Constant and up-to-date communication has been on the priority list for all business travel managers. The ongoing pandemic has made business travel cumbersome, pair that with government restrictions and changing policies the need for consistent communication on the go. Travel companies have to stay on top of changes and have the ability to convey complex information to business travelers.
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) recently conducted a survey on how the current technology of travel communication is and how business travelers want it to be.
The CEO of GBTA, Suzanne Neufang stated “As we continue to move through the pandemic, communication and real-time information for business travelers has never been more important, even for the most experienced road warriors. Corporate travel managers are finding themselves taking on an even more vital role as messengers and managers of change when it comes to keeping their employee travelers informed and safe”.
With the arrival of Covid-19, the conventional way of communication has become obsolete. Even for the most experienced traveler, there is no place for a static and outdated system. Even though GBTA’s research has shown that companies are keeping up with policy changes there are still areas that can be improved.
Traditionally travel managers focus on meal per diems and expense report deadlines for their corporate travelers, however, times have changed and now they are tasked to be in constant communication with their travelers concerning special safety updates and changes in travel policy brought by the ongoing pandemic.
The pandemic has been flipped the travel and tour industry. Although most business travelers feel like they have enough information on covid related travel policies, however, a significant minority still needs regular updates. According to the survey conducted the information given below are required when traveling:
- Country-specific entry/quarantine requirements
- Measures that travel suppliers are taking to reduce the spread of Covid-19
- Who to contact in case of Covid-19 related symptoms or other medical emergencies while traveling.
- Company’s trip approval process
- Corporate travel policies
Travel suppliers continue to urge business travelers to stay up to date with the later Covid safety protocols.
Communication Preference for Business Travelers:
Technology continues to evolve and new channels for instant communication are created regularly. Despite the availability of modern platforms of communication, corporate travelers continue to use the tried and tested communication channels.
- Travelers continue to vouch for email as a form of communication when sharing information about travel policies and travel-related resources.
- Internal collaboration platforms like Slack and MS Teams are also popular to facilitate communication between colleagues. However, it isn’t widely used for sharing travel-related information.
- Text messaging is also another preferred channel for communication and over 50% of business travelers prefer it as compared to push notifications.
Travel companies and suppliers continue to push for stable regulations and policies amidst the looming situation. The advancement of the current mode of communication has made traveling during the pandemic bearable.
