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!
China Calling
As the world recovers from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, global businesses are gradually resuming their operations and eagerly seeking new opportunities. Amidst this paradigm shift, China has emerged as an indispensable business travel destination.
The Big Business Travel Report
We examine the findings of an important new report from CBI Economics, commissioned by the BTA, which seeks to understand the benefits of business travel and in-person meetings in a world forever changed by the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.
How To Control Costs
As market prices increase following the global pandemic, we examine what Travel Managers now need to think about and how they can effectively control the cost of business travel. Spoiler alert: it’s not all about content, but also process and booking behaviour.
Traveller Confidence
As travel restrictions and Covid testing regulations continue to ease, we look at our clients’ top international destinations and what you need to know (and do) to get there. With the help of our Traveller Toolkit and Travel Checker, you can take the guess work out of foreign travel.
5 Tips On How To Build Resilience In The Workplace
As the pandemic continues to create unprecedented disruption, both businesses and employees are going to need plenty of resilience to bounce back. Those who are most resilient tend to experience greater happiness, job satisfaction, and self-esteem. So, here are 5 tips on how you can build resilience in your workplace.
GUEST POST: Laura Fairburn Discusses Service Waiting Times
We recently caught up with one of our Travel Consultants, Laura Fairburn, to find out what it has been like returning to a completely different landscape that she left 18 months ago and to find out if service times have been affected by the pandemic.
Lateral Flow Testing Replaces PCR Testing
As of 4am on Sunday the 24th October coronavirus travel rules were relaxed for fully vaccinated passengers and most under 18s who are either UK residents or from countries which have an approved proof of vaccine certification, regardless of their individual vaccination status.
Time for a break
With the recent news that the traffic light system is set to be scrapped in favour of a straightforward green and red list, plus the announcement from the US that they’ll be opening their borders to the UK from November, many are starting to plan their next holiday.
Introducing YourTrip Cares
YourTrip Cares provides safety and risk insights during the booking, “Stay Safe” alerts and notifications for those travelling and a centralised global monitoring solution for the back office.
Passenger Locator Forms
All travellers must complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) online before arriving in the UK, even if they are only transiting through the UK. It’s free to submit the form and it may be completed any time in the 48 hours before arriving in the UK. Here we detail some significant and sensible updates the Department for Transport have made to the first page of the PLF and what it means for you.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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?
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.
Digital Health Passports
In this article, Aman Pourkarimi, Consulting Manager at Gray Dawes Group, discusses what Digital Health Passports are, why there is a market for them, who is providing them and whether they are, as many predict, the silver bullet for unlocking travel restrictions.
Hotel Quarantine
On Monday 15 February new travel measures will come into force, requiring all residents returning from the 33 ‘RED LIST’ countries to quarantine in an assigned hotel for ten days. We detail everything you need to know about the new rules and much more.
Visiting the UK as a Foreigner post-Brexit
What is the impact of Brexit on non-nationals wishing to visit the U.K. from abroad? We take a look at how the changes might affect you or your clients as a foreigner travelling to Britain in 2021.
2020 Review & 2021 Outlook
In our latest Business Travel Bitesize special, we measure the health of corporate travel via the confidence of four key segments: governments, suppliers, businesses and travellers. Watch the video now and download FOR FREE the accompanying report, which provides powerful insight and analysis on what to expect in 2021.
Travel Industry Update
From Emirates becoming the first airline to trial IATA Travel Pass to the UK introducing ‘Hotel Quarantine’, we cover the latest travel industry updates which look to build traveller confidence while restricting the spread of the Coronavirus.
8 Tips For Getting The Most From Your Remote Team
Being a manager brings with it a unique set of challenges, and these may well be amplified by working in separate locations.
So, if you’re looking for additional tips for managing people remotely, here’s 8 to get you started!
Why Bill Gates Is Wrong
The COVID‐19 pandemic will no doubt drastically change the way business gets done moving forward, especially when it comes to travel. Microsoft co‐founder Bill Gates has even predicted that over 50% of business travel will go away permanently now that remote work and virtual meetings have become the norm. But he’s wrong.
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.
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.
Suzanne Horner Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders
Our CEO, Suzanne Horner, has been named as one of LDC’s Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders for 2020. Now in its third year, the programme, which is supported by The Telegraph, celebrates the inspiring leaders behind some of the UK’s most successful and fast-growing medium-sized firms.
Return to the Skies
In a new report commissioned by London City Airport, nine out of ten large UK companies say air travel is cruicial to success. The importance of domestic and international travel to the economic prospects of UK businesses and the wider economy reveals that the majority of UK business leaders would return to the skies if quarantine measures were eased.
BTN Podcast Episode 6
IATA has announced that airlines will burn through $77 billion in cash before the end of the year and a further $6 billion a month next year. Easyjet has announced its first ever loss. In this podcast, the panelists discuss how to manage travel programmes when airlines are facing an existential threat.
Top 5 Best Business Apps
For business professionals, the game has changed. Technology has enabled us to ‘do more’, which has obviously resulted in ‘more to do’. The working day has become far more challenging, with multiple devices and projects all in need of constant upkeep. Enter the business app.
Back to Brexit
Brexit is back! With the transition deadline of 1st January 2021 looming, when new rules for UK citizens travelling to the European Union come into force, now is the time to remind yourself of what’s going to change for business travellers and what you need to do to prepare.
Airlines and Airports Innovative Ideas to Get Travellers Travelling
Qatar Airways has become the first global carrier to operate Honeywell’s ultraviolet (UV) cabin cleaning technology in their aircraft. Meanwhile Helsinki Airport are using sniffer dogs to detect travellers infected with COVID-19 and say it is ‘close to 100% accurate’.
BTN Europe Podcast Episode 5
The latest episode of the new BTN Europe podcast series Week in Review is now available to listen below or download via Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
AIRLINE UPDATES: September
From no more booking fees for Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines flights to a new pilot programme of testing between London and New York announced by The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC); the measures being implemented by airlines to help build traveller confidence mean that international business travel is safely back on the menu.
How to get a Covid-19 Test
As countries start to reopen they all have different requirements, many of these require proof of a negative COVID test within a certain time. So how do you arrange this and can you use an NHS test?
Traveller Toolkit Trackers
Consulting Manager, Aman Pourkarimi, gives a brief introduction to the Gray Dawes Traveller Toolkit. Aman shows how to use the free tools we’ve built for business travel professionals, designed to help you avoid unnecessary cancellations and travel headaches caused as a result of Covid-19 border travel restrictions.
BTN Europe Podcast Episode 4
We know the global crisis caused travel managers to implement a number of changes to their policy very rapidly to protect travellers and get those already on the road home safely. Will any of these policy updates stick around in the longer term?
All Party Parliamentary Group
The UK Parliament has launched an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) dedicated to Business Travel, raising the profile of the sector within the government. Our very own CEO, Suzanne Horner, spoke to MPs during the inaugural session.
BTN Europe Podcast Episode 3
The third episode of the new BTN Europe podcast series Week in Review is now available to listen below or download via Spotify and Apple Podcasts. This week we’re discussing how the coronavirus pandemic has influenced changes in company travel policies.
Data & Duty of Care Compliance
Combining analysis from the ‘traveller experience’ will give you a strong platform to fulfil Duty of Care legal requirements and make travelling a safe and rewarding experience for your staff. In this article Consulting Manager, Aman Pourkarimi, shows you how.
Updating Your Travel Policy
According to a recent survey by corporate travel news aggregator service ‘The Beat’, 4 out of 5 travel managers are either changing their travel policy or considering doing so. We caught up with our Consulting Manager, Aman Pourkarimi, to get the latest advice on how to keep your travel policy to update.
BTN Europe Podcast Episode 2
The second episode of BTN Europe Week in Review features our own Chief Executive Suzanne Horner and discusses the ways in which new and existing business travel technology can help build traveller confidence in getting back on the road during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Why Zoom and Skype won’t kill business travel
In this fascinating two minute read, from an article by Connie Lin and first published earlier this month in business e-magazine, Fast Company, we discover the surprising causes of a country’s economic growth thanks to business travel. It’s a compelling argument, different to what you might expect.
Have Attitudes Towards Business Travel Changed?
By now you will have realised that the way in which we travel has changed. But with travel managers now being given the green light to relaunch their travel programmes, many are wondering if their colleagues attitudes towards travel have changed as well?
BTN Europe Podcast
BTN Europe has launched a new podcast series featuring a panel of experts who will discuss the latest issues facing the managed travel industry. Episode 1, featuring our own CCO, David Bishop, explores the implications of ongoing travel restrictions in Europe on business travel.
Traveller Polls
Our Commercial Director, David Bishop, recently joined a panel of experts for the HSBC Commercial Cards Online Seminar to discuss what the future of business travel will look like in a post COVID-19 world. This seminar gave the panel the perfect opportunity to ask their attendees how their businesses were preparing to restart their travel programmes and if they were seeing traveller confidence returning.
New Technology Innovations for Enhanced Traveller Safety
As we continue the emergence from lockdown and see international travel gradually begin to resume across the world, we’ve looked at what innovative new technologies are paving the way for safety, more hygienic and efficient travel.
Airline Updates
From new first class lounge facilities and features with British Airways, to free global cover for COVID-19 from Emirates; the measures being implemented by airlines to help build traveller confidence mean that international business travel is safely back on the menu.
Goodbye to the Queen of the Skies
As British Airways becomes the latest airline to ground its fleet of Boeing 747s, we say a fond farewell to the iconic jumbo jet and look back at over 50 years of classic air travel history.
Business Travel Bitesize
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the UK, we’ve brought you a huge wealth of advice, opinion and information designed to keep you moving during the pandemic. We’re now breaking that down into bite-sized chunks. So, if time is short, here’s a great way to catch up on just the details you need to make your next business trip a safe and smooth experience.
Going Native
We’ve previously explored how hotels are adapting as they return to business. Aparthotels are also reopening their doors, offering an alternative choice for business travellers. The features of an aparthotel make them ideally suited for those looking for a little more...
Increase In European Air Traffic
With travel restrictions beginning to ease, there’s plenty to be positive about when it comes to air travel. With airlines and airports exercising a good degree of caution with safety measures surrounding flying, we have a seen an increase of travellers, travelling again.
HEPA Filters
As airlines begin to fly again, passengers may be concerned about the spread of coronavirus. Thankfully that’s where HEPA filters come in.
WEBINAR: Return to Business Travel
In this special pre-recorded webinar, the third in our COVID-19 series, Gray Dawes CCO, Dave Bishop, and Consulting Manager, Aman Pourkarimi, consider what businesses need to do in order to successfully return to corporate travel, ensuring the confidence of their road warriors in a post-coronavirus world.
How to PREPARE for Travel
Recently we’ve been looking at what business travel may look like post COVID-19 and what you can do to plan and prepare. In this post we look at how you can P.R.E.P.A.R.E for business travel with our easy to follow checklist.
How to Successfully Relaunch Your Travel Programme
Recently we’ve been looking at what business travel may look like post COVID-19 and what you can do to plan and prepare. In this post we look at how businesses can approach internal stakeholders to build confidence, achieve buy in and successfully relaunch their travel programmes, while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of travellers.
Air Bridges – a simple guide
There’s been plenty of talk about air bridges between countries that may help to reduce disruption. But what exactly are air bridges, how will they work and which countries are considering an air bridge with the UK?
Guest Post: COVID-19 Communications
A guest post about COVID-19 response messaging from award-winning brand and marketing communications agency Square1.
Tales of a Traveller
As lockdown restrictions begin to ease and we start to see the first signs of business travel returning, we caught up with one of Gray Dawes’ clients to discover his experiences of travelling during the pandemic.
Cover Up – face mask FAQs
The UK government has made face masks mandatory on public transport. Check out these FAQS for all you need to know.
Hotel COVID-19 Update
We’ve compiled the latest information and measures Hotels and Serviced Apartments are taking to prevent and minimise the risk of the Coronavirus spreading during this difficult time.
Car Hire and Rail COVID-19 Update
We’ve compiled the latest information and measures Car Hire and Rail companies are taking to prevent and minimise the risk of the Coronavirus spreading during this difficult time.
When Will We Be Able to Fly Again?
Despite the coronavirus lockdown gripping the world, with the U.K Foreign & Commonwealth Office putting an order in place to avoid all non-essential travel, flights are still flying. But the question on everyone’s mind is “when will we be able to fly again?”
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