December 8, 2005
Runzheimer International, a leading provider of travel program, policy and cost benchmarking information, and the Canadian Alliance of Business Travel, an education and research association providing integral Canadian benchmarking data and educational exchanges for corporate travel executives, recently released the findings of a joint survey on the travel management professional. Initial findings were released last month during a Canadian Alliance Education Exchange Day in Calgary to the acclaim of attendees.
“This report is the only one of its kind in the Canadian market, making it a unique and important tool for companies and travel management professionals,” said Brian Van de Water, Runzheimer vice president of Global Mobility Services. “Releasing the report now means its findings can be considered in year-end reviews and 2006 planning.”
“The data presented in the Canadian Travel Management Professional report gives Canadian corporate travel managers points of reference for understanding their status in relation to their peers, and it gives Canadian companies benchmarks for comparing their travel management programs to those of other companies,” said Canadian Alliance President, Tanya Racz, CCTE. “It’s my hope that this data will empower travel managers and their companies to strengthen their travel programs and the positions of corporate travel professionals.”
The report is based on survey responses from 38 Canadian companies representing a variety of business classifications, company sizes and geographic regions. The majority of respondents manage travel programs for companies with more than 500 employees who travel regularly.
Thirty-six percent of respondents hold the title of manager. The average travel manager oversees eight direct reports and six outsourced employees. With regard to corporate structure, 30 percent report to finance, 17 percent to corporate services and 8 percent to each administration and procurement. While 63 percent of respondents earn between $41,000 and $70,000 per year, 22 percent earn more than $91,000 annually.
Respondents are loyal to their companies and experienced in their field. Sixty percent have worked for their employers for more than five years, and 45 percent have managed their companies’ travel for more than five years. Their responsibilities include numerous efforts that drive value for their companies.
Among the most frequently reported responsibilities are policy enforcement, travel agency relations, travel policy development, travel vendor negotiations, communications to travelers and divisions, selection of self-booking or corporate online booking systems, and creation and analysis of management information reports. Each of these responsibilities was noted as a duty by more than 60 percent of respondents.
The report also indicates that education is important for travel managers. Forty-four percent of travel managers hold a university degree. On average, respondents attended two travel courses or seminars in the last 12 months. More than one-fourth attended Canadian Alliance of Business Travel Education Exchange Days, and 20 percent took university travel courses.
About Runzheimer International
Founded in 1933, Runzheimer International serves 60 percent of the Fortune 500. Recognized for providing innovative solutions relating to employee mobility, Runzheimer is a global leader in employee-provided business vehicle reimbursement programs, employee compensation and relocation, and travel management. Runzheimer’s Travel Management Network (TMN) provides up-to-date travel prices and costs, as well as other travel-related benchmarking information for US and Canadian travel managers on the web.
About the Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance of Business Travel is a not-for-profit Canadian education and research association dedicated to providing an educational environment for corporate travel executives to exchange best practices and collectively foster strategies for success within the business travel industry. We are committed to provide integral benchmarking data and educational exchanges for companies in Canada and abroad. The Canadian Alliance is the Canadian affiliate of the U.S.-based National Business Travel Association.
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For more information, contact Phyllis Schumann at Runzheimer International, Runzheimer Park, Rochester, Wisconsin 53167, 262-971-2386, ps@runzheimer.com.
