By Lisa James, published 24/06/20
All but 5% of buyers are working on an action plan to restart their business travel once they get the go-ahead, with 20% saying they have already completed it.
According to research by corporate travel and events agency Clarity, coronavirus concerns have affected the way they intend to do business in the future.
Of the 100 travel and procurement managers who took part in the research, 80% of clients confirmed that they will be making more use of video conferencing while 65% are considering the introduction of a risk assessment process in addition to their travel policy.
Public transport looks set to fall for domestic travel, with 88% saying they would consider using a car instead, while 75% of respondents expected international travel volumes to be at less than 50% of pre-pandemic levels for the rest of the year.
Manchester-based Clarity has used the results of its client survey to shape its own 10-step guide to restarting a travel programme.
Speaking about the future of travel, Clarity CEO Pat McDonagh said: “At the very heart of this is the wellbeing of the traveller, the responsibility of the employer to ensure a safe journey and a realisation that the world has changed, so video conferencing will be a huge factor moving forward.”
Alongside the restart guide, Clarity has also been investing heavily in its technology to ensure that clients are fully supported for the future. Its online booking tool, Go2Book, has been regularly updated to adapt to the latest supplier safety policy and procedures aimed at restoring confidence in travel.
Commercial Director Sue Chapman explained: “We’re seeing an increase in suppliers wanting to support the travel restart and that begins with traveller trust. By working with TMCs to provide accurate safety information, we’re able to instill that trust.”
The 10-step guide is available as a free download on Clarity’s new COVID 19 travel resource centre.
