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!
Pent-Up Demand for Small Meetings is Heating Up
It just may be the small-meetings business that could help the beleaguered hotel industry overcome challenges presented by a raging pandemic, economic downturn and, in the United States at least, even civil unrest.
New Year, New Mindset
Goodness knows this past year has been hard on everyone’s mental health and well-being, but maybe it’s now time to consider those two things more seriously from a business travel perspective, when we finally emerge from this dreadful pandemic.
Brexit Baggage
The UK’s decision to leave the European Union means travellers face bans on a wide range of goods. Many items are now prohibited from travellers’ baggage from Great Britain. Find out what you now can and can’t take in your luggage…
6 Wrist Relief Products You Need at Work
Millions of us have turned our homes into makeshift offices by combining various items from around the house into something which resembles a workspace. But balancing a laptop on, well… your lap, for hours on end could have health implications. Allow us to offer some tips on how to avoid home office aches and pains.
GHIC replaces EHIC
UK residents will now be able to apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaced the EHIC. This is great news for those who want to travel in the EU but do not have cover for COVID treatment with their insurance company. Check out our FAQs for all you need to know…
BTN Podcast Episode 12
In this edition of the BTN Europe Podcast, featuring our own Chief Commercial Officer, Dave Bishop, we learn there is an appetite for private as opposed to shared travel solutions and that corporates are talking about resizing their travel programmes.
Pre-Arrival Testing
Passengers arriving from all international destinations will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result before departing for England to help protect against new strains of coronavirus circulating internationally.
Six Trends That Will Shape Business Travel in 2021
As a worldwide vaccination program gathers pace, businesses across the globe are starting to plan for a return to travel in 2021. Although it is challenging to predict how the next 12 months will play out, there are clear trends emerging in the wake of COVID-19.
How To Unlock Business Travel After Brexit
This week, the panel discusses whether new schemes such as ‘test to release’ can get business travellers moving again, the outlook for business travel after Brexit and whether companies will require their employees to be vaccinated to resume travelling.
UPDATED: Brexit – How to Travel to the European Union in 2021
At almost the 11th hour the UK and the EU struck a Brexit Deal which will mean that travellers will need to put measures in place to minimise disruption from the 1st January 2021. Find out what those measures are…
GUEST POST: My Travel Experience
Our own Gray Dawes Travel Reservations Supervisor, Beth Williams, recently recently travelled from Manchester Airport to Dubai Airport with Emirates – here is her first hand experience of travelling during a pandemic.
Tier 4 and Christmas Travel Rules Explained
More than 16 million people in London, parts of the south east and east of England have been placed into a new Tier 4, with extremely strict travel regulations. In addition, the Christmas easing allowing three households to mix has been reduced to a single day: 25...
BTA DFT Survey Findings
Working closely with the Department for Transport and The Business Travel Association (The BTA) we wanted to find out what changes our clients were experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic via a survey. The Department for Transport has now analysed those results and released it initial findings. We have compiled some of the key findings below and you can download the full report here.
Test to Release
From the 15th December, arriving into England will have the option to take a COVID-19 test five days after leaving a country not on the travel corridors list, as part of the government’s new Test to Release scheme. This could shorten their period of self-isolation if the result is negative.
BTN Europe Podcast Episode 10
After Covid-19, what will the new level of business travel be? According to Bill Gates, it’ll be half of what we’re used to. But will this podcast’s panel of industry experts agree with him? Tune in to find out.
Brexit – how to travel to the European Union from 2021
Technically the UK has left the European Union, but from the traveller’s point of view, nothing significant has changed during the transition phase. This comes to an end at 11pm GMT (midnight Central European Time) on 31 December 2020.
Movember Masters
On 1st November, a brave group of Gray Dawes Group gentlemen lay down their razors and took on the Movember challenge – to grow a moustache in order to raise money for men’s health charities. Setting themselves a target of £1,000, what they actually achieved – both financially and follically – exceeded all expectations!
The Best Standing Desks for Your Home Office That Will Rise to The Occasion
Sitting at a desk all day can cause aches, pains and long-term damage. One of the quickest and easiest ways of alleviating these issues is switching from a conventional desk to one that allows you to stand up while you work. We’ve compiled some of our favourites here.
Covid-19 Tests
Countries around the world are relying on Covid-19 testing programmes to reopen travel. So which test do you have to take for which country? You’ll find some answers here, as well as links to useful resources where you can find further information.
Consulting Autumn Report
Focussing on the Air and Hotel markets, this insightful and free publication examines the current status of business travel in the UK. With particular attention to the Air and Hotel markets, the report uses data trends and commercial analysis to help inform corporate policy and business travel behaviour.
BTN Europe Podcast 9
This time, the panel look at what changes the airlines have been making during the Covid pandemic and whether things will revert to normal once it’s over. The pandemic has seen many corporate airline deals extended or pushed back and we hear how relationships are key – suppliers need to talk to corporates and intermediaries
8 Netflix Travel Shows Worth Watching While in Lockdown
Combine the difficulty of travelling during lockdown with the fact that many of the TV shows we enjoy have halted production and we find ourselves pining for a new kind of release. To help quench our thirst for all things travel here’s our recommendation for 8 Netflix shows worth watching while in lockdown.
Face to Face Meetings
The COVID-19 pandemic has got us all rethinking the way we do business. From no longer needing expensive office space (replaced by the home office) to conducting important business meetings via video conferencing technology. So… do we still need to face meetings?
The End Of The Office?
So many of us haven’t been in to the office for months and, at least in the UK, there seems very little appetite to do so any time soon. Many businesses are seriously looking at alternatives to corporate bricks and mortar, in favour of operating virtually. So, what does this all mean for business travel?
How To Keep Travelling During Lockdown
As the UK enters a second lockdown, travel for work is still permitted. If you’re a regular business traveller you may also be exempt from the current quarantine regulations. We show you how to keep you – and your business – moving, safely and legally.
Holiday to Help Out
Give yourself something to look forward to! The Holiday to Help Out scheme provides incredible special offers for holiday bookings made over a limited period – from now until November 8th – giving everyone a chance to book a break for next year and beyond, and have a holiday to look forward to.
Gray Dawes Group Joins the Movember Mo-vement
We are proud to announce that this year the Gentlemen of Gray Dawes Group will be growing facial furniture for the month of November, in support of Movember. Movember, for those who haven’t heard of them, are a leading charity working to change the face of men’s...
Behind the Scenes at Heathrow Airport
Our own Gray Dawes Group Marketing Director, John Cooper, was recently invited by United Airlines and Heathrow Airport to take a look – first hand – at the measures being put in place for the safety of travellers. What John discovered were a range of innovations and practices which, in his opinion, make taking a flight the safest place to be!
CommonPass
In collaboration with The Commons Project, the World Economic Forum is supporting the development and launch of CommonPass, an initiative which aims to develop a global, interoperable framework to safely restore cross-border travel to pre-pandemic levels.
COVID-19: First UK Airport Coronavirus Testing Begins
to have the option of paying for a rapid COVID-19 test before checking in. The test will cost £80 and the result is guaranteed within an hour. The aim is to help people travelling to destinations where proof of a negative result is required on arrival.
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