DALLAS, May 10, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- An increased understanding of small business travelers is changing the perception that they primarily make short-haul flights and prefer small, regional airports to large, international airports, reported the American Small Business Travelers Alliance (ASBTA). A national alliance that provides valuable services and functions focused specifically on the travel needs and interests of small business owners, ASBTA has determined that small business travelers are just as service-hungry, schedule-oriented and inclined to fly to major American cities and international destinations as are their counterparts in larger enterprises.
"The trends we've identified among our current and prospective members indicate that international and major hub airports are absolutely critical to small business travelers," said Chet Gray, ASBTA vice president of Sales and Marketing. "In the past, small business travel has been stereotyped as strictly small scale, but that's just not the case. We've found that the destinations and airport preferences of small business travelers are often very similar to corporate travelers, even if their reasons and needs are very different."
A recent series of ASBTA surveys of small business travelers (SBTs) have provided insight into the most important of these reasons.
Schedules and Destinations Define Airport Preferences
One of the most recent ASBTA surveys indicated that almost half of SBTs surveyed said they travel internationally, some as frequently as 10 or more times a year -- a finding that greatly alters the perception that SBTs make primarily short-haul and domestic flights and therefore predominantly utilize smaller airports.
Whether the travel is domestic or international, from the SBT point of view, schedule is nearly as important a consideration as price when booking flights. To small business travelers on a tight budget, better scheduling options can translate directly into money and time savings, particularly if much of their domestic travel involves day trips. For instance, a lack of scheduling options can preclude the possibility of an inexpensive day trip and force the SBT to incur additional expenses in other areas -- such as on hotel stays, longer car rentals, and even in lost productivity.
Similarly, SBTs cite frequency of air service between cities as a very important consideration when making travel choices, and their preferred airlines are generally those with the most flights to the most destinations, including American Airlines, Delta Airlines and Southwest Airlines. As with schedules, the frequency of flights offered by an airline can mean the difference between spending more time with the client thanks to a later return flight, or rushing through a meeting to catch an early last flight home.
SBTs feel that hub airports, which are generally serviced by large carriers that provide frequent flights at a wide range of times to key areas, can effectively meet both these demands. In addition, SBTs also feel the presence of major hub and international airports boosts the economy and stimulates small business activity in a region, as well as brings more competition and lower fares to all customers who fly from them.
"Although price is always a top consideration, small business travelers have made it clear that without flexible schedules and frequent flights to the right destinations, cheap airfares have little value," said Gray.
Airports Can Make or Break Productivity
Small business travelers know that their level of productivity during travel is only as good as an airport's best services. Although no-frills airlines and smaller airports attract leisure travelers, SBTs say they prefer the higher level of service available to them at the major airports.
ASBTA surveys have determined that a majority of SBTs take advantage of airport services and technologies such as meeting venues and wireless hotspots. They also widely utilize other business-friendly services like quiet workspaces with fax machines and printers. Many non-business related amenities at major airports, such as more seating at the gate, better dining options, private showers, and personal services such as haircuts, massages and manicures, also help save time and help make waiting for a flight more productive.
Major airlines are doing their part to meet these needs. For instance, American Airlines' Admirals Club Executive Centers(r) -- located at Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth International, New York LaGuardia and San Francisco International -- offer travelers the use of computer data ports, speakerphones, slide and data projectors, paper shredders and copiers -- all without requiring an Admirals Club membership. (For more information, visit http://www.aa.com/content/travelInformation/airportAmenities/admiralsClubArticles/meetingAccommodations.jhtml.) And small business travelers with Admirals Club memberships can enjoy rest and relaxation at the airline's Admirals Club Lounges, which offer private showers, TV and music lounges, cyber cafes and even a "quiet room."
International and hub airports offer other benefits not found at smaller airports. At Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the new state-of-the-art international Terminal D has made it faster for international small business travelers to get in and out of the airport. Getting to the gate will be easier when using the 8,100-space capacity parking garage equipped with technology that helps guide passengers to open parking. Coming home, passing through customs will be faster thanks to a federal inspection facility capable of handling 2,800 passengers per hour.
"One of our primary goals at ASBTA is to increase awareness of the particular needs and patterns of small business travelers," said Gray. "So we're pleased that the surveys we've conducted over the past year are helping to create a more accurate profile of this important group."
About ASBTA:
ASBTA is dedicated to educating the small business traveler and promoting the travel industry at large. The American Small Business Travelers Alliance (ASBTA) is a national organization serving small business travelers by providing information regarding resources and services, savings on travel as well as technology (www.businesstraveltechnology.com) designed to improve and enhance your travel experience. If you're a small business owner and want to learn more, visit our site and register free at www.asbta.com. You can contact ASBTA by phone at 469-648-0190 or email us at info@asbta.com.
The ASBTA logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1907