News

Safety tops concerns for business travel return

A 10-step guide to re-starting business travel has been developed by TMC Clarity alongside the results of a client survey.

The poll of more than 100 travel and procurement managers and supplemented by a series of discussions and roundtable events, helped shape Clarity’s re-start document, alongside new product developments.

Traveller safety was the key concern, with all respondents considering it paramount when considering a restart to corporate travel following the Covid-19 pandemic

Other results included:

  • 95% of clients have or are working on a plan to re-start business travel (20% have completed)
  • 80% confirmed that they will be making more use of video conferencing
  • 65% are considering the introduction of a risk assessment process in addition to their travel policy
  • Forecasts for international travel were more pessimistic than domestic with 75% of respondents expected volumes to be at less than 50% of pre-pandemic levels for the rest of the year. Domestically 88% of respondents said they would use or consider using car instead of public transport.

Clarity has also been investing in technology with online booking tool Go2Book updated to adapt to the latest supplier safety policy and procedures aimed at restoring confidence in travel.

The 10 step guide to restarting travel and events consists of live global travel dashboards alongside links to the Business Travel Association and Iata to provide insight and accurate information to help travel mangers when thinking about future travel plans.

The TMC’s chief executive Pat McDonagh, said: “At the very heart of this is the wellbeing of the traveller, the responsibility of the employer to ensure a safe journey and a realisation that the world has changed so video conferencing will be a huge factor moving forward.

“We are proud to have a varied client base, with a strong voice. They have made it clear just how important getting travel started again is to them, so this guide helps our customers do that safely and confidently.”

Commercial director Sue Chapman added: “We’re seeing an increase in suppliers wanting to support the travel restart and that begins with traveller trust.

“By working with TMCs to provide accurate safety information, we’re able to instill that trust, not just at the booking stage, but throughout with relevant updates via our Go2Mobile app and trip advisor traveller itinerary.”

Share article

View Comments

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.