Ally

Business travellers' awareness and understand of corporate travel policies is often limited, a new global poll reveals.

Almost a quarter (24%) admitting to booking outside of the policy five or more times a year, with a further 31% doing so four times a year. Only 44% said they never book outside the policy.

The survey by Carlson Wagonlit Travel covered 2,100 business travellers and 650 travel managers across the world's top 12 business markets.

It found that 40% of travellers believe their company does not have a corporate travel policy or they are at best only "somewhat familiar" with it.

More than half (56%) of business travellers who acknowledged having a corporate travel policy viewed it as a guideline while 64% said it was mandatory.

Almost half believe there are no ramifications for them or their company when they book outside their travel policy.

Of travellers who reserve their own hotels, more than 60% made bookings direct or via a consumer website, leaving just 37% using their travel management company.

However, 82% of travel managers said business travellers did understand the consequences of breaking with policy.

(TM)