Business travel is officially back. At least that’s according to GBTA’s latest Business Travel Index Outlook report released in August 2023. As a travel booker, you’ve probably seen an increase in business travel in recent weeks. With business travel set to complete its bounceback and reach 2019 levels in 2024, it feels like we’re entering a new age of post-covid travel.
As we know, the pandemic changed the way we work and live, and along the way, the business travel rules altered too. So it’s worth revisiting your company’s travel policy, especially if you haven’t done so for a while.
Still need convincing? Here’s why it’s worth reviewing your travel policy in 2024, be it for business meetings or workforce travel.
Corporate travel has been hugely affected by the pandemic, which brought about new ways of working. Many companies changed their approval process for work travel, allowing ‘necessary’ travel only, and introducing new self-service platforms to streamline bookings. With so much change afoot, the humble travel policy has found it hard to keep up with the evolving landscape, until perhaps now.
You may want to lay down the rules around what is non-essential travel, and when in-face meetings should suffice. If travel is viewed as essential, your travel policy should include due diligence on how to travel safely along with guidance when returning to the workplace.
Let’s be honest, in 2024 who isn’t trying to be more frugal with their finances? An effective travel policy will put its people at heart, with associated business savings too. From streamlining travel bookings, to shared travel and reviewing per diems, now is the time to review whether your existing policy still meets and reflects the needs of your workforce.
As part of due diligence, corporate policies should be reviewed at least annually to ensure they are up to date and reflect new regulations. However, in the wake of post-covid travel, every six months wouldn’t be amiss.
Ultimately, a robust travel policy offers guidance with employee welfare at heart. This should now include best practice around having a positive covid test, and safety and wellbeing guidance. For many, we are entering new territory here – so offering advice on what steps colleagues should take if they are positive with Covid, before or during a work trip, has never been more important for the avoidance of doubt.
As business travel rules evolve, a trend we’re seeing is the necessity for flexible bookings, and self-service travel. We’ve all succumbed to the challenges of travelling in the current climate - so being able to reschedule bookings with ease is essential. What’s more, employees should be empowered to make and amend their own bookings using a self-service travel portal. This has the added benefit of cost savings and reducing internal administration.
Prior to the pandemic, business travel was widely seen as a perk, with over half of all millennials creating reasons to go on a business trip. What’s more 69% of them extended work trips for leisure – also known as ‘bleisure’. In post-covid travel, the desire for bleisure travel remains high. But with staff shortages creating challenges in the workplace, and the greater incidence of covid exposure with increased travel, it’s possible that your company’s position around this may have changed. If so, your travel policy needs to be refreshed and updated.
As previously touched on, while we might be in a new phase of the pandemic, we’ve all seen the knock-on effect of low staff levels. From the hospitality industry, to travel and construction – staff illness has reduced workforce numbers, which has impacted on the current business travel rules. Your policy should outline what you’re doing as a company to minimise staff shortages, and how you’re adding travel-related testing and isolation guidance to your policy.
Last, but not least, in this new era of post-covid travel, employees' needs have changed. Fast and reliable WiFi access is a prerequisite for workforce travel, as is adequate software and tools. What’s more, access to healthcare and wellbeing facilities has never been more important, especially when seconded for periods of time away from home. These considerations should all form part of a solid travel policy, that puts its workforce first.
Updating your company's travel policy for 2024 will ensure you align with post-pandemic realities. By prioritising safety, and accommodating workforce needs, you can maximise cost savings and streamline operations. Embracing flexibility, clarifying 'bleisure' guidelines, and managing staff shortages effectively contribute to a resilient travel framework.
We hope this handy checklist has helped you consider whether to update your travel policy and bring it into line for 2024. To learn more about how Roomex can support your company’s necessary workforce travel, get in touch.
A travel and expense policy outlines guidelines for employees regarding travel bookings, expenses, and reimbursement procedures. It ensures consistency, compliance with company regulations, and effective cost management.
A comprehensive travel plan should cover itinerary details, accommodation arrangements, transportation modes, emergency contacts, and any relevant travel insurance information. Additionally, it may incorporate health and safety protocols to ensure a smooth and secure journey.
Corporate travel encompasses trips undertaken by employees on behalf of their organisation for business-related purposes. This can involve attending meetings, conferences, client visits, training sessions, or any other activities contributing to the company's objectives.
In recent years, the lines between corporate travel and leisure travel have become blurred—a phenomenon known as bleisure travel—with 89% of workplace travellers keen to add some leisure time into their next work trip.