Skift Take
The rise of the sharing economy is a trend in business travel that won't get put easily back in the bottle, although it isn't for everyone. On the other hand, it is possible that Lufthansa's battle with the business travel community could get recorked and disposed with.
Proliferating sharing economy options in accommodations and transportation, as well as the Lufthansa Group's pending implementation of surcharges for bookings made outside its channels are high-priority issues for business travelers, travel agencies, and corporations as representatives began gathering yesterday in Orlando for the Global Business Travel Association meet-up.
Nothing hoists red flags in the corporate travel industry like concerns over duty of care -- ensuring employees get to their destinations and stay there safe and sound before returning -- and the emergence of businesses such as Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb have brought the issue to the fore.
But the popularity of Uber, in particular, among rank-and-file business travelers, both those in managed travel programs and outside of them, have led smaller companies to incorporate sharing economy options into their travel programs although many of the largest travel management companies have been resistant to latching onto the trend.
Business Travel
