How Covid Changed Business Travel Forever

LuxuryJune 16, 2023

The Covid pandemic has impacted many areas of our lives, and one of the most significant changes has been how we travel – particularly for business purposes. What once was a regular aspect of work-life has now become almost non-existent. As vaccines ramp up, many businesses decide how to return to normal working conditions. One of the biggest questions remains – will business travel ever return to how it once was? As the world adapts to new health and safety protocols, it’s worth exploring how COVID-19 has changed business travel forever.

Reduced Travel Budgets

With companies facing reduced revenues due to the pandemic, many businesses have also reduced their travel budgets. Some companies have slashed their budgets altogether, while others have shifted them to new priorities. This change has impacted the travel industry severely, and it’s uncertain whether these changes will be permanent. Businesses now place limited budgets on essential travel, ensuring employees travel only for critical and necessary meetings.

Victoria Howes/ Getty Images | The COVID-19 pandemic has irrevocably changed the way we travel

Shift in Mindset

The pandemic has forced individuals and companies alike to revisit priorities and adapt to new ways of doing things, including business travel. As travel restrictions are eased, many people are likely to travel less often, opting for virtual meetings instead of face-to-face ones. This shift in mindset is likely to be more prominent among millennials, who are more comfortable with digital communication tools and environmental sustainability.

Health and Safety Measures

The travel industry has seen many changes in providing safe travel amid a health crisis. Travel has become more regular with airlines, hotels, restaurants, and other travel service providers taking strict measures to ensure their staff and customers’ safety. However, as we transition to a new normal, these precautions are becoming the standard in travel. Many airlines have implemented touchless check-ins and boardings – while hotels enforce intense sanitation measures. The surge in mobile app usage will lead to more digital advances instead of having physical contact with various content-producing devices.

Rebeca Figueiredo Amorim/ Getty Images | You shouldn’t travel if you have COVID-19

Reduced Frequency

Business travel has been a standard practice for many years, with workers traveling regularly for conferences, meetings, and events worldwide. However, the pandemic forced most companies to halt non-essential travel, deciding to conduct business online instead. As we prepare for a new normal, companies may not bring back business travel to the level before the pandemic. Many organizations have adapted to the new methods of communication during the pandemic, implying that the necessity of business travel has decreased compared to the past. Some companies may continue to travel less to save costs while replacing non-essential travel with virtual meetings and webinars.

Jessica Howington/ Getty Images | The pandemic forced many people to shift to online work

Innovation

The Covid pandemic has forced many businesses to adapt to the new normal and innovate ways to continue their operations as usual. Innovation in travel-related business has surged, from airlines to hotels, to provide customers with the safest travel experience and hygiene guarantee. These advances will soon become standard practice as the travel industry adapts to the changing business travel environment. Many airlines and hotels have also turned their attention to new ways of supporting virtual communication, recognizing technology’s importance in supporting businesses and employees.