[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Header: 9 Ways to Work From Home” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ collapsed=”on”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”TRAVEL POLICY” subhead=”updates you should consider making” text_orientation=”center” header_fullscreen=”on” header_scroll_down=”on” scroll_down_icon=”%%2%%” scroll_down_icon_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”4.4.2″ title_line_height=”1.7em” subhead_font_size=”30px” background_color=”#414042″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Travel-Policy-Update.jpg” parallax=”on” z_index_tablet=”500″][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”9 Things” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ custom_padding=”75px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” border_color_all=”rgba(255,186,96,0.6)” border_width_right=”8vw” border_color_right=”#5b8cb1″ collapsed=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ collapsed=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.0.6″]<\/p>\n
According to a recent survey by corporate travel news aggregator service \u2018The Beat\u2019, 4 out of 5 travel managers are either changing their travel policy or considering doing so. We agree that the majority are wise to do so, as the travel landscape has changed dramatically in response to COVID-19. We caught up with our Consulting Manager, Aman Pourkarimi, to get the latest advice on how to keep your travel policy to update. Some of the considerations facing travel managers include:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.0.6″ collapsed=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.0.6″][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ admin_label=”the right kit” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ custom_padding=”55px|0px|55px|0px|true|false” use_custom_width=”on” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Subtitle: Have The Right Equipment” _builder_version=”4.4.2″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.6″]<\/p>\n Duty of care should always be an employer\u2019s highest priority when creating a travel policy. COVID-19 has bought this into even sharper focus.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a company\u2019s responsibility to identify then eliminate, or at least mitigate against, risks; and where that is not possible, raise awareness of those uncontrollable threats.<\/p>\n No company can eliminate the risk of coronavirus of course, either inside the workplace or while travelling. Therefore, it\u2019s a case of raising awareness and mitigating risks wherever possible. For example, instructing the use of PPE, social distancing measures and preferred vendors.<\/p>\n Whatever you decide, as a business, to implement within your duty of care policy, an employee also has a duty of loyalty to follow the company policy. In other words, if you instruct travellers to use a preferred airport transfer, but the employee chooses to use another service as a matter of convenience, then they are at fault. This is a matter which should be stated to generate compliance, at a time where rogue booking simply cannot be afforded.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ admin_label=”commute” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ custom_padding=”||60px||false|false” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Subtitle:Commute” _builder_version=”4.4.2″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.6″]<\/p>\n With that in mind, we strongly advise mandating booking travel through preferred vendors. This will allow your business to control all three phases of travel, which are:<\/p>\n You\u2019ll need to audit your preferred vendors ensuring they fulfil the following criteria in each phase.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ admin_label=”get dressed” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ custom_padding=”||60px||false|false” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Subtitle:Get dressed” _builder_version=”4.4.2″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.6″]<\/p>\n Your preferred vendor should allow instantaneous policy amendment. Given the spread of the virus fluctuating and the rising political instability, it\u2019s important to be able block locations rapidly, in response to the changing environment.<\/p>\n The vendor should be able to control this at the point of booking, either by blocking non-compliance, requiring pre-trip approval and offering advisories while allowing booking. This allows you to set varying levels of control in response to the changing threat level.<\/p>\n Possessing travel profiles with contact information will allow you to rapidly engage with your traveller and take appropriate action.<\/p>\n Your vendor should be providing you and your travellers with up-to-date safety information. In the current climate, it would be wise to relax any policy of booking online only; instead allowing travellers to reach out to live expert consultants if they feel the need to do so.<\/p>\n You can access information yourself from multiple sources such as gov.uk, the FCO website and John Hopkins University, but it\u2019s better to have all this content in one place. These measures are essential given COVID-19 is not a static risk.<\/p>\n That leads to another policy advisory. The traditional advance purchase mandate of 14 days is not suitable in today\u2019s changing environment. 14-day advance purchases do offer cost savings in the pre-COVID environment, but currently increases the risk of time consuming and potentially costly cancellations.<\/p>\n For example, Spain had been trending at an average of just 300 confirmed COVID-19 cases when put on Travel Corridor list on the 10th\u00a0July<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Border-Travel-Restrictions-1-e1598532619124.png” _builder_version=”4.4.2″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.6″]<\/p>\n However, just a fortnight later, during the week commencing 21st<\/sup> July, that average had risen to over 2,500 daily cases \u2013 that\u2019s nearly 4 times than in England.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Border-Travel-Restrictions-2-e1598532663185.png” _builder_version=”4.4.2″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.6″]<\/p>\n Therefore, our advice is to change your current advance purchase policy to no more than 7 days. Or you may wish to consider removing it altogether and replacing it with price caps per destination to continue control costs.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ admin_label=”take care of yourself” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ collapsed=”on”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Subtitle: Care” _builder_version=”4.4.2″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.6″]<\/p>\n There are several travel policy recommendations we propose to handle in-trip activity, including giving clear instructions on PPE and local social distancing measures.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Border-Travel-Restrictions-3-e1598532689395.png” _builder_version=”4.4.2″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.6″]<\/p>\n But crucially, we strongly recommend auditing your current emergency processes. Are you providing a clear and robust action plan for all foreseeable circumstances? Ask yourself the \u201cwhat ifs\u201d:<\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot to think about!<\/p>\n Your preferred vendor must be able to offer support on policy adjustment to ensure yours is fit for purpose in the current climate. And they must also help you communicate any policy changes, while notifying the traveller directly, as well as providing them with the very latest information relating specifically to their trip. They\u2019re the experts, after all!<\/p>\n In addition, traveller tracking can offer a travel manager a consolidated view of the whereabouts of travellers if presented with a sudden change in regulations.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ admin_label=”take schedule” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ collapsed=”on”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Subtitle: Schedule” _builder_version=”4.4.2″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.6″]<\/p>\n In the spirit of continuous improvement, you should encourage travellers to share feedback of their experiences. This will help future adjustments of your travel policy, especially during these volatile times. This type of engagement can improve your vendor\u2019s service while also helping to restore confidence with other travellers, by removing some of the scaremongering taking place now in regard to travel. Your travel management company should offer the facility to encourage and share feedback.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.0.6″ custom_padding=”60px|||||” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.0.6″][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”back button” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|110px|0px|false|false” border_color_all=”rgba(255,186,96,0.6)” border_width_right=”8vw” border_color_right=”#5b8cb1″ collapsed=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ collapsed=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.0.6″]<\/p>\n We hope you\u2019ve found this brief insight into Travel Policy management useful and if you are wanting more guidance you can find out about our Aman\u2019s Consultancy here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n And don\u2019t forget to check out our Traveller Toolkit \u2013 your first stop in navigating business travel during the pandemic here<\/a> to be in the know, before you go.<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”back button” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ custom_padding=”55px|0px|55px|0px|true|false” use_custom_width=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/back-to-business\/” button_text=”back to business… travel” button_alignment=”center” admin_label=”button: back to Working From Home” _builder_version=”4.4.2″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#5b8cb1″ button_border_width=”0px” button_icon=”%%23%%” button_icon_color=”#ffffff” button_icon_placement=”left” background_layout=”dark” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”bottom” 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z_index_tablet=”500″]<\/p>\n\n
Duty of Care<\/h3>\n
Preferred Vendors<\/h3>\n
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Pre-Trip<\/h3>\n
During Trip<\/h3>\n
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Post Trip<\/h3>\n
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JOURNEY NOW …\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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WE ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE<\/span><\/h3>\n