News Release

CWT Takes Steps to Tackle Hidden Costs of Travel through Global Stress Survey

AMSTERDAM, October 9, 2012 – Carlson Wagonlit Travel’s (CWT) latest research shows that lost luggage and no internet connection present the greatest areas of stress for business travellers.

Based on the responses of 6,000 business travellers from nine global companies, CWT found that there are three main categories of stress: lost time, surprises (an unforeseen event such as lost or delayed baggage) and routine breakers (inability to maintain daily habits).

Survey-takers were asked to rate 33 stress factors that occur at different stages of a journey (from booking through to transportation, hotel stay and expense reporting) according to the level of stress generated. The illustration on the left gives the overall ranking of stress triggers.

The study found that business travellers were most stressed by losing time during their journey, with the highest triggers of stress being lost or delayed luggage, poor internet connection, flying economy on a long-haul flight and flight delays.

The study also highlights how different segments of business travellers perceive travel stress:

- Travel stress increases with age and travel frequency.

- Women report higher stress levels than men.

- When faced with a language they do not know, business travellers from North America indicate greater stress levels than travellers from other regions.

- Senior executives report higher stress levels than travellers at other levels of an organisation.

“We will be using the results of the survey to assess the impact of travel-related stress on an organisation’s productivity levels. By quantifying that stress and its cost, we aim to help companies make smarter travel policy decisions. For instance, adaptive policies that reflect travel frequency or traveller demographics could improve traveller well-being as well as providing benefits to an organisation,” commented Vincent Lebunetel, head of CWT Solutions Group for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

This survey is the first step in the development of CWT’s “Travel Stress Index”. Read the full report here.

For more information on CWT Solutions Group, please visit our website at: http://www.cwt-solutions-group.com/

CWT Solutions Group is the global consulting arm of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, offering a wide range of sourcing and travel spend optimisation services to customers of all sizes and industry types. CWT Solutions Group gives clients access to proven global travel procurement and independent consulting expertise, unparalleled benchmarking capabilities and key innovations to drive substantial savings and programme improvements. CWT Solutions Group sources $7 billion travel spend for clients and manages 91,000 RFPs each year.

About Carlson Wagonlit Travel

CWT is a global leader specialising in managing business travel and meetings and events. CWT serves companies, government institutions and non-governmental organisations of all sizes in more than 150 countries and territories. By leveraging both the expertise of its people and leading-edge technology, CWT helps clients derive the greatest value from their travel programme in terms of savings, service, security and sustainability. The company is also committed to providing best-inclass service and assistance to travellers. CWT services and solutions comprise Traveller & Transaction Services, Programme Optimisation, Safety & Security, Meetings & Events and Energy Services. In 2011, sales volume for wholly owned operations and joint ventures totalled US$28.0 billion. As part of its commitment to responsible business, CWT is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact Ten Principles. For more information about CWT, please visit our global website at www.carlsonwagonlit.com. Follow us on Twitter @CWT_UK.

Media Contacts

Christine Fischer or Carrie-Ann Cooper
CWT UK
+ 44 (0)20 3353 1113/1110 (office)
+ 44 (0)7920 863 180/+44 (0)7785 458 884 (mobile)
[email protected] or [email protected]

United Kingdom

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