I don’t think it comes as a surprise to anyone that many companies cut back on employee travel for 2009 -- either sending less people to shows or cutting out destinations all together.
Before heading to the annual NRF Big Show in New York this past Tuesday -- the retail industry’s biggest technology show -- I expected to find less people walking the aisles of the show floor than in previous years.
And while many people reported traffic was indeed down as I visited booths and walked the floor -- the amount was not as drastic as one would think. In fact, while companies may have sent less people, the comment I heard over and over from vendors and retailers alike was the level of retailers attending the show was higher.
In other words, instead of sending six lower-level executives, companies seem to be sending one or two at the vice president, CIO and even CEO level. This made the vendors happy because they were talking to the decision-makers, and retailers saved money and time.
Is this the action plan at your company for 2009? What are the benefits you are getting from it? Are there drawbacks?
Let us know what is happening with your travel plans this year!
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