Chapter two What matters most: Cost, comfort, and competing priorities

Employees expect a seamless travel experience, but managers need to ensure every trip fits the organisation’s goals. Too often, these priorities diverge instead of powering the same programme.

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It's all about time for employees

82%

of employees say comfort is important to avoid fatigue.

31%

put it as a top priority, rising to 49% amongst C-level executives.

62%

say a short wait time for rides is their top priority. In line with this, many use multiple apps to attain the shortest ETA.

25%

are interested in perks like meal vouchers while travelling for work, and almost a third want features like priority pickups, pre-scheduling, and corporate billing.

It’s all about costs for managers, and the pressure is rising

78%

of travel managers put cost savings at the top of their priorities.

34%

say it’s more important than last year.

56%

of managers cite sustainability and spend visibility (33%) as top priorities, with only a minority noting that ease of use for employees (22%) is important.

It’s important to recognise how these three are connected. Off-policy bookings undermine both emissions reporting and transparency, while usability—often treated as a lower priority—is critical to unlocking progress across ground travel goals.

Key Takeaway:

A successful travel program balances cost control with the real needs of travellers. Programs that optimise for both experience and efficiency see stronger compliance and higher satisfaction.

The State of UK Business Travel

See previous chapter

Friction and risk

See next chapter