The spread of the Covid-19 virus has completely changed the world. For many companies, business travel has been shut down for months with no clear indication of when things will return to normal. Employees and employers are struggling to conduct business remotely and operate as successfully as possible in the new environment. Where business travel once played a major role in maintaining relationships and developing new prospects, companies are now learning how to do business with no in person meetings and learning the ins and outs of video conferencing.
Covid-19 has had a far reaching effect and there is no telling how long those effects will last. Even as things return to normal it is likely that the impact of Covid-19 will be felt for a long time. Business travel is certainly not immune to the massive impact of Covid-19 and it will affect business travelers as strongly as business travel associated businesses.
So, as we wait at home, hoping for an end to the pandemic and some hint of normality, we find ourselves wondering, how will business travel change after Covid-19? Of course, we can only speculate, quite frankly nobody knows what is going to happen over the next few months but here are some of the things we think will dramatically change when we all start flying again.
Airport journeys will change dramatically
Travel has shut down on a global level and the travel industry has suffered some serious economic losses as a result. Airports have turned into ghost towns. The images of empty terminals and grounded aircraft are eerie and unsettling. Although everything seems strange now, it is important to remember that we will return to travel. Airports will reopen and we will be checking in and boarding flights again. But in a post Covd-19 world, airport journeys will be fundamentally different. Cleanliness and hygiene will be top priorities for passengers and airport staff alike. Mandatory sanitization may be forced upon travelers, customs and immigration will be stricter, ‘proof of health’ may be required to enter countries and passengers will be more wary and less forgiving to those displaying any kind of illness symptom. It will not be a pleasant experience to board a flight if you have a cold.
The way we interact with each other will also change dramatically. Travelers will be more conscious than ever of health and hygiene and personal space. What could this mean for airport businesses? We may see an uptake in lounge use as passengers seek a quieter, less crowded place to wait for their flight. We may see a reduction in eating and drinking at the airport as passengers become more wary of their health and want to avoid high traffic areas and multi-use utensils. Spending as little time at the airport may become a top priority for travelers and, for those that do have to spend time at the airport during a layover, getting outside and in the fresh air will be a must. Airports will need to accommodate this new desired journey and that could result in a dramatic decrease in revenue for airport businesses.
Business trips will be more stressful
There is no doubt that the travel industry will take some time to recover from the impact of Covid-19. In the Flight Plan 2020 Report released by IdeaWorks and Cartrawler this month, Jay Sorensen speculates that the travel industry capacity will shrink significantly across all types of business. Many aircraft will stay parked on the runway, less popular routes will not reopen, and some hotels will close or reduce capacity.
As the secondary businesses associated with business travel struggle to return to normal, it is clear that business travelers will feel the effects. Route closers will result in more time on the road and more layovers as the availability of direct flights will decrease. We may see business travelers spend a lot more time in airports waiting for connecting flights. Even without the heightened awareness among travelers about health and hygiene, extra time spent in airports can be stressful. Airports will realise that helping traveler reduce travel stress is a top priority and we may see and increase in wellness focused businesses popping up in airport.
Will we see a reduction in the need for business travel?
Business travel is considered by many companies to be a vital business activity. The return on investment on business travel is estimated to be between $10 and $14.99 per dollar invested, with the highest return coming from client meetings. Covid-19 has put an end to in person meetings across the world and putting a stop to business travel was one of the first reactions we saw from big international companies to the Covid-19 pandemic. The question is, once the world starts to recover will we see a return to the same levels of business travel, or will there be a new attitude? Will businesses that have weathered this storm now believe that in person meetings and business travel is not a necessity.
The likely answer is that we will see a return to business travel but not to the same. While a video chat is a poor substitute for meeting up with friends and family, companies are realizing that is it possible to conduct business with less face to face time. In person meetings may not be as high of the priority list for some businesses when we return to normal. And let us not forget about the economic impact of the crisis. For those that took a significant hit, the funds for excessive business travel will not be available.
Business travel will not disappear, but it is likely that we will see a significant reduction in business travel after the pandemic and that reduction may last. What we will probably see an increase in is b-leisure. B-leisure refers to the combination of business travel with leisure travel and was becoming a significant trend over the past few years, particularly with the millennial generation. As travelers become more conscious of their health, well-being, and the value of their time post Covid-19, it is likely that frequent business travelers will take more time for leisure and b-leisure presents a great opportunity for this.
There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now. But here is what we do know.
Business travel has always been tough, but it just got tougher.
In recent years we have started to see a change in attitude when it comes to business travel. Both employers and traveling employees were recognizing that frequent travel is detrimental to our health. It depletes our immune system, just when we most need it and can cause increased physical and mental stress.
Business travel was always tough, but it just got tougher. Covid-19 will have a massive impact on business travel. Airport journeys will be fundamentally different, with a huge emphasis on personal space and wellness. Frequent travelers will be more conscious than ever about health, hygiene, resilience and stress levels when traveling.
Traveling in these uncertain times will be stressful for everyone. Understanding how to protect yourself for unplanned cancellations and delays is important. Travel Insurance should always be an important consideration for companies and travelers alike and especially so in these strange times. It is important to review your current policies and understand what is the best option for you and your team. Consumersadvocate.org put together a great piece on the Best Travel Insurance based on in-depth research and reviews. Check it out and make sure you have the best policy in place for when you return to travel.
Employers need to change how they equip their people for this new reality. In travel, wellness needs to be every employer’s No.1 priority. Pre-Covid research highlighted the detrimental effect of travel stress on employees and companies. Travel stress will only increase in a post-Covid world and employers need to demonstrate a renewed duty of care in guiding their team to better travel habits & services in order to improve their experience and resilience.
