TRAVEL MANAGEMENT

On 23 November, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the partial lifting of the quarantine currently in force in the United Kingdom. His Secretary of State for Transport announced that the quarantine for high-risk countries would be reduced to five days.

Since 18 November, Singapore has been requesting a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test with covid no more than 72 hours before their departure.

A decline in virtual 100% events, a gradual return to local meetings and a further increase in hybrid operations: the Global Meetings and Events Forecast report from American Express Meetings & Events gives its predictions for 2021.

Free Now for Business and GBTA Europe surveyed business travellers and travel managers in seven European markets. The aim was to identify their habits and expectations in terms of ground transport, and the new trends linked to the health crisis.

The "Safe Travel Barometer" website, which has been analysing health and hygiene protocols in air transport since August, has just named Emirates Airlines the safest airline to travel with. In Europe, Iberia, Air France and Lufthansa are among the top 10. 

Inmarsat has just published a worldwide study to identify new airline booking habits and solve a crucial problem for airlines: reassuring travellers to attract them back on board their aircraft.

The announcement by the American laboratory Pfizer and the German laboratory BionTech of an effective 90% vaccine against covid-19 should enable the travel industry to see a return to more normal activity in the next few months.

Since 8 November, new rules have been in force for passengers travelling to Germany. Here are the main changes for business travellers.

Calgary International Airport in the Canadian province of Alberta is part of a pilot programme to reopen borders. The compulsory quarantine imposed by the health authorities has been reduced to a minimum. An example that could be emulated? 

During this period of paralysis in the travel sector, new players are anticipating the upturn by developing tools dedicated to a new CSR approach.

The advent of rapid antigen tests and the pragmatism of the Swiss Confederation in the face of an epidemic that is affecting the whole of Europe without distinction have led to an easing of entry measures into Switzerland.

Laurent La Rocca, CEO of the Treep, analyses the state of the business travel market and its prospects, and highlights the strengths of the Treep solution, which is positioned particularly in the sustainable development niche.

A new "responsible travel" feature has been added to Neo, in the hotel section of the travel & expense tool developed by American Express GBT. Other new features are in the pipeline, notably for electric vehicles.

Free Now and Amadeus have just formalised a partnership that will significantly speed up the processing of expense claims for business travellers.

The announcement of the creation of a travel corridor between Singapore and Germany, the first European country to benefit from such a measure, shows the beginnings of a slow normalisation. 

According to a study published on Thursday by the GBTA, the vast majority of travel buyers and travel managers are banking on the deployment of rapid screening to boost travel business.

In response to changing demand, Bird Office is rethinking its positioning, targeting coworking and other third-party premises more specifically, to offer companies an alternative to the home office.

Self booking tools (SBTs) have evolved from a tool initially focused on travel cost savings to become global platforms. This development is in line with the growing maturity of travellers' online practices and the emergence of digital services to enhance the user experience.

To be rolled out in France in early 2021, the payment card co-branded by BNP Paribas and Accor will enhance the benefits of the ALL loyalty programme.

Many airports are announcing Covid antigen tests for passengers. The French government has confirmed that Aéroports de Paris will launch these tests on 26 October at both Orly and Roissy, the first French airports to offer this service.