ACTE Study: Managers Will Reduce Travel In Wartime

According to a study released this week by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, 82 percent of 400 U.S. travel managers polled said their companies would reduce or restrict travel outside of the United States in the case of international conflict, and 35 percent said they would reduce travel within the country.

While this restriction of travel is conditional on war or a terrorist attack, 32 percent of travel managers responded that the impending Middle East conflict already has caused reductions in international travel.

The poll also found that the events of Sept. 11, 2001, have spurred companies to evaluate traveler security plans and explore options for action in the case of emergencies. Ninety-nine percent of the respondents' companies have contingency plans in place, nearly all of which either have initiated or altered these plans since Sept. 11, 2001. Prior to 9/11, only 37 percent of respondents' companies had such a plan in place, while 63 percent said they did not.

Most travel managers, 44 percent, said locating travelers was the most important point of contingency planning, while 20 percent said communication was most important. Getting travelers home was the top concern for 15 percent of respondents, and 11 percent cited the traveler's immediate refuge.