How Will Business Travel Change After Covid-19?

The spread of the Covid-19 virus has completely changed the world. For many companies, business travel has been shut down for months with no clear indication of when things will return to normal. Employees and employers are struggling to conduct business remotely and operate as successfully as possible in the new environment. Where business travel once played a major role in maintaining relationships and developing new prospects, companies are now learning how to do business with no in person meetings and learning the ins and outs of video conferencing.

Covid-19 has had a far reaching effect and there is no telling how long those effects will last. Even as things return to normal it is likely that the impact of Covid-19 will be felt for a long time. Business travel is certainly not immune to the massive impact of Covid-19 and it will affect business travelers as strongly as business travel associated businesses.

So, as we wait at home, hoping for an end to the pandemic and some hint of normality, we find ourselves wondering, how will business travel change after Covid-19? Of course, we can only speculate, quite frankly nobody knows what is going to happen over the next few months but here are some of the things we think will dramatically change when we all start flying again.

Airport journeys will change dramatically

Travel has shut down on a global level and the travel industry has suffered some serious economic losses as a result. Airports have turned into ghost towns. The images of empty terminals and grounded aircraft are eerie and unsettling. Although everything seems strange now, it is important to remember that we will return to travel. Airports will reopen and we will be checking in and boarding flights again. But in a post Covd-19 world, airport journeys will be fundamentally different. Cleanliness and hygiene will be top priorities for passengers and airport staff alike. Mandatory sanitization may be forced upon travelers, customs and immigration will be stricter, ‘proof of health’ may be required to enter countries and passengers will be more wary and less forgiving to those displaying any kind of illness symptom. It will not be a pleasant experience to board a flight if you have a cold.

The way we interact with each other will also change dramatically. Travelers will be more conscious than ever of health and hygiene and personal space. What could this mean for airport businesses? We may see an uptake in lounge use as passengers seek a quieter, less crowded place to wait for their flight. We may see a reduction in eating and drinking at the airport as passengers become more wary of their health and want to avoid high traffic areas and multi-use utensils. Spending as little time at the airport may become a top priority for travelers and, for those that do have to spend time at the airport during a layover, getting outside and in the fresh air will be a must. Airports will need to accommodate this new desired journey and that could result in a dramatic decrease in revenue for airport businesses.

Business trips will be more stressful

There is no doubt that the travel industry will take some time to recover from the impact of Covid-19. In the Flight Plan 2020 Report released by IdeaWorks and Cartrawler this month, Jay Sorensen speculates that the travel industry capacity will shrink significantly across all types of business. Many aircraft will stay parked on the runway, less popular routes will not reopen, and some hotels will close or reduce capacity.

As the secondary businesses associated with business travel struggle to return to normal, it is clear that business travelers will feel the effects. Route closers will result in more time on the road and more layovers as the availability of direct flights will decrease. We may see business travelers spend a lot more time in airports waiting for connecting flights. Even without the heightened awareness among travelers about health and hygiene, extra time spent in airports can be stressful. Airports will realise that helping traveler reduce travel stress is a top priority and we may see and increase in wellness focused businesses popping up in airport.

Will we see a reduction in the need for business travel?

Business travel is considered by many companies to be a vital business activity. The return on investment on business travel is estimated to be between $10 and $14.99 per dollar invested, with the highest return coming from client meetings. Covid-19 has put an end to in person meetings across the world and putting a stop to business travel was one of the first reactions we saw from big international companies to the Covid-19 pandemic. The question is, once the world starts to recover will we see a return to the same levels of business travel, or will there be a new attitude? Will businesses that have weathered this storm now believe that in person meetings and business travel is not a necessity.

The likely answer is that we will see a return to business travel but not to the same. While a video chat is a poor substitute for meeting up with friends and family, companies are realizing that is it possible to conduct business with less face to face time. In person meetings may not be as high of the priority list for some businesses when we return to normal. And let us not forget about the economic impact of the crisis. For those that took a significant hit, the funds for excessive business travel will not be available.

Business travel will not disappear, but it is likely that we will see a significant reduction in business travel after the pandemic and that reduction may last. What we will probably see an increase in is b-leisure. B-leisure refers to the combination of business travel with leisure travel and was becoming a significant trend over the past few years, particularly with the millennial generation. As travelers become more conscious of their health, well-being, and the value of their time post Covid-19, it is likely that frequent business travelers will take more time for leisure and b-leisure presents a great opportunity for this.

There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now. But here is what we do know.

Business travel has always been tough, but it just got tougher.

In recent years we have started to see a change in attitude when it comes to business travel. Both employers and traveling employees were recognizing that frequent travel is detrimental to our health. It depletes our immune system, just when we most need it and can cause increased physical and mental stress.

Business travel was always tough, but it just got tougher. Covid-19 will have a massive impact on business travel. Airport journeys will be fundamentally different, with a huge emphasis on personal space and wellness. Frequent travelers will be more conscious than ever about health, hygiene, resilience and stress levels when traveling.

Traveling in these uncertain times will be stressful for everyone. Understanding how to protect yourself for unplanned cancellations and delays is important. Travel Insurance should always be an important consideration for companies and travelers alike and especially so in these strange times. It is important to review your current policies and understand what is the best option for you and your team. Consumersadvocate.org put together a great piece on the Best Travel Insurance based on in-depth research and reviews. Check it out and make sure you have the best policy in place for when you return to travel.

Employers need to change how they equip their people for this new reality. In travel, wellness needs to be every employer’s No.1 priority. Pre-Covid research highlighted the detrimental effect of travel stress on employees and companies. Travel stress will only increase in a post-Covid world and employers need to demonstrate a renewed duty of care in guiding their team to better travel habits & services in order to improve their experience and resilience.

Hygiene Tips For The Airport And Airplane

Hygiene Tips for the Airport and the Airplane

With the rapid spread of Covid-19, events being cancelled worldwide and many large international companies putting a restriction on travel, airports and airplanes understandably seem like places to avoid. With thousands of people passing through every day from lots of different places, airports can be risky environments. As Covid-19 grips the worlds attention, and causes some serious effects on the travel industry, many frequent flyers are asking, is it safe to travel? The World Health Organisation is advising against travel restrictions however they are recommending that travelers that are sick should avoid or delay travel to the affected areas and the elderly and those with underlying health conditions should do the same.

There is no way to avoid the fact that being in a crowded and/or confined space puts you at a greater risk of getting sick, but the most important thing to remember if you are flying during the outbreak is not to panic and take sensible precautions when you can.

Here are some tips you can follow to help avoid getting sick at the airport.

1. Avoid crowded areas. Food courts, shopping areas and busy gates should be avoided whenever possible. Find an empty gate to relax in, away from the crowds.

2. Avoid high touch traffic surfaces. For example, railings on stairs, escalators or travellators, vending machines and sockets with switches. Pack a power bank so that you can keep your devices charged while avoiding touching sockets.

3. Get out of the airport whenever you can. Being out in the fresh air is much better than being inside the airport. If you are airside and cannot leave, check to see if the airport has an outdoor area, perhaps an observation deck or a patio attached to a restaurant and spend your airport downtime there. If you have a long layover then it’s worth leaving the airport and heading to a local park or walking path. You can find information and directions to local parks at most major international airport in the Sanctifly app. Download it for free today.

4. Follow the health precautions recommended by the World Health Organisation i.e. wash or sanitize your hands whenever possible, avoid touching your face and cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and dispose of it immediately.

So those are the guidelines for airports, but what about on the plane? Air travel seems like the perfect environment for spreading diseases and viruses, you are in close contact with a large group of people, in a locked cabin breathing recycled air. However, the risk of catching Covid-19 or another virus while on an airplane is not that much greater than the risk on other forms of mass transport. The World Health Organisation states that you are at risk of potentially catching infectious diseases if a person sitting in your row or two rows in front or behind is infected and is coughing or sneezing. There is no real need to worry about the people that are further away from you on the plane.

Airplane air is frequently filtered through hospital-grade HEPA filters that remove 99% of bacteria from the air, making it cleaner and less dangerous than the air on a bus or train with the windows closed. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particle air. A HEPA filter is a mechanical air filter that works by forcing the air through a fine mesh that traps harmful pathogens, removing them from the air. In a plane, this filtered air is mixed with fresh air and recirculated within the cabin very regularly.

The real worry about being on a plane is that you are left with very few options should the person next to you be sick. On a train or a bus you can get up and move away from the, however because most planes fly full, the opportunity to get up and move is not always available. The best we can do as frequent travelers is to protect ourselves as much as possible and take precautions whenever we can.

Here are some health and hygiene tips for the plane to help you avoid getting sick.

1. Pack disinfectant wipes in your carry on and wipe down the seat, seat belt, tray table and arm rest before you sit down. If you are by the window don’t forget to wipe down the wall beside you too.

2. Choose a window seat whenever you can. A window seat puts you in proximity to less people and reduces your risk of being close to a sick person.

3. Do no take complimentary pillows or blankets. While airlines will have procedures in place to thoroughly clean any items distributed to traveling passengers it is best practice to avoid using anything that is not your own.

4. Use card payments or exact change whenever possible. Cash is a high traffic touch item and runs the risk of transmitting germs from one end of the plane to the other.

5. Avoid using the bathroom if you can. Bathrooms are small, enclosed, high traffic areas within the plane and so become high risk areas for viruses to spread. If you do need to use the bathroom, ensure you wash your hands thoroughly before returning to your seat.

6. Turn on your overhead air vent on. Although the air in the cabin is generally safe, turning your air vent on can help disperse any pathogens in the air around you and ensure you are breathing the freshest possible air.

7. Follow the health precautions recommended by the World Health Organisation, i.e. wash or sanitize your hands whenever possible, avoid touching you face and cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and dispose of it immediately.

Remember your health an well-being is always important, and especially when you are traveling. Take care of yourself and others and Travel Well. For more information on how you can prevent the spread of Covid-19 and help boost your immune system to fight it check out this post.

Travel Tips During The Covid-19 Outbreak

Tips for travel hygiene and health during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Here is everything John covers in his video:

• 00:00 - 01:24

  Hygiene tips for travelers

• 01:25 - 03:18

  Tips to boost your immune system and what foods you should avoid

• 03:19 - 07:50

  Supplements to consider taking*

With Covid-19 taking over headlines and business travel entering an uncertain time we wanted to get some expert advice for you on how you can still travel safe amid the coronavirus outbreak. We reached out to John Ayo, Travel Wellness expert, naturopath and author of Travel Balance for some tips on how to stay safe and healthy while traveling. Check out his video above for some expert tips.

*All suggestions are not medical advice and independent medical advice should always be sought if required.

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The question on every business travelers mind… Is it safe to travel?

With companies all over the world putting a ban on business travel in the midst of the crisis, it is understandable that travelers are a bit wary before heading for the airport. As of February, 29 2020 the World Health Organisation is advising against travel restrictions however they are recommending that travelers that are sick should avoid or delay travel to the affected areas and the elderly and those with underlying health conditions should do the same. Cough, hand and food hygiene is essential and travelers returning from affected areas should self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days and follow the protocol of your country.

Are you more at risk on the plane?

While it is true that being in a confined space with an infected person increases your risk of getting the virus there is no need to panic. Almost all modern commercial airplanes are fitted with sophisticated HEPA filters (High-Efficiency Particle Filters) and the air inside the cabin is filtered (removing bacteria and viruses) and re-circulated regularly.

You also need to be in fairly close proximity to an infected person in order to catch the virus. The World Health Organisation recommends practicing social distancing of at least 1 meter from anyone that may be showing symptoms. Now, we know that’s not an easy thing to do while on a plane, but it is important to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions when you can.

Keeping your surroundings sanitized and disinfected is the best thing you can do to prevent yourself getting sick. Pack disinfectant wipes in your carry on and wipe down your seat, tray table, screen and seat belt buckle before you even sit on down. Check that wipes are at least 60% alcohol.

What should I being doing to stop the spread of Covid-19?

Make sure you wash your hands as much as possible. Some coronaviruses can survive on surfaces for days and when you touch those surfaces you run the risk of transmitting the virus to yourself and others. Washing your hand thoroughly and as often as possible will help stop the spread. If you do not have the option to wash your hands using hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol can be highly effective.

Also, make sure to keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth. Your eyes, nose and mouth are all potential entry points for the coronavirus (and many other germs) so keep touching your face to a minimum. Many airports are going to great lengths to ensure high traffic areas are cleaned and disinfected regularly but it is good practice to avoid touching surfaces when you can and wash or sanitize your hands often.

Practice cough and sneeze hygiene by covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or a tissue if you cough or sneeze and dispose of the tissue immediately. It is best to dispose of the tissue in a closed bin and wash your hand immediately.

Remember, if you are feeling unwell, do not travel.

The most important thing you can do to help stop the spread of Covid-19 is to listen to your body, monitor how you are feeling and act accordingly. Do not travel if you are feeling ill or if you know you have had contact with an infected person. Symptoms of the coronavirus include a cough, a fever and difficulty breathing. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms seek medical attention immediately, following the guidelines of your local authorities.

How can you stay healthy while on the road?

One of the key things frequent travelers, or anyone really, should be thinking about at this time is, how can you boost your immune system so that you are in the best shape to fight a virus

Manage Stress

One of the most effective things you can do is manage and reduce stress. The coronavirus is all anyone can talk about and while it is important to stay informed, the media is not doing a great job at dispelling panic. Stress can have serious negative effects on your immune system, weakening it and making it less effective at fighting illnesses. One of the best ways you can strengthen your immune system is by practicing stress relieving activities such as meditation, exercise and breathing techniques. Find a quiet, empty spot at the airport (unused gates are a great option for this!), switch off social media and do some meditation and gentle stretching exercises to help relieve stress.

Eat healthy foods

Add lots of fruits and vegetables to your diet in order to help boost your immune system. If you tend to head to the fast food joint or the bar for a greasy burger when at the airport, make a change and find a healthier option instead. Avoid foods that have sugar, dairy or wheat and focus on nutrient rich vegetables and omega-3 fats.

Practice intermittent fasting

Digesting and processing food requires a lot of energy from your body. If possible, practice intermittent fasting (only eating within a small-time window) so that your body better preserves energy and can use it to help you fight infections and viruses.

Take Vitamin D supplements

Viruses absolutely thrive in the wintertime and one of the main reasons for this is that humans are lacking in Vitamin D during the winter months. When our skin is exposed to sunlight it produces Vitamin D and unfortunately sunlight tends to be lacking in the winter. Vitamin D deficiency has been proven to make you more susceptible to infections and weaken your immune system. Taking a Vitamin D supplement can help boost your immune system and make you less vulnerable to viruses and infections.

Other supplements to add to your diet

Iodine is vital for thyroid health which helps your bodies metabolism and energy creation. Your body needs high and healthy energy levels to fight infection. Hydrochloric acid (your stomach acid) helps kill any pathogens that make it to the stomach. High dose Vitamin C & Vitamin A help protect your cell walls and preventing viruses from getting in.

Phew, that’s a lot of supplements to remember! Why not head to your local health food shop and ask them for recommendations on a combined supplement to suit your needs. Essential oils are also great for improving well-being and you can get oil blends made specially to combat the stresses of frequent travel.

Taking care of yourself and your well-being, especially while traveling is so important. Staying healthy while on the road is about building good routines and maintain positive physical and mental health habits. Don’t let stress and media hype cloud your judgement when it comes to the covid-19 virus, or another other virus that we may face in the future. Take advice from the experts and remember prevention is key to maintaining a healthy and balanced life.