Optimism in the business travel industry is on the up
following announcements from the UK and US about the opening of borders and
reduction of travel restrictions, according to the latest poll from the Global
Business Travel Association.
In the poll, conducted between 4 and 13 October among 503
buyers and suppliers, more than half of respondents (52 per cent) said they were more
optimistic than they were last month (compared to 22 per cent in the September
poll). The latest survey also saw an increase to 66 per cent who said their
company is allowing non-essential domestic business travel, while 42 per cent
are also opening up international travel – the highest level all year and up
from 34 per cent last month.
More than half of suppliers (55 per cent) said their
corporate bookings had increased since September.
Three-quarters of respondents support the reopening of US
borders, which is scheduled for 8 November, with seven in 10 expecting an
increase in international business travel over the next six months as a result.
Fifty-nine per cent agreed increased global vaccination
rates would be a top driver of the return to business travel. A resounding 74
per cent said they would support government policies that require proof of full
vaccination to fly internationally. However, only 40 per cent of respondents
said their company currently has a vaccine mandate in place for employees
wishing to travel or meet clients face to face and only 41 per cent require vaccines
to attend meetings, conferences and events.
Showing a regional divide, Europeans (73 per cent) are more
likely than North Americans (58 per cent) to say their company does not require
vaccination for business travel.
While 70 per cent of those who stated they have travelled
less than they did pre-pandemic said they have missed business travel, those
based in Europe are more likely to not miss work trips (31 per cent) than those
in North America (19 per cent).
Still, 78 per cent of GBTA buyer and procurement members who
responded to the survey said they feel their company’s employees are willing or
very willing to travel for business in the current environment. This figure
increased 10 percentage points from September after two months of decline and
has now passed the summer peak of 77 per cent in June and July.
Suzanne Neufang, CEO of the GBTA, said: “There’s still a
road ahead for recovery but we’re delighted to see the opening up of borders
and a return to non-essential business travel. While we have seen
ever-increasing domestic and short-haul travel, a more accelerated recovery has
been hindered by the lack of international transatlantic travel. The opening of
the much-anticipated Europe and UK to US travel corridors, as well as the
opening of land borders to Canada and Mexico, will give a much-needed boost to
the business travel ecosystem and global economy. Safety and duty of care
continue to be of utmost importance to our members, who overwhelmingly support
vaccine programmes as well as smart travel policies to ensure a safe return to
business travel, meetings and events.”