Uber, Lyft and Airbnb are fast-becoming the preferred method of travel with both leisure and business travelers and corporate travel managers are trying to keep up, notes the Economist, highlighting two recent surveys.
One, done by Global Business Travel Association, notes that the use of ride-sharing apps is growing rapidly.
"Its latest survey found that the number of businesses allowing their employees to use ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft has increased by nearly 15 percent since June," notes the Economist.
Airbnb was also reflected in the report, with use increasing 20 percent.
However, corporate travel policies appear to still be at odds with these numbers, with many prohibiting the use of ride-sharing apps and Airbnb.
This discrepancy is most apparent when it comes to ride-sharing.
[READMORE]READ MORE: Uber Continues Surge In Business Travel [/READMORE]
"Given the choice, it is clear that a growing number of business travelers opt for services like Uber and Lyft. Those who are self-employed or work for small companies without explicit travel policies may be even more keen users of the sharing economy," reports the Economist.
When it comes to Airbnb, it barely has a hold on the business travel market, but that could change.
Certify tells the Economist that "just one-quarter of 1 percent of lodging expenses were for Airbnb properties in 2016 but notes that may increase, as Certify says it "expects Airbnb could approach the top 15 most expensed hotels sometime late next year."
For more on how the sharing economy is transforming business travel, read on here.
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