UK-based travel policy leaders are increasingly focused on cost savings rather than sustainability concerns, according to research by Uber for Business.
The survey of 1,000 UK participants found that two thirds (67 per cent) ranked cost saving among their top three priorities for the next 12 months, with 39 per cent ranking it number one. This is in contrast to findings from the last five years, according to Uber, which saw a greater emphasis placed on sustainability.
Since 2020, 28 per cent of participants in Uber’s research stated their main area of increased focus was sustainability – marginally higher than the 25 per cent who said they placed a greater focus on cost saving.
Jenna Brown, director of Uber for Business UK, said: “Given the economic uncertainty affecting businesses around the world, it’s unsurprising to see the cost of travel being at the forefront of people’s thinking. Whenever there is turbulence in global markets, decision makers will naturally become more cautious and they will want to evaluate how to best spend their budget.”
Nevertheless, 46 per cent of participants in the latest survey placed sustainability among their top three priorities, and more than half (56 per cent) said they are actively tracking and aiming to reduce travel-related carbon emissions.
Despite a sharper focus on cost savings, only 28 per cent of respondents said they plan to reduce business travel spend over the next year, while 21 per cent expect to increase travel expenditure.
When asked about challenges they face regarding ground travel, almost half (49 per cent) of policy makers said expensing receipts was their main issue.