clients negotiating travel expense limits, that number continues to decline—dropping from 33 percent in 2016 to 25 percent last year to 21 percent this year.
Some 86 percent of consultants report booking their own travel reservations, while 10 percent still say their firm's corporate travel agency is handling it. The remaining 4 percent say their client's travel department is handling their accommodations.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Consultants still spend plenty of days in hotel rooms so it's no surprise that they continue to choose top-notch accommodations to help make their time away from home a little more pleasant. When we asked consultants where they'd prefer to stay, The Four Seasons came out on top with The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, the JW Marriott and The Westin rounding out the top five. Last year, The Ritz-Carlton took the top spot.
But what drives consultants' hotel choices? Well, the top choice is no longer a consultant's specific loyalty program as it was in 2017. This year, Location rules the day for road warriors, followed by the Quality of the Accommodations, Loyalty Programs and Price.
Speaking of those hotel loyalty programs, Marriott, once again, takes the top spot with Hilton edging Starwood for the second spot. Those results were unchanged from last year's survey. And when it comes to Wi-Fi, no one wants to pay for it anymore with a whopping 98 percent expecting Wi-Fi to be free. Typically, it is—especially for a brand's loyalty club members.
Staying a little bit longer? When the stay is extended—that is travel lasting a few consecutive weeks or more—the quality of accommodations is the first priority with price being second. Meanwhile, loyalty programs, location and company travel policy round out the Top 5. When it comes to specific extended stay brands Marriott finished first overall in the survey, while Starwood, Hilton, Oakwood Worldwide and BridgeStreet rounded out the top five.
I BELIEVE I CAN FLY
A vast majority of the trips consultants take begin and end at the airport. And let's face it: There's no shortage of horror stories—consultants shared plenty in the open-ended questions on the survey—and bad press about airlines and passengers' behavior.
So, when it comes to air travel, which carriers do the best job and which do consultants prefer? Well, for starters, it would be helpful if a consultant had some steady clients in Alaska as flying Alaska Air brought about the most satisfaction from consultants. Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic and Delta round out the Top 5
And in terms of choosing that airline, Price is—far and away—the top consideration for consultants with 53 percent saying it is the top priority. Corporate travel policy is a pretty distant second, followed by change fees. Baggage fees and fuel surcharges, which seem to keep being added but never taken away, round out the Top 5, although the bottom two barely even register.
BABY, YOU CAN DRIVE MY CAR
While an automobile isn't always necessary, they are often a big part of the travel experience. This year, National repeats in the No. 1 spot while Hertz, Avis, Enterprise and Dollar round out the Top 5.
And when it comes to choosing the right car, Price is the biggest indicator at 32 percent, while Ease of Check-In, Check-Out comes in a close second at 29 percent. This year, Car Availability leapfrogs Corporate Travel Policy in terms of importance. Meanwhile, those annoying fuel surcharges aren't keeping anyone awake at night.
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