In a national poll issued on October 16, fully 81 percent of business travelers said their travel plans would not be influenced by the events of September 11, up from 67 percent in a similar survey completed by the firm on the 12th of September.  The poll was taken with 800 qualified travelers during the week of October 8. 

"We have seen a significant increase in the percentage of business travelers who said they're ready to hit the road again. Yet, safety concerns still prevail and will continue to be a drag on the recovery, particularly for international business travel.'' said Peter Yesawich, president and CEO of Yesawich, Pepperdine & Brown. 

Only 12 percent of business travelers actually cancelled a business trip since the 11th of September according to the survey.  Among those who have scrapped business trips, the types of trips most frequently cancelled were an individual business trip (66 percent) or a trip to attend a corporate business meeting or convention (49 percent). 

One month after the terrorist attacks, only one of four business travelers said they would cancel a future business trip, compared to nearly 40% on Sept. 12.  Business travelers also indicated less apprehension about traveling to specific destinations than they did a month earlier, including trips to both New York and Washington. 

Among business travelers who stated they were going to alter their travel plans, there is still considerable hesitation about traveling abroad. Nearly six out of the ten said they were planning to take fewer international trips in the months ahead.  

According to the survey, safety was the overriding concern among business travelers who acknowledged a change in their travel plans, although there was also some indication that the economy was playing a role in the travel slump. 

The reasons cited most frequently for canceling a business trip included:

• A belief that it is not safe to fly (28%)
• Company restrictions imposed on travel because of concerns about safety (21%)
• A belief that it is not safe to travel (18%)

Business travelers also indicated they are less receptive to discounts and promotional offers from airlines and hotel companies than their leisure counterparts.  Only a quarter of business travelers said they would be motivated to travel again by a hotel discount, while just 30% said an airline discount would encourage them to once again take to the skies. 
 

Yesawich, Pepperdine & Brown (YP&B) is America's leading marketing services firm specializing in serving the travel industry.   The company's offices� Orlando, St.  Petersburg (Fla.), Boca Raton (Fla.), New York, Honolulu, Los Angeles, London and Mexico City�serve more than 50 clients worldwide.