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Industry Spotlight
GBTA Research
Study: Navigating Transport in Unfamiliar Places is Southeast Asia’s Biggest Business Travel Stressor, Fueling Unapproved Ground Trips and Expense Uncertainty
A new study released yesterday by GBTA and Grab For Business reveals that companies in Southeast Asia can significantly improve the business travel experience by aligning their business travel programs with employees’ actual behaviors and reducing expense claims friction for them. Based on a survey of 1,200 business travelers across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, the study found ground transportation has emerged as a clear example of a travel policy gap. Key highlights from the study include:
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93% desire a single, unified platform to manage ground transportation and meal-related expenses across Southeast Asia.
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83% of respondents use ground-transport options outside company policy or approved vendors.
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95% use ride-hailing, but only 58% say their companies formally manage it.
- Ground transportation is a top stressor during work trips, including navigating transportation in unfamiliar places (32%), keeping up with receipts and expenses (25%) and staying within company rules and policies (14%).
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Common pain points around ground transportation include lack of availability during early or late hours (54%), long wait times for a car (53%), and unclear pricing (44%).
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Safety is the most important factor, with the most value on professional or verified drivers and clear driver/vehicle information (both 57%); emergency support tools and live trip sharing (both 54%); and in-app tracking (53%).
"Southeast Asia represents some of the world’s fastest-growing business travel markets, and this research shines a light on the critical program gaps and real-world traveler needs shaping the region today—especially around safety, expense challenges, and technology expectations," said Suzanne Neufang, CEO at GBTA.
Read the full announcement here and download the study.
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