Business Travel Innovations of The Decade Revealed

Online check-in has been voted as ‘innovation of the decade’ by business travellers. This is followed closely by Wi-Fi, flat beds, notebooks and Eurostar. The top five innovations – hailed for immeasurably improving business travel since 2000 – appear in a poll of 2,400 corporate travellers by the Business Travel & Meetings Show, held in London on February 9-10.

Travellers also called for faster security, check in and immigration processes. They also want supersonic aircraft, carbon free travel and Wi-Fi on planes. More than half – 57% - believe the first round of Air Passenger Duty increases was unfair. And 87% are strongly opposed to a second round of price rises, currently set for November 1.

While 73% travelled the same or more for business in 2009; this figure is predicted to increase to 91% for 2010. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa were voted as the top five favourite airlines. BA also won through in the customer service category, followed closely by the same four airlines, though in a different order: SIA, Lufthansa, Emirates and Virgin.

But Lufthansa was rated as the world’s greenest airline followed by SIA, KLM, Qantas and Virgin Atlantic. Despite longing for ‘sky-Fi’, 82 per cent of business travellers still don’t want mobile phones to be allowed on board. They rate punctuality and cost ahead of legroom, on board catering and access to a lounge. Intercontinental was voted top hotel group – ahead of Marriott, Four Seasons, Hilton and Radisson.

And the top reason for choosing hotels, after location, is cost, bedding, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and a good quality restaurant. Show event director David Chapple said: “The ‘noughties’ have been a hotbed of innovation when it comes to business travel.

“Innovations in technology, infrastructure and services have all contributed to make it easier, more comfortable and more enjoyable than ever for professionals to both travel and do business effectively.”