Related Article: Sustainable Business Travel Initiatives Increase in Europe
GBTA Reveals Business Traveler Sentiment Index
In this inaugural report by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), findings showed that millennials are more likely to use newer travel services like ride-sharing and social media to review travel suppliers.
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) released its first Business Traveler Sentiment Index, which discovered business travelers' attitudes toward five components of business-related travel, including overall trip experience; travel management policies; expense tracking and management; safety; and social media experience.
When it comes to transportation, the report found that millennials are more interested than travelers of other ages in ride-share services. Additionally, they are more likely to use social media for business travel, with approximately 50% of those ages 18 to 34 saying they use it to review travel suppliers, compared with roughly 40% or less of business travelers in other age groups.
Another finding revealed that 86% of travelers said free access to Wi-Fi is one of the top items travelers believe all airlines should offer.
"The Index identifies the greatest pain points for business travelers, indicating to organizations which areas to target for improvement," said Susan Chapman-Hughes, senior vice president at American Express Global Corporate Payments. "In the area of expense management, for example, companies would be wise to invest resources into mobile apps and expense management solutions to help business travelers save time and be more productive."
The GBTA Business Traveler Sentiment Index was conducted Dec. 4-19, 2014 with business travelers within the U.S. through an online research panel. Interviewees included 826 respondents whose primary residence is located in the United States; are employed part- or full-time; and have taken four or more business trips in the past 12 months.
More Rental Operations

Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →
European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country
Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.
Read More →Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.
Read More →
Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental
Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)
Read More →
U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%
Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.
Read More →
Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026
Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.
Read More →
In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend
The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.
Read More →How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]
A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.
Read More →
