The latest survey by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has found that more than half (54 per cent) of business travel professionals polled expect the majority of their employees to be back in the office by August.
The poll revealed that 8 per cent of respondents said that most of their employees have already returned to the workplace, 17 per cent expect to return between one and four months from now and 29 per cent said in five to eight months' time. A quarter of companies still remain undecided on when to return.
Just under half of companies (48 per cent) anticipate a return to non-critical business travel by August.
“While we continue to face challenges for our industry, there is light at the end of the tunnel and projections for a return to some normality remain positive for Q3,” said Dave Hilfman, interim executive director of GBTA.
“The global roll out of vaccination programmes continues to be a key driver in restoring traveller confidence, but uncertainty remains around traveller requirements for a return to business travel, whether this be pre-testing, testing on arrival or proof of vaccine. GBTA will continue to lobby on behalf of members for clarity and a consistent approach among governments.”