Traveling for work is a valued practice by 91% of Brazilian professionals, according to the ‘Corporate Traveler Profile’, a recent survey by Onfly, the largest B2B travel tech company in Latin America, conducted in partnership with Opinion Box. The study, aimed at helping companies better organize their travel management, improve employee experience, and optimize travel policies in a more strategic and informed way, surveyed 1,021 professionals nationwide.
The data shows that 64% of corporate travelers have been with their current companies for over five years and 55% hold leadership positions. The study also reveals that the main reasons for corporate travel are for training and development (47%), events and fairs (45%), and field visits (32%).
Regarding travel frequency, 15% of professionals reported traveling once a year, 22% once every six months, and 28% travel once every three months.
Industry Sectors Providing Work Travel the Most
The research also highlights the sectors that engage in corporate travel the most: service organizations top the list at 16%, followed by others at 15%. Healthcare ranks third at 11% and technology fourth at 10%.
However, 53% of professionals who travel for work said that the companies they work for do not have a specific area responsible for organizing trips. “This result shows how companies in Brazil can still invest in innovation when it comes to the experience of their employees with corporate travel, aiming to simplify the lives of those who travel for work, ensure greater transparency for managers, and save money at the end of the month,” comments Marcelo Linhares, CEO and co-founder of Onfly.
Travel Expenses
The main expenses associated with these trips are related to food (87%), accommodation (79%), and local transport (60%).
Travel Policies
The Onfly survey points out that 89% of corporate travelers have clarity about their company’s travel policies, with access to guidelines mainly through online documents (49%), meetings with the responsible departments (27%), or via platforms (27%). Marcelo Linhares evaluates that, with the transparency of travel policies, travelers have all the necessary tools to take care of their trips autonomously. “As the data shows, if the majority of people have this clarity about the trips, the booking of this type of commitment would not need to be done by third parties. They could manage it freely, according to their own preferences,” he evaluates.
The study also presents data regarding the means of payment used in corporate travel: 37% of professionals said they make payments via corporate credit card, while 35% still pay their travel expenses out-of-pocket and then receive reimbursement. When it comes to accountability, 39% of respondents showed that this process is automated, while 32% still need to do it via paper documents.
“Technology is an essential tool for all sectors today, but unfortunately, we still see companies that carry out reimbursement processes for corporate travel expenses in an archaic way, where employees need to keep receipts and present them upon return from the trip to get their reimbursement, and often, this financial return takes days, weeks, and even months to be credited to the account,” says Linhares, who adds that this habit of companies harms both the employee, who needs to bear the costs and may face personal financial difficulties, and the company’s management, which loses visibility and faces a higher risk of fraud and reconciliation problems.
Routine away from home
Being away from home during corporate travel directly impacts the daily lives of professionals: 60% of travelers who participated in the survey reported that the practice of physical exercise is the most affected routine, while 57% said it is the change in personal time, and another 57% admit to having difficulties in maintaining a balanced diet. These challenges are even more keenly felt by women, who record higher rates than men in these aspects, notably in the practice of exercise: 64% versus 57%.
Travelers’ preferences
When it comes to the preferred customer service channels for business travelers to resolve travel-related issues, WhatsApp is the most used (65%), followed by email (60%). This reinforces the need for quick and accessible channels to address demands during travel.
As for check-in preferences, 44% of travelers opt for online check-in, while 20% prefer counter check-in and 16% prefer self-service.
The CEO of Onfly believes that the survey results endorse the opportunities that companies have to improve employee well-being, assisting travel managers in organizing this type of demand more strategically. “The business traveler increasingly seeks flexibility and practicality in their journey. Providing solutions that meet these demands is essential for companies that want to value their professionals, optimize travel results, and strictly follow their policies and compliance,” he states.
