As we see lockdown restrictions being to ease and countries open up their borders, it comes as no surprise that the way in which we travel has changed. We want to help guide you and your travel programme in the right direction during these unprecedented times.
That’s why we’ve created the ‘Back to Business… Travel’ blog. Each week we’ll be posting a wide range of informative and interesting articles. Each one designed to help you navigate a new world of travel with key information to get travellers, travelling again safely.
Stay safe!
A Day In The Life Of A Travel Consultant During The Pandemic
We recently caught up with our Operations Manager, Julie Hamstead-Wallis, to find out what a day in the life of a travel consultant looks like during the pandemic. Julie has been letting us know how the operations team have been ensuring all our travellers know their entry requirements, isolation, quarantine, testing, passenger locator forms and visa requirements pre-trip by using our great new Passkey product and the indispencible Traveller Toolkit.
Sustainability in Travel Top Tips
Environmental sustainability continues to rise on the agenda. As with every industry in the supply chain, the travel and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) industries contribute to corporate carbon footprints, and organisations are increasingly looking for ways to understand and reduce their environmental impact.
Zoom Fatigue
Zoom fatigue is the latest phrase we’ve added to our vocabulary since the pandemic forced offices up and down the country to close. The pandemic has forced us switch our cameras on and tune in to more video conference meetings than even. Even for those accustom to video conferencing pre-Covid, Zoom fatigue has become something people are increasingly aware and victims of.
Your TMC Relationship
Business travel has been decimated over the past 15 months but that hasn’t stopped some companies from changing their travel management company (TMC). Indeed, some corporates have taken the time when things have been quieter, to rethink their relationship with their incumbent TMC.
Striking A Balance
Given that many business-to-business and technology companies performed remarkably well during Covid, it’d be easy to say that Zoom has killed business travel. But the evidence shows the opposite.
Experience is Everything
In this article, Lesley Tyler, Head of Events Operations at Gray Dawes Group, reflects on the past 12 months, what corporate events will look like in a post-Covid world and how Gray Dawes Events can help your organisation create a memorable experience for your next event.
Guest Post: Presentation Tips
Presentations don’t have to be painful! They don’t even have to include a PowerPoint (shock!), and they should never, EVER be dull. So with that in mind, here’s seven tips from Square1 to make your presentations pack a punch…
Why It’s Time To Try European Rail
Find out why travelling around Europe via train is quickly becoming one of the most popular options among business travellers and why it can have a positive impact on the environment, traveller wellbeing and your travel spend.
Shape of the Future
The cost of a trip, whether that is in terms of funds, planet or people, is going to be increasingly under scrutiny in the future and travel managers will need to educate bookers and travellers about just how their business travel fits into the organisation’s overall strategy.
Global Travel Taskforce Report
Published on 9 April 2021, the government’s Global Travel Taskforce report sets out the recommendations for a safe return to international travel. Here, we present a detailed overview of the Transport Secretary’s report – all the salient findings and key proposals you need to know and what they mean for business travel.
Business Travel Podcast
In the UK, more than 30 million people have been vaccinated; in Norway, the number is just 800,000. Yet there are two ends to any business trip so even if everyone in the UK is vaccinated it does not mean that other countries will be ready to welcome them. In this podcast, the panel discusses how this fragmented picture will affect business travel recovery.
The Plane Truth
A new study reveals employees are impacted more than company profits by the lack of business travel due to COVID. The survey reveals some surprising information about the true impact of business travel on companies, those employees who do the traveling, and even some thoughts on what the future of business travel might look like.
Guest Post: Personal Branding
Did you know that award-winning marketing agency, Square1 is part of the Gray Dawes Group? Square1 previously offered a guest post on getting COVID-19 communications messaging right, and today they’re back with their view on personal branding…
Changes Could Lead to Better Atlantic Air Travel
In recent years there has been a considerable focus on cutting emissions from aviation to stop global warming. This article explores what changes can be made to improve Atlantic air travel for the better.
New Supersonic Jet
A new supersonic jet in development aims to cut the flight time from London to New York to just 90 minutes.
Zooming Into The Post Covid Era
In this unmissable Research Paper, Gray Dawes Consulting Manager – Aman Pourkarimi – reveals how travel managers have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to positively impact their entire company beyond just covid savings.
What England’s Roadmap Out of Lockdown Means for Live Events
After months of virtual meetings, classes, conferences, and happy hours, it has been announced that large business events can resume with the recently released proposed roadmap out of lockdown for England. We discuss what that means for Gray Dawes Events from their Meetings Management Team Leader, Danielle Grubb.
The Airline Refund Crisis
One of the biggest issues in the travel sector since the start of the pandemic has been the thorny issue of refunds. When global travel was effectively stopped, the industry had to work out what to do about the tickets that had already been paid for.
Etiquette Faux Pas to Avoid in Virtual Meetings
From showing up late to appearing too casual, we offer some tips on how to avoid these faux pas and improve your meeting etiquette, in preparation for returning to the office.
IATA Travel Pass
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will be the world’s first airline to pilot the full solution IATA Travel Pass starting with passengers travelling from Singapore to London from 15 28 March.
Space Hotel
In this latest article of our regular ‘futures’ feature, exploring what the travel industry of tomorrow may look like, we explore the Voyager Station – a hotel in space which is scheduled to open its airlocks to visitors in just six years time! The Gateway Foundation has announced that it intends to open the first hotel in space in 2027.
Travellers Gaining Confidence
IATA announces results from its latest poll of recent travellers, revealing growing confidence in a return to air travel, frustration with current travel restrictions, and acceptance of a travel app to manage health credentials for travel.
Business Travel News Podcast
The travel industry is obsessed with NDC – but what exactly is it? It can be anything from an extra bag to even providing a mariachi band to play out as you board the plane, if that’s what you want. The problem is control and the airlines have challenges providing that level of control between hubs and different members of their airline alliances. NDC promises a new retailing world, but who is the retailer?
British Airways Launches New Trade-Exclusive Flexible Fares
British Airways have introduced two new fare brands, Select and Select Pro, in response the current challenging environment business travellers find themselves in. Having recognised the importance of allowing our clients the flexibility and peace of mind when booking, British Airways were delighted to announce the launch of the fares from the 24th February 2021.
Did you know… Gray Dawes Holidays
With the recent government announcement providing some expected dates for lockdown to be eased, many are starting to think ahead to summer and their long-awaited holidays.
COVID-19 Test Providers
For international travel, you may be required to take a COVID-19 test with a provider of your choice. To make this process easier, weSkyTeam have partnered with TrustAssure™ to give you a map of testing providers near you.
Reboot Your Digital Wellbeing
With us all spending so much more time online, as a result of home-working and remote virtual meetings, Dr Bridgette Bewick offers five tips to avoid slipping into unhealthy habits. Digital wellbeing is about finding ways to integrate digital components into our lives in a way that supports mental health and well-being and doesn’t detract from it.
Business Travel News Podcast ep15
In Episode 15 of the BTN Europe podcast, we continue our discussion around digital health or vaccine passports and whether they are a solution to reopen locked international borders.