Three-quarters of member travel buyers and procurement managers surveyed this month by the Global Business Travel Association indicated their organisations' employees are at least somewhat willing to travel for business now, continuing a sharp rise commensurate with increasing availability of Covid-19 vaccines.
Around 58 per cent of the buyer respondents to the 10 to 15 May poll suggested their travellers were "somewhat willing" to travel for business under current conditions, with another 17 per cent calling their travellers "very willing." Of those who answered otherwise, nearly four out of five cited safety concerns for their travellers' reluctance, and nearly three out of four cited their currently unvaccinated status.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week said individuals fully vaccinated against Covid-19 could gather indoors without masks or social distancing, although it kept mask requirements in place for public transportation including airplanes, airports, trains and buses.
Satff shortage?
Meanwhile, most suppliers plan to add employees to help manage what they hope is post-pandemic travel surge, but many are concerned about finding staff, according to the GBTA survey. About 62 per cent of travel supplier and travel management company respondents indicated they plan to add employees during the next six months, and 54 per cent of them said they're concerned that competition over candidates could hinder that effort.
Around 47 per cent of supplier respondents cited a shortage of qualified candidates as their biggest restaffing obstacle, with 46 per cent citing hesitancy among would-be employees to work in travel and 35 per cent noting a desire among potential staffers to work remotely.