Almost half of company managers have concerns about the safety implications for their staff if staying in a private property on a business trip.
And as many as 53% are also concerned that peer-to peer accommodation may be of a low quality, research issued by Abta today reveals.
However, the poll of 508 managers also shows that businesses recognise that some staff want home sharing accommodation to be an option for business travel.
Four in ten (44%) also agree that their staff want peer-to–peer accommodation to be available for business travel, with just 17% of managers saying that there is no demand at all for that type of accommodation.
Almost half of managers (47%) say staff like the convenience of peer-to-peer accommodation plus the feeling of being within the local community.
Millennial travellers are particularly attracted to “authentic” experiences and living in the heart of local communities.
The study shows that businesses expect travel management companies to offer such services, with 47% of managers saying they expect TMCs to offer accommodation and other services through peer-to peer companies. Managers at directorial level are especially keen, with six in ten (58%) taking this view.
But four in ten managers are also concerned about the negative impact peer-to-peer accommodation services can have on local communities, this rises to half of those at director level (52%). This follows increasing media attention on the impact of peer-to-peer services on local communities and some cities introducing regulation to limit their growth.
The findings show that there is a particular challenge for managers organising business travel and TMCs in terms of managing concerns about safety, quality and impact on the community, while at the same time delivering what people want when they travel for business.
Abta brand and business development director Victoria Bacon said: “There is clearly a strong expectation from staff travelling on business that they should have access to peer-to-peer services when booking through a travel management company.
“However, many managers also have concerns about the possible safety implications for their staff of staying in private accommodation.
“A large proportion of managers are concerned about the quality of peer-to-peer accommodation and negative impact on local communities.
“So it’s important for travel management companies to consider how to best meet the preferences of staff while managing the risks, including identifying suitable accommodation that has appropriate safety measures in place.”
Abta is running a business travel seminar on risk management and protecting travelling employees at its London headquarters on October 3.