As the wheel of time turns, generations come and go. With the changing of the guard between baby boomers and millennials slowly drawing closer and closer, companies are being forced to adapt new policies and implement social media to address the needs of the new, tech-savvy generation.
Business Travel for a New Generation
Of course, one of the first noticeable changes given the growing dependence on mobile devicesis the switch to paperless boarding passes.
“All of my tickets can go on my phone,” said Darren Osleger, a consultant who trains hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers in disaster preparedness techniques. “I scan it at the T.S.A. and scan it at the gate. There’s no reason to print out airline tickets again.”
According a a recent New York Times report, “Millennials are heavy users of mobile apps and social media when they book a trip, check in and deliver feedback on their travel experiences.” To further cement this notion, George W. Hamlin, president of Hamlin Transportation Consulting, agreed. “These are people where paper could very well disappear from their lives for all practical purposes,” he said. “They expect to do things online and 24/7 wherever they are.”
Of course, with these new changes comes the company responsibility to adapt and offer their employee’s a better customer service experience. This includes offering more service outside of normal business hours to respond to young travelers’ expectations that they can use a smart phone or laptop to gain instant access to questions they may have.
“They’re savvier because they’ve traveled more as young people,” said Chris Klauda, vice president for quality services at Shifflet. “When we look at some of our approval ratings, they are more critical because they have stayed in a number of hotels and have some experience level, to the point where they know what’s good and what’s not.”
It will interesting to see how businesses and hotels will change their amenity options, with many already shifting their focus to providing tech-friendly options like free wi-fi, as technology continues to grow and change. Of course, always ahead of the curve, PC Housing has corporate housing and furnished apartments that feature many of the great tech-friendly amenities you expect when out on the road!