In the run-up to the Olympic fortnight, the key discipline in business travel these days is to determine whether business travellers will indeed be returning to the airport in the foreseeable future, or whether they will be sticking to their new travel habits. videoconferencing. This 19 August, BCD Travel is the latest competitor to take to the starting line. And it's reassuring to note that business travel still generates an appetite that virtual ersatz travel cannot replace. The business travel agency surveyed no fewer than 738 business travellers in the world, the majority of whom (60%) hear get back on the road to business travel. Nevertheless, a quarter of those surveyed (26%) said they wanted to reduce their travel volumesOne employee in ten (9%) wants to make up for lost time by travelling more.
This need for mobility is explained in particular by a relative frustration with regard to virtual communication methods. Among the criticisms levelled at videoconferencing solutions are the following lack of human contact (66%), a limited interaction (58%), a distraction more common (54%), or the unsuitability of the channel for certain types of meeting (51%). In addition, after more than a year of systematic use, business travellers report "Zoom fatigue" and persistent technological problems (49%).
empower employees to make their own travel decisions
" Face-to-face meetings remain an essential element not only in achieving business objectives, but also in satisfying companies' need for efficiency and human interaction. "says Mike Janssen, Global Chief Operating Officer and Chief Commercial Officer at BCD Travel. " With millions more vaccines being administered every day, the majority of teams are ready to get back on the road, despite the recent spikes in the variant. In a post-pandemic environment, companies must continue to provide advice. To remain an attractive employer in this rapidly changing environment, they also need to consider empowering employees to make their own travel decisions. "adds Mike Janssen.
This need for autonomy is reflected in the results of the survey carried out by BCD Travel. When it comes to post-Covid travel policies, for example, employees want to be able to decide for themselves whether they want to travel (64%), while benefiting from a simpler travel approval process (58%). The use of direct flights is also favoured by the majority of respondents (53%).
However, as the Chairman of BCD Meetings & EventsScott Graf While in some parts of the world the pandemic is slowly receding, other regions may continue to rely on virtual meetings. Event organisers need to enhance their offering with a new set of skills to compensate for the weaknesses of virtual meetings, such as the lack of interaction. Training or outsourced assistance may be the solution to keep employees focused and motivated in an increasingly challenging environment. ".
