TRAVEL MANAGEMENT

The conclusion of an agreement redefining relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom finally puts an end to four years of Brexit twists and turns and uncertainty. The agreement also sets out what Europeans and Britons can expect on both sides of the Channel on 1 January. 

Singapore and Thailand are beginning to relax the rules governing entry to their respective countries. This is a first step, although much remains to be done to normalise the movement of travellers. 

The second wave of covid is forcing the whole of Europe into massive reconfinement at the end of the year. In the United Kingdom the discovery of a new strain has led to the suspension of flights from continental Europe.

Nicole Flory, head of business development France at VISA Business Solutions, explains the benefits of the Visa Commercial Pay range of solutions, recently launched in partnership with Conferma, including the digitisation of purchases, mobile phone payments and the central role of the virtual card.

According to a study published on Thursday by the GBTA (Global Business Travel Association), the meetings and events market should pick up again by mid-2021, or even at the end of the coming year.

How are travel managers managing their travel policy in this turbulent period? This is the subject of a study recently published by BCD Travel, which provides some insights into travel management at the end of this year, and perhaps beyond.

Vaccinations, digital passports: Philippe Guibert outlines the conditions for resuming travel from a health point of view. The Regional Medical Director of International SOS Health Consulting also discusses the vulnerability of companies and their employees to the pandemic.

Amadeus has teamed up with AXA Partners to offer a new insurance and assistance package for business travellers, with a "pay-per-use" commercial format that is unprecedented in this field.

Amadeus, Booking.com and Conferma have joined forces to make it easier to pay for hotel bookings using virtual cards.

The new "Observatoire des déplacements Professionnels en France et à l'Etranger" (Observatory of Business Travel in France and Abroad) has just released its figures on the current state of business travel, and the impact of Covid on international mobility.

Google has just launched a travel demand analysis tool in Asia. Called Travel Insights with Google, the new site is designed to help companies better analyse traveller demand for a given destination. 

How has the French's relationship with flying changed over the last few months, as a result of the various measures taken to restrict or relax the rules? A study published by the Chaire Pégase, attached to Montpellier Business School, provides some insights.

According to IATA, the Covid crisis has profoundly affected air connectivity between cities. The hubs of London, New York and Hong Kong, as well as Bangkok and Seoul, are the big losers in this aviation tumult. 

AFM-Téléthon travellers now have access to booking tools tailored to the specific needs of disabled travellers, thanks to the platform developed by the Treep and Vairon Voyages.

Spain, faced with the covid pandemic like the rest of Europe, announced on 2 December that it would not be authorising non-essential travel by international visitors for the duration of the festive season. This restriction will be in place between 23 December and 6 January.

According to Reuters, the Trump administration could give the green light to lifting the ban on foreign visitors to the United States. A farewell gift from Donald Trump or a welcome to the world from Joe Biden? 

Expensya has published a barometer based on the expense reports processed by its platform, enabling us to better identify the impact of the crisis on business travel and the new habits of employees and their companies.

GBTA has just made official its acquisition of the other major business travel association, ACTE, which has been bankrupt for several months due to the health crisis.

Combining the expertise of Visa and Conferma Pay, the Visa Commercial Pay suite of payment solutions promotes the use of virtual card and smartphone payments.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has just sketched out in an interview what post-covid air travel will be like. Only passengers vaccinated against the coronavirus would be allowed to board a plane. A model that is likely to find emulators in the rest of the world.