Confessions of British business travellers

Travelling for work can be fun but also a chore, so it seems that some Brits are pushing the boundaries and making the most of the perks. More than a quarter of British business travellers (27%) confess to trying to conceal purchases as something else when filing expenses from business travel, according to new research by shopping and fundraising website, Give as you Live.

Expensing alcohol and food is a perk that many Brits are making the most of. Among those who put purchases through, more than a third (37%) reveal it was alcohol they try to conceal while just over a quarter (24%) attempt to disguise expensive meals.

But more than a quarter (27%) of business travellers say their company is “very” strict, and they have to stay entirely within guidelines when booking business travel. On the flip side, 18% say their company is “not at all” strict with budgets.

Despite these restrictions, companies may be over-paying and not getting the best deals, with 61% of business travellers confessing to booking their travel between the day itself and one week in advance, and 38% preferring to book it via the train or airline operator’s website.

Greg Hallett, managing director, Give as you Live commented, “For those wanting some good karma or a way to make a difference through unavoidable online purchases, sites such as giveasyoulive.com allow business travellers to purchase from over 4,000 retailers, whilst also raising a free donation for the charity of their choice. Various travel and accommodation retailers – such as hotels.com and Expedia – are listed, meaning a single business trip can raise a significant amount for charity, without it costing a penny extra.”

These results come from a survey by Give as you Live of over 1,000 business travellers across the UK, who were asked about their business travel spending.