- Details
- Category: Industry News
With Thanksgiving spiking as the busiest travel weekend (especially for air travel) since the beginning of the pandemic, it comes as no surprise that a recent Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) survey found that half (50 percent) of GBTA travel buyer and procurement professionals feel their employees are ‘willing’ or ‘very willing’ to travel for business in the current environment. Only one in five (22 percent) GBTA members feel their employees are not willing, demonstrating a strong readiness to resume business travel. The poll was conducted November 9-16, 2020.
Recent announcements of potential, effective vaccines with 90 percent+ efficacy rate in clinical trials has increased sentiment among respondents that their company will be more likely to allow business travel and employees to attend in-person meetings in 2021. Three in five GBTA members say their company would be ‘likely’ (44 percent) or ‘very likely’ (16 percent) to allow business travel with this prospect, while one in five (19 percent) are neutral (i.e., neither likely nor unlikely). Only 10 percent say their company unlikely and are 11 percent unsure.
When asked about government restrictions, the majority of respondents feel there should be an exception to mandated quarantine requirements for international business travelers, who take short-duration business trips that involve meeting with only a few people. Six in ten (58 percent) respondents are interested (with 28 percent ‘very interested’) in seeing this proposal adopted. This figure is significantly higher in Europe with 66 percent interested in this proposal compared to 55 percent in North America.
Survey respondents believe their company would be willing to implement a policy to encourage employees to download a ‘track and trace’ app for business travelers to assist with contact tracing efforts. Half (49 percent) feel their company would be ‘willing’ or ‘very willing’ to encourage employees to download such an app, while one-third (35 percent) think their company would be neither willing nor unwilling to do so. GBTA respondents based in Europe (62 percent) are more likely than members based in North America (44 percent) to say they think their company would be willing to encourage downloading contact tracing apps.
When asked about the timescales around a return to 2019 levels of business travel, six in ten (60 percent) European buyers expect domestic business travel to take 4-9 months to reach at least 50 percent of 2019 levels. In addition, half (50 percent) expect regional business travel to take 4-9 months to reach at least 50 percent of 2019 volumes. Long-haul business travel is expected to take longer to reach at least half of 2019’s level, with six in ten (63 percent) European buyers/procurement professionals expecting it to take between 10-24 months.
Among non-European buyers, half (58 percent) expect domestic business travel to reach at least 50 percent of 2019’s level in the next 1-9 months whereas expectations for international travel will take longer with 54 percent expecting it will take 10-24 months to reach at least 50 percent of 2019’s level.
“The news of a vaccine has been well received among our members with an uplift in activity as the industry collaborates to find a safe and responsible return to travel. Adhoc government restrictions continue to be the main deterrent and GBTA continues to advocate for a unified approach across the world,” commented Interim Executive Director Dave Hilfman.
Travel suppliers throughout the industry have introduced new safety standards and protocols as a result of the pandemic. These include service changes (e.g., flight reductions), policy changes (e.g., eliminating change fees) and new sanitation practices. Communication campaigns have been key in alleviating fears. GBTA travel buyer and procurement professionals perceive communication campaigns from airlines (84 percent), hotel sectors (78 percent), ground transportation (52 percent) and travel management sectors (51 percent) as being effective.
View the entire poll results here.
In other news, GBTA has completed its acquisition of key assets of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), continuing its pledge to unify the industry and help lead business travel out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of the integration effort, two former ACTE Board members will join the GBTA Global Board of directors effective immediately. Alison Taylor, Chief Customer Officer of American Airlines, will serve the remainder of the vacant ALC Vice Presidency. Steve Sitto, Sr. Manager, Global Travel and Events for Tesla, Inc., will serve the remainder of the vacant Direct Member At-Large term. Both terms will be completed at the time of the GBTA Convention in July 2021.
A committee led by GBTA Chairman Christle Johnson and former ACTE Executive Director and current DigitTravel Consulting Senior Vice President Greeley Koch will work together with GBTA staff and industry volunteers to identify the best value a combined GBTA and ACTE can deliver to its members.
“The addition of an amazing brand like ACTE will give GBTA members the absolute best opportunities for education, networking, research and advocacy. We look forward to combining the best attributes of both associations with our Ready. Safe. Travel campaign as we continue to advocate for business travel’s path to recovery,” said Hilfman.
Visit gbta.org for more information.
- Details
- Category: Industry News
NFI Group (NFI), the parent company of Motor Coach Industries (MCI), announced that its annual United Way Workplace Campaign raised $378,700—surpassing its goal by 10 percent and continuing NFI’s commitment to supporting communities. Since 2009, NFI has raised $2.8 million for United Way agencies.
The campaign was again championed by employees across North America, with MCI Director of Human Resources Michelle Whyard as campaign chair and teams participating from NFI subsidiaries and raising funds through individual, team challenge, and virtual giving.
“This has by far been the most challenging year for fundraising across the board, with a global pandemic and economic recession creating a tough reality that at times felt like an uphill battle—but our team dug deep. Together, we rallied to raise precious dollars that will provide critical and basic supports to so many in need in our communities,” said NFI Executive Vice President, Human Resources Janice Harper.
“As a driving value of our organization, supporting our communities continues to provide a path that brings us together. At NFI, we exist to move people—millions of them around the world every day—but we do so with great care and consideration for what life looks like at the final destination. This year has been unlike any other, and we must continue doing what we can to lift our communities when and where they need it most,” Harper added.
NFI’s 2020 campaign supported 19 different United Way agencies across the U.S. and Canada, located in or nearby communities where NFI has facilities, including:
- Inland Empire United Way (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
- Metro United Way (Louisville, Ky.)
- Renfrew County United Way (Pembroke, Ontario)
- Tri-County Area United Way (Marinette, Wisc.)
- United Way Bay Area (San Francisco, Calif.)
- United Way Fresno & Madera Counties (Fresno, Calif.)
- United Way Greater Toronto (Toronto, Ontario)
- United Way Montréal (Montréal, Quebec)
- United Way of Central Minnesota (St. Cloud, Minn.)
- United Way of Crookston (Crookston, Minn.)
- United Way of Delaware County (Delaware, Ohio)
- United Way of East Central Alabama (Anniston, Ala.)
- United Way of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Area (Pembina, N.D.)
- United Way of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey (Philadelphia, Pa.)
- United Way of Kentucky (Louisville, Ky.)
- United Way of Metropolitan Chicago (Chicago, Ill.)
- United Way of Metropolitan Dallas (Dallas, Texas)
- United Way of Southern Chautauqua County (Jamestown, N.Y.)
- United Way Winnipeg (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Visit nfigroup.com for more information.
[11.30.20]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
You asked for it and we listened. In this column, we ask operators of all sizes and from all walks of the industry a question about their business and report their answers so you can assess how your own company compares to your peers. If you would like to participate, please email Rob Smentek at rob@chauffeurdriven.com for next issue’s question.
TOPIC: When the vaccine becomes available, will you request/require your staff and chauffeurs to get it? Are you planning on getting the vaccine?
Stay tuned for more responses to this week’s question in the December issue of Chauffeur Driven.
Michael Barreto, President/Founder
Metropolis Passenger Logistics in Philadelphia, Pa.
As far as myself receiving the vaccine, I would like to wait until the vaccine has had a bit more testing before making a decision.
Abdou Brahim, Owner
VA Executive Sedan & Limousine Service in Virginia Beach, Va.
The vaccine requirement also falls in line with the safety protocols that we have in place now. We require all chauffeurs to wear a mask and 10 specific vehicles (sedans, SUVs, and vans) have dividers in them, which is in addition to disaffecting and electrostatic cleaning we do every night. I strongly believe that getting everyone vaccinated increases the quality of the company as well as the safety for all involved.
David Brown, President
Premiere Transportation in Albany, N.Y.
Fernando Carlison Jr., Co-founder/CEO
Mundi Limousine in Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Tracy Raimer, Executive Vice President
Windy City Limousine & Bus in Chicago, Ill.
As far as requiring the vaccine, that’s a company-by-company choice, and equally important, a person-by-person choice. As of this writing, I don’t think that I would require the vaccine. I would strongly recommend that each person discuss with their health care provider to determine if it’s right for them. All of our health situations are different, and we should not be making blanket requirements when we are not medical professionals.
Tracy Salinger, President
Unique Limousine in Harrisburg, Pa.
Jeff Shanker, Chief Strategy Officer
Black Tie Transportation & Bus Charters in Winston-Salem, N.C.
We need to continue to do all we can to help the traveling public feel comfortable with getting back in our vehicles. I feel confident that the vaccine will be safe and that it will help us rebuild our struggling businesses. We must get back to sports and other large-scale events with full attendance as soon as possible.
Andy Thompson, President
Rose Chauffeured Transportation in Charlotte, N.C.
Barbara White, CFO & Co-owner
VIP Transportation Group in Orlando, Fla.
Matthew Winston, President & CEO
Relaxed Equipment Leasing in Topeka, Kansas
Evgeny Zhukov, Founder/CEO
Z Brothers Chauffeur Service Worldwide in Moscow, Russia
We’ve loved hearing your answers to our benchmarking questions—but we always welcome suggestions for future topics, too!
Send an email to rob@chauffeurdriven.com you just might see your query answered in our next E-News.
[12.07.20]