Safe Business Travel in the Age of the Pandemic
Two major business trends of this year could be easily summarized in two sentences: Zoom is having a good year. Airlines are not. And as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global business travel market is predicted to see a loss of 810.7 billion U.S. dollars in revenue in 2020.
For the professionals on the ground who are trying to figure out how to make meaningful connections without the benefit of in-person meetings, impeccable webinar etiquette has become essential, but it hasn’t replaced face-to-face interaction entirely.
Even as professionals travel less and teleconference more for the foreseeable future, some are still required to get on a plane to go meet with clients, partners, and other stakeholders.
Let’s take a look at the state of business travel during the pandemic, whether safe business travel is really possible, and what professionals can do to fortify meaningful connections with important clients. (Spoiler: you may need to rent out office space to establish a short-term satellite presence.)
September Update: The State of Business Travel
Before the arrival of COVID-19, business travel made up 60 to 70 percent of industry sales, according to estimates by Airlines for America, but those days are over. Today less than a third of business travelers are willing to fly.
As Robert Crandall, former chief executive of American Airlines, told the Wall Street Journal, “You are never going to see the volume of business travel that you’ve seen in the past.” He estimates one-third to one-half of business travel will go away for good.
The very idea of safe business travel has been upended, and many trips have been canceled because clients working from home do not have a place to meet, some socially distant workplace rules limit outside visitors, and many cities have quarantine requirements for out-of-state visitors that make a quick overnight trip impractical for the foreseeable future.
How to Do Safe Business Travel Today
There is no known way to get the risk of COVID-19 transmission down to zero while traveling, but with just 2 to 4 percent of normal international flights in the air, there is some good news for anyone who opts to fly. Domestic air traffic volume in the US is still less than 40 percent of what it was back in January of this year.
If you must travel for business, the best any of us can do today is to listen to the health experts and follow the protocols airlines have put in place for passenger safety. These commonly include a few simple tips that can go a long way:
Wear a mask.
Don’t touch your face.
Wash your hands.
Minimize contact with high touch areas (like door handles and check-in consoles).
Wipe down all surfaces before taking your seat.
Bring your own hand sanitizer.
Do your best to maintain social distancing guidelines.
The CDC guidelines for travelers are the best place to confirm what steps you’ll need to take for your flight.
If you find yourself digging deep into recent studies on COVID-19 transmission on airplanes, you may be more comfortable in a car than on a plane. Everyone wants to know how risky it is to fly, and there is no clear answer yet.
Alternatives to Boarding a Plane for Your Next Meeting
The Global Business Travel Association found that 56 percent of travel buyers have revised their travel policies in light of COVID-19. And many companies are still figuring out how to promote safe business travel for their employees.
Among surveyed travel managers, an overwhelming 96 percent said their companies were not fully prepared to manage evolving travel demands during the outbreak. So, what can you do to strengthen your business relationships that doesn’t involve air travel?
1: Make Your Business Trip a Road Trip
If you have a flexible schedule, your next trip to a nearby city for a client meeting may be a great opportunity to take a few days off out of town. Even driving isn’t risk-free, but in terms of airflow, you won’t have to worry about prolonged exposure to strangers.
It’s important to take time off during the pandemic, for you and for any team members you work with.
2: Establish a Temporary Outpost or Satellite Office
If you or your team are about to launch a project in another location that you’d regularly visit if not for the pandemic, it may be time to consider whether you need to rent out office space locally to supervise the project or build local relationships. With the right standards in place and strong communication, a socially distant workplace can be a great place to take in-person meetings and demonstrate your commitment.
3: Demonstrate Your Appreciation from a Distance
Of course, you can always find other creative ways to demonstrate appreciation for your clients without renting office space far from your home base. While sending a purposeful gift or a thoughtful note is no substitution for face-to-face interaction, in light of the current global health situation, it may just be the right compromise for now.
When It Comes to Safe Business Travel, Make the Best Decision for You
Six months into this pandemic, you may be feeling eager to get back on the road and return to your old cadence of on-site visits. It may feel like it’s past time to strengthen your relationships with in-person meetings with key clients. You might even be feeling like the only person you know who hasn’t taken a trip yet this year.
But don’t let what other professionals are choosing Focus on your personal priorities and your personal risk tolerance before anything else.
If you haven’t yet, settle into your headquarters away from the distractions of your home office. Renew your goals for the home stretch of 2020, and look forward to how your business can thrive in 2021, even if the old cadence of business travel doesn’t return in the next year.
Photo by Ross Parmly on Unsplash