In a time before Covid, when business travel accounted for 22 percent of all travel and tourism in Europe (World Travel Council), you wouldn’t think twice about dropping everything at a moment’s notice for a work trip. And yet here in 2022 things are, well… a little different.
Travelers are having to learn ‘new norms’ to adapt to a transformed world; travel today requires micro-planning, new safety measures, and plenty of patience and flexibility. But with it comes a new appreciation for the privilege of travel in all its forms and a chance to improve old, outdated processes.
So, as we re-enter the workplace and rekindle our need for face-to-face meetings, we must also develop our understanding of the new measures in place. If you’re returning to work travel, be it a day away or a week abroad, it’s worth knowing these five things before you go:
Self-booking is on the rise
The shift in business travel means that corporations are widely adopting technology to allow employees to take control of their schedules. From booking hotels to trains, platforms like Roomex remove the need for a travel agent in place of a centralized system. Be prepared that your company may have changed the way it books travel, introducing an end-to-end system that’s easier to navigate from anywhere you might find yourself. This allows employees greater flexibility than before, which can be hugely beneficial in uncertain times.
Schedules will be packed
In the past, business and leisure travel (‘bleisure’) was quite common. However, as we go forward, employees will have less down time as they pack more into their work trips. As such, employees will have busier-than-ever schedules with numerous meetings on trips, to ensure they are highly productive. But this doesn’t mean the end of ‘bleisure’, in fact being aware of this in advance will let you plan your trip with this in mind and make the most of the time you have to yourself!
Swot up on safety
It goes without saying that health and safety have never been more important. In this ever-changing climate, legislation is constantly being reviewed and to that end, travel managers are expected to be aware of all the latest travel updates and restrictions that may affect their travelers. While travelers will no doubt be conducting some of this research themselves, there is still an expectation that the travel manager will be able to fill in any gaps in their mind. For travel managers this means learning about the safety policies of both the hotels and transport they will be booking, and fulfilling their duty of care to their traveling employees. This can sound overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be complicated at all. By compiling a travel playbook you can create a single resource for your employees to consult, adding this to tools like Roomex’s duty of care map will allow travel managers to continue to successfully support their employees on the road.
Get planning weeks in advance
As we know from our personal lives, gone are the days of turning up to places without a booking. Today planning is a prerequisite for any respectable traveler. Bookings for dining, drinking and even light entertainment are now required, sometimes weeks in advance. This also extends to meetings and room bookings, especially at events such as trade shows and fairs. With limited space and high demand, it’s smart to book as soon as you can. By planning your trips in advance you can ensure that everything runs just as smoothly as before!
The age of contactless travel is here
In terms of covid-safety, contactless travel means keeping personal distance in taxis, trains and transport and exercising caution in terms of hand sanitizing, mask wearing and encouraging outdoor meetings where possible. However, it’s not just our physical travel which has become contactless. Virtual cards are quickly becoming the go-to payment option for the workforce all around the world. Virtual payment cards like RoomexPay have numerous benefits, such as fraud prevention, reducing admin, and increased convenience. In addition to this, virtual cards present environmental benefits in a world that is increasingly focused on sustainability. Popular virtual payment cards, like RoomexPay, have been designed with this in mind, allowing finance teams to track expenses and set spending limits all online. No longer do employees need to collect paper receipts to manage their spending and then wait to get reimbursed at a later date.
Business travel in review
For those hitting the road again in 2022, it’s exciting to be back. However, there may be a few tweaks, precautions and forward-planning in order to overcome certain challenges. But as we adjust to the new world of business travel, we can know we’re doing our part to contribute to and support the hospitality and tourism sector, as well as improve business relationships.
