Will it ever be the same again?

The limitations of virtual meetings and the rise of new companies trading globally bode well for a revival in business travel

- RICHARD TAMS

As someone who has only recently taken to the skies again for the purpose of business travel after a grounding of 18 months, I have to ask the question: will business travel ever be the same again? While suppliers in the industry hope for the return of passenger volumes, I have to say that I think the nature of business travel has changed for good.

When I was head of corporate sales for a major airline, our clients would occasionally issue revised travel policies in times of financial hardship or, more frequently, as they approached the end of their financial year. The new edict would be that only 'essential travel would be permitted. Not only was this bad news for their travel suppliers, but it always made those of us in the industry wonder what ‘non-essential travel looked like and why it was permitted for the rest of the time.

We didn't ask too many questions of course because corporate travel spend was key to our business model. However, it does beg the question as to whether this 'non-essential business travel can be relied upon to keep the sector afloat in the future and, if not, what should suppliers do?