The World’s Best Christmas Market is Now Closer than You Think

Winter Wonders in Brussels has been named the best Christmas market in the world – just another reason for South Africans to take advantage of Air Belgium’s new route to Johannesburg and Cape Town

A trip to Europe in December is not complete without a visit to a Christmas market, and Winter Wonders in Brussels is as magical as they come. In fact, global site Big 7 Travel has just named it the best Christmas market in the world, with markets in Berlin (Germany), Chicago (US), Birmingham (UK), Vienna (Austria), Dresden (Germany), Krakow (Poland), Galway, Zagreb and Sibiu making up the top 10.

Kicking off on 25 November 2022 and ringing in the New Year on 01 January 2023, the Winter Wonders market stretches for 3 km across Belgium’s Grand-Place, Bourse, Place Sainte-Catherine and Marché aux Poissons, with over 200 stalls (or ‘chalets’) selling everything from Christmas decorations and gifts to Belgian chocolate and Glühwein. Expect light shows, ice skating, and a 20-metre Christmas tree at the heart of it all.

“Christmas market tours of Europe are incredibly popular,” says Niky Terzakis, CEO Air Belgium. “And if you’re looking to get into the Christmas spirit, but haven’t booked your flights yet, it’s not too late. Fly into Brussels to experience the magic of the Plaisirs D’hiver, and then plot your holiday to take in other markets in France, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.”

South Africans heading to Europe are able to fly direct to Brussels from Cape Town International (with a short stop in Johannesburg) or OR Tambo every Monday and Thursday. The flight offers 30 seats in Business Class, 21 seats in Premium Class and 235 Economy Class seats.

“Brussels is a great jumping off point to the rest of Europe, not only because of its high-speed train network, but because the city knows how to celebrate Christmas,” says Terzakis. “Expect Christmas trees around every corner; impressive sound and light shows, which run on the hour every hour; traditional food and drink; carols; and all the warmth of a Belgian Christmas.”

Winter Wonders also includes plenty to keep the kids entertained (and entranced), including merry go rounds, a Ferris wheel, ice rinks, pedal cars and so much more.

But for Terzakis, simply being in Grand Place, surrounded by medieval architecture and thousands of years of history, is incredibly special.

Fares  start at R 11,569 for an all-in return ticket between Johannesburg and Brussels and passengers are allowed 30 kg baggage allowance free.

“With the demand for travel to Europe at an all-time high, we want our customers to feel confident knowing they secured the best travel deal,” said Terzakis. “Our latest campaign – Closer than You Think – celebrates getting South Africans direct to the heart of Europe in 11.5 hours. And ultimately, we want to give more South Africans the opportunity to travel to Europe at a price they can afford.”

For more information, visit www.airbelgium.com.

For additional questions or to arrange interviews, please reach out to Dorine Reinstein, Big Ambitions, on +27 (0)83 278 8994 or dorine@bigambitions.co.za

MEDIA RELEASE

The ultimate bleisure guide to 2022

JOHANNESBURG, 25 February 2022 – The bleisure trend – blending work obligations with personal getaways – has become a hot trend in 2022.

In fact, 89% of global business travellers have indicated that they wanted to add a private holiday to their business trips over the next few months, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s 2022 State of the Hotel Industry Report.

According to Oz Desai, GM Corporate Traveller, we’re seeing a similar trend in South Africa. “Companies have started to introduce more flexible work and travel policies. This means employees have more freedom to add a few days’ bleisure to their work trip or even plan a workcation. Whereas before companies would ‘consider’ bleisure trips, we see that they are now encouraging it and proactively offering it as an employee perk. Not only is it an important shift in terms of employee wellbeing but it’s becoming increasingly important in terms of attracting – and keeping – the right talent,” he says.

The Bleisure Guide:

Finding the right bleisure formula can take a bit of reflection. After all, you’ll need to find the right balance between work and play.

Desai shares five important tips for planning the perfect bleisure getaway:

1. Business first

Although it’s easy to get carried away by planning the ‘fun’ part of your holiday, never forget the main objective of your trip. Make sure you do the work, prepare for your meetings, and maintain your professionalism.

2. Get the balancing act right

Is it better to take a few days before your work obligations or tag on a few days after your work obligations are done and dusted?

The answer to this question will depend on the context. Although it’s usually advised to first work, then play, this is not always the case. If you’re travelling to meet with a new client for a project that will start straight away, you may want to take a few days’ leisure and catch your breath before the hard work kicks off.

3. Make sure you’re covered

In a world where health and security concerns are top of mind, your company has a legal and moral duty of care to keep you safe.

But before you dust off your scuba gear, you should know there are limits to the company’s responsibility, especially when you’re adding leisure days to your business trip. Your company travel policy should outline your obligations and the permittable activities included in any bleisure trips. It needs to say what activities are off-limits for business travellers in as much detail as possible.

4. Determine who will foot the bill

Make sure the company is aware you are planning to take some leisure days, and that all sides are clear about who is paying for what. It is best to be completely open and upfront about the expenses involved and the expectations about who is footing the bill. This will include issues of travel insurance and S&T credits.

It is very likely that business travellers will want to stay in the same place for their leisure add-on, so the travel agent or travel manager can ask the accommodation establishment to provide an incentive for the extended stay – either a discount or complementary services or meals.

5. Get the timing just right

If you can squeeze your business trip in between a public holiday and weekend, you can easily get three days of traveling in a foreign country without losing a single paid holiday day.

Corporate Traveller has lined the best days up for you:

Monday, 21^st March – Human Rights Day.

This makes a long weekend, with business placed either up to the Friday or starting on the Tuesday.

Friday, 15^th April – Good Friday

Monday, 18^th April – Family Day

By scheduling business on the Thursday and Tuesday, there is a four-day bleisure trip in between.

Wednesday, 27^th April – Freedom Day

Sunday, 1^st May – Worker’s Day

Monday, 2^nd May – Observance

Taking leave for Thursday and Friday leads to a six-day holiday.

Thursday, 16^th June – Youth Day

Only one day’s leave gives you a four-day weekend.

Tuesday, 9^th August – Women’s Day.

Take Monday off for a four-day weekend. Business can be scheduled on Friday or Wednesday.

“2022 will see the corporate nomad revolution take off. After all, bleisure or workcation trips are the perfect way to satisfy the needs of employees to meet with clients face-to-face but also to unplug and see the world,” concludes Desai.

**ends**

For more information about Corporate Traveller, or to interview Corporate Traveller South Africa GM Oz Desai, call Dorine Reinstein on 083 278 8994 or email dorine@bigambitions.co.za.

About Corporate Traveller

Corporate Traveller is a division of the Flight Centre Travel Group, dedicated to saving businesses across Southern Africa time and money. Corporate Traveller has the benefit of being part of the world’s third-largest travel retailer, leveraging its global negotiating strength. It has access to over 50 of the world’s leading airlines and deals with more than 100 000 hotels around the world to guarantee savings for clients. Corporate Traveller provides clear, consolidated reporting of all its clients’ travel activities, helping them to control travel spend and identify opportunities to save costs.

Issued by:

Big Ambitions

Dorine Reinstein

dorine@bigambitions.co.za

MEDIA RELEASE

Is remote work all it’s cracked up to be?

Without connection, collaboration and travel, careers can stall

JOHANNESBURG, 27 January 2022 – American management professor Anthony Klotz first coined the term the “Great Resignation” back in May last year after a record 4 million Americans quit their jobs in April 2021. And the phenomenon, which is now being seen around the world, is showing no signs of abating (in fact, the US saw another 4.5 million resignations in November 2021).

COVID-19 has made people re-evaluate their working (and personal) lives, and in the words of Klotz, “how we spent our time before the pandemic may not be how we want to spend our time after”.

According to HuffPost founder Arianna Huffington, in quitting their jobs, “people are affirming their longing for a different way of working and living”. It’s a response to the pressures of commuting, work/life balance, stress and burnout. Put simply, many people would rather resign than return to the office on a full-time basis.

But is remote work all it’s cracked up to be? Well, it depends on who you ask.

Those who have established their careers, are able to work comfortably from home (complete with a private space and the necessary WFH tech), enjoy the flexibility and freedom to work from coffee shops or coworking spaces when they choose, not to mention travel when they can, will probably give remote working an enthusiastic thumbs up.

But for new graduates, with their foot on the very first rung, WFH is a lonely place to be. There’s no doubt that an office environment offers up more scope for interaction, learning and networking.

Marc Burrows, KPMG’s head of global mobility services (whose latest report gives long-term remote working a thumbs down) says that while remote working has been very functional, there are elements that are missing. Most importantly, it’s the ability to grow and nurture a culture of creativity, new ideas, interaction and diversity of thinking.

For Oz Desai, GM of Corporate Traveller, these shortcomings were highlighted by the pandemic’s impact on corporate travel.

“Predictably, as corporates grapple with issues around border closures, quarantine regulations, duty of care and what constitutes essential travel, business travel is taking longer to recover than leisure travel. And it’s having a very real effect on the growth, success and culture of organisations around the world.”

Desai believes that while, in principle, both employers and employees want to explore and embrace the flexibility of remote working, cracks are beginning to show.

“Remote workers quickly discovered that the boundaries between work life and home life were blurred during lockdown. It’s led to burnout – and this burnout is also contributing to the Great Resignation.”

Another problem? According to a Hubstaff Blog remote workers are more likely to look at WFH jobs as stepping stones or waypoints – and feel no guilt about moving on to new opportunities. This might be because remote staff may not feel as deep a connection (or have stronger roots) as their office-bound counterparts – missing the camaraderie, culture, office friendships and mentoring opportunities of days gone by.

The Great Upgrade

“Interestingly,” says Desai, “The Great Resignation has also been referred to as the ‘Great Upgrade’. People are examining how they want to work and how they see their career path unfolding. They are hoping to create their ideal position – with plenty of scope for personal growth, balance and travel.”

For Desai, the biggest issue facing companies in 2022, alongside vaccine mandates and WFH policies, is the retention of talent.

“Business travel has always been a perk. It’s no different today. Younger generations want to travel and obtain international work as a part of their careers. Companies looking to attract the right talent will need increasingly progressive policies around hybrid work, working holidays and digital nomadism.”

Moving Forward

Desai believes that the 2022 working environment will look very different to the lockdown, WFH scenario we’ve all got accustomed to.

“Although people like the idea of working from home, we can expect a strong move back to the office – perhaps balancing remote work with a couple of days spent in the office for those positions that can accommodate it. Flexibility is now at the top of the agenda.”

Business travel will also look very different. “The sector’s recovery has been slow,” says Desai, “but according to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), global business travel spend is set to surge in 2022, with spend ultimately reaching 2019 levels by 2024 – a full year earlier than previously predicted.

“And as it recovers you can expect changes too, think longer more meaningful trips, long-stay visas, built-in bleisure opportunities for shorter trips, team-building getaways and the like. This year business travel will be all about reconnection, collaboration – and reimagining a person’s role, growth and career opportunities.”

For more information about Corporate Traveller, or to interview Corporate Traveller South Africa GM Oz Desai, call Dorine Reinstein on 083 278 8994 or email dorine@bigambitions.co.za.

**ends**

About Corporate Traveller

Corporate Traveller is a division of the Flight Centre Travel Group, dedicated to saving businesses across Southern Africa time and money. Corporate Traveller has the benefit of being part of the world’s third-largest travel retailer, leveraging its global negotiating strength. It has access to over 50 of the world’s leading airlines and deals with more than 100 000 hotels around the world to guarantee savings for clients. Corporate Traveller provides clear, consolidated reporting of all its clients’ travel activities, helping them to control travel spend and identify opportunities to save costs.

Issued by:

Big Ambitions

Dorine Reinstein

dorine@bigambitions.co.za

MEDIA RELEASE

The return of business travel

Are you ready?

JOHANNESBURG, Tuesday 16 November – Initially slow out of the blocks, business travel recovery is steadily picking up speed. In fact, international business travel spend is expected to rise by more than a quarter this year. That is according to a new World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) report, Adapting to Endemic Covid-19: The Outlook for Business Travel.

Even though the Middle East is taking the lead, with business travel spending increases of no less than 49%, Africa is not lagging far behind. Business travel spending in Africa is set to rise by 36% this year, slightly stronger than leisure spending at 35%, followed by a 23% rise next year.

But after months of uncertainty, and a potential fourth wave looming, are South African organisations really ready to get back on the road? For Corporate Traveller GM Oz Desai, it’s a resounding yes – if they’ve taken a little time to ensure there are no gaps in their post-pandemic travel policies or risk management strategies.

“Unlike leisure travel, companies need to meet certain duty of care obligations,” says Desai. “Corporate Traveller has developed a simple online COVID Travel Risk Assessment tool, which companies can use to assess their risk and readiness when it comes to business travel. The tool is freely available to all, and it’ll give you a better understanding of what you need to think about to ensure your team can move forward with confidence.”

Today, a company’s travel policy needs to take into account vaccinations (for example, do your travellers have to be fully vaccinated before travelling for business); health & safety measures put in place by travel partners (i.e., do your preferred suppliers meet all your health & safety goals?); infection levels around the world (is there a minimum or maximum number of cases in a destination that would influence your decision to travel?); and even an individual traveller’s willingness and confidence to travel.

“Many companies have used this travel ‘down time’ to reassess their travel policies,” says Desai. “Communicating a clear post-pandemic travel policy to all potential travellers is the very first step in a successful return to travel. From the hotels a traveller can stay in, to responsible behaviour on the road, and the measures in place to bring travellers home, nothing can be left to chance.”

According to the WTTC, some sectors have fared better than others in terms of business travel recovery with early rebounders including manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and construction companies – while service-orientated and knowledge industries including healthcare, education, and professional services are likely to experience longer-term disruption.

Desai agrees, saying that smaller SMEs are also driving business travel’s recovery:

“We know that while some industries, for example mining and construction, have had to get back to travel very quickly, especially when it comes to roster cycles, others have been hamstrung by complicated travel policies,” says Desai. “On the other hand, SMEs are a lot more agile. And they’re travelling because they can’t afford not to. There is no financial buffer or rainy-day fund. They need to get back to normal. A business’s competitive edge is often reliant on building relationships with suppliers or partners through more face-to-face meetings, negotiating deals, and exploring opportunities – all of which is very difficult over Zoom.”

As business travel begins its recovery in earnest, TMCs are continuing to prove their worth when it comes to traveller readiness and travel risk. Says Desai:

“Today, trust, communication and the flow of timely, accurate information between TMCs, travel managers and travellers is more important than ever before. TMCs can address and ease traveller insecurity; manage all the logistics of post-COVID travel; and understand (and detail) health and safety protocols at every point of the journey. If you’ve got the right partner by your side, a return to travel should be safe, easy and straightforward.”

**ends**

For more information about Corporate Traveller, or to interview Corporate Traveller South Africa GM Oz Desai, call Dorine Reinstein on 083 278 8994 or email dorine@bigambitions.co.za.

About Corporate Traveller

Corporate Traveller is a division of the Flight Centre Travel Group, dedicated to saving businesses across Southern Africa time and money. Corporate Traveller has the benefit of being part of the world’s third-largest travel retailer, leveraging its global negotiating strength. It has access to over 50 of the world’s leading airlines and deals with more than 100 000 hotels around the world to guarantee savings for clients. Corporate Traveller provides clear, consolidated reporting of all its clients’ travel activities, helping them to control travel spend and identify opportunities to save costs.

Issued by:

Big Ambitions

Dorine Reinstein

dorine@bigambitions.co.za

“This is a game-changer for South African business travellers,” says Oz Desai, GM Corporate Traveller. “Lengthy and expensive quarantines are a major deterrent for companies and business travellers alike. The fact that vaccinated South Africans can now travel freely to some of our top business destinations will be a significant boost to business travel in the months to come.”

But the opening of international borders is also sparking the revival of the bleisure trend, seeing employees add a few days’ leisure to their business travels. A similar trend is the flexcation.  Instead of travelling somewhere ‘for work’, employees now travel to a destination of their choice and extend their holidays by working ‘on location’.

Desai cites three reasons why the combination of business and leisure (bleisure) travel is becoming even more appealing in a COVID-19  business environment.

1.         Move your office to the bush or the beach

Thanks to the new ‘flexcation’ trend, employees can travel from anywhere. Hotels across the world are exploring the possibility of offering tempting ‘remote working’ packages with office-ready rooms and fast, secure wi-fi.

Internationally, MGM Resorts has introduced its Viva Las Office programme. Corporates can explore packages that include not only rooms and food and beverage credits but also the use of an executive assistant, VIP pool day passes and poolside massages.

Marriott introduced new long-stay properties across the world — all with kitchens and living spaces. Hyatt has launched The Great Relocate, a series of reduced rates for stays of a minimum 29 days, with boardroom usage and “IT concierges” parts of the package.

2.         Incentivise business travel during uncertain times

The idea of business travel can be daunting during COVID-19 times as people are reluctant to leave their families behind.

The benefits of bleisure can turn the inconvenience and possible fears of a business trip into a perk. Even before COVID, bleisure travel proved to generate more productive meetings and better performance. With personal time on the horizon, employees were motivated to make the most of their time working when on business trips.

The same is true during COVID times. Companies find it easier to convince employees of the benefits of travelling for work if employees can likewise enjoy the benefit of personal time with their loved ones.

3.         Make your budget stretch

Millennials are the most eager and likely to travel in a post-COVID world. They also still largely comprise the most junior segment of employees and their leisure spending is likely to be the most impacted by COVID-19. Bleisure trips will be an attractive way to travel for cash-strapped millennials in the post-COVID-19 world. Desai explains that as the company foots the bill for air travel, travellers prefer to make the most of international trips when they decide to take a bleisure trip.

“Business travellers can be expected to be seeking wellness packages after an unprecedented period of uncertainty in their lives,” concludes Desai. “Bleisure travel allows them to not only resume their professional activities but also enjoy the wellness and relaxation benefits that come with travel.”

ASATA is optimistic about the recent announcement by Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla that South Africa would roll out digital vaccine certificates for vaccinated South Africans.

The Minister announced that vaccinated South Africans would be able to upload their digital certificate on their smartphones and print their certificates if needed.

“Recognising that a digital vaccination certificate will be an important criterion for any outbound travel, ASATA has been lobbying for the establishment of one in South Africa. We are pleased that South Africa will be instituting a digital vaccine certificate and we are liaising with the Department of Health to ascertain the extent to which it delivers on the requirements that are set by our primary markets.

“It is imperative that this certification be aligned with international standards and that the government policy of accepting digital vaccination certificates of inbound travellers similarly be aligned with international best practice so that we can facilitate smooth and seamless inbound and outbound travel to and from South Africa,” explains Otto de Vries, CEO ASATA.

De Vries notes the global move towards requiring digital vaccination certificates for access to sporting events, to participate in leisure and lifestyle activities and travel. “We already see this happening overseas and can expect that there will be businesses in South Africa that limit access to patrons and guests who can show their vaccination status through digital vaccination certification,” says de Vries. 

He warns that the South African digital vaccination certificate must be aligned with a global standard and consider international criteria such as those set out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

He adds: “We need globally recognised, standardised and inter-operable digital certificates both for COVID-19 testing and vaccine certificates. Governments around the world need to stop acting in isolation and agree on a standardised approach to international travel criteria and requirements, including digital health certificates.

“Only then will these certificates have the potential to significantly reduce the red tape and administration that is currently necessary when travelling overseas. It would be the start of a safe, convenient, consistent and efficient restart of travel.”

Further to easing travel requirements, de Vries highlights the need for government to change its policy to differentiate between vaccinated and non-vaccinated travellers. “Travellers who can provide proof of vaccination should be allowed access to and from the country without a PCR test. Conversely, those who are partly or not vaccinated yet should still be required to show a PCR test with a validity of 72 hours on departure and arrival,” de Vries adds.

The International Air Transport Association recently warned of potential airport chaos unless governments move quickly to adopt digital processes to manage passenger travel health credentials (COVID-19 testing and vaccine certificates) and other COVID-19 measures.

Pre-COVID, passengers, on average, spent approximately 1.5 hours in travel processes for every journey (check-in, security, border control, customs and baggage claim). Current data indicates that airport processing times have ballooned to three hours during peak travel times, with travel volumes at only about 30 per cent of pre-COVID-19 levels.

The announcement of a South African digital health certificate comes as the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) says it is stepping up its lobbying for the removal of South Africa from the UK red list.

DIRCO Minister Dr Naledi Pandor said her department is in talks with the British government and that plans are being finalised for government to “significantly increase its lobbying efforts to ensure that South Africa is removed from the UK’s red list soonest”.

What makes these small businesses less risk-averse when it comes to business travel? According to Oz Desai, GM Corporate Traveller, there are a number of reasons SMEs are taking the lead in terms of business travel, chief among them? They need to.

“It was United CEO, Scott Kirby who said, ‘Business travel is about relationships; it is not about transactions,’” says Desai, “And he’s 100% correct. SMEs are travelling because they can’t afford not to. There is no financial buffer or rainy-day fund. They need to get back to normal. A business’s competitive edge depends on building relationships through face-to-face meetings, negotiating deals, and exploring opportunities – all of which is very difficult over Zoom.”

Of course, it helps that smaller companies are a lot nimbler and less hamstrung by travel policies, company-wide travel bans, pre-trip approvals or debate around what constitutes ‘essential travel’.

Danny Lau, Managing Director Kam Pin Industrial (Hong Kong) Limited, speaking at a CAPA Live event on 09 June, commented that, “SMEs will start to travel before the large corporates because corporates will have a more sophisticated plan, they have to get approvals and they like to play it safer than SMEs. SMEs are more flexible – and they’re ahead of the curve to go and visit overseas clients if the location opens up for travel.”

Desai also believes that despite COVID, there is a very real appetite for travel: “For many, corporate travel remains a perk of the job. People enjoy travelling, exploring destinations and meeting new people. In fact, once travellers have their first ‘post-lockdown’ business trip under their belt, they realise how safe it actually is, and anxiety around business travel begins to disappear.”  

For Desai though, this is where travel experts and TMCs can prove their worth.

“While SMEs are getting back on the road, increasingly, they’re doing it with the support of a travel advisor. The team at Corporate Traveller predicts that unmanaged travel could become a thing of the past for SMEs – as we’re seeing a significant shift from unmanaged, DIY travel to using the services of an experienced TMC.”

This is because, worldwide, the post-COVID travel landscape remains fluid. According to Desai, TMCs can help travellers select the best routes; book the best fares; source safe, vetted accommodation; and identify areas in which to make savings.

TMCs can help by:

• Putting a travel policy in place

All SMEs, no matter how small, can benefit from having a simple travel policy in place. A policy helps eliminate leakage (when staff go off-piste to self-book flights or hotels), making it easier to control costs. A TMC will help an SME design and implement a policy (incl. which fares and accommodation to book) which suits their individual needs. 

• Delivering savings

Another benefit of a TMC? Impressive buying power which helps secure the best available rates and exclusive deals – generally out of reach for SMEs with an unmanaged travel programme. TMCs can also identify areas for savings, be it using serviced apartments instead of hotels, travelling at off-peak times, or identifying loyalty schemes with airlines, hotels and restaurants. 

• Prioritising duty-of-care

Although SMEs are more flexible in terms of decision-making and the ability to get up and go, this does not mean that staff wellbeing and duty of care is not important.

“SMEs care just as much about the safety of their staff as larger multi-nationals,” says Desai, “Business travellers are entering a dynamic, ever-changing environment. As different destinations ease or reintroduce lockdown measures, regulations and requirements change. A travel expert can provide you with up-to-the-minute information and advice – as well as track your travellers to ensure they can be brought home quickly if need be.”

Of course duty of care extends far beyond COVID-19. The greatest responsibility of a travel agent is to bring their clients home safely and this includes vetting all travel service providers (airlines, shuttles, accommodation and more); evaluating the risks a traveller might face; alerting travellers to any threats, civil unrest, strikes or adverse weather events; and liaising with local embassies or consulates on the ground. A TMC can help SMEs prepare pre-trip, support travellers on-trip, and learn what worked (and what needs to be changed) post-trip.

• Bringing experience and 24-hour support to the table

By partnering with a TMC, SMEs will also have access to the latest tech. According to Desai, new-generation, AI-enhanced online booking tools are quick and intuitive, meaning travel bookers can search and book a huge range of inventory in a matter of minutes – saving SMEs valuable time and money.

In South Africa, domestic business travel has already reached 30% of pre- COVID volumes with South African SMEs leading the way. It’s now up to airlines, hotels, TMCs and other travel suppliers to support them with the product – and pricing – to meet their business travel needs.

Oz Desai, GM Corporate Traveller, has a look at what changes are likely to remain in a post-COVID world – and how companies can adapt accordingly.

Heightened safety protocols

It is unlikely that anybody will ever travel the same way again, at least from a health and safety perspective. Due to the unavoidable close quarters within an aeroplane, it is likely that passengers will continue to opt to wear face masks long into the future, even once it’s no longer mandatory.

“Airlines will continue to prioritise biosafety,” says Desai. “As such, stringent disinfection procedures are sure to remain commonplace when preparing an aircraft for departure, as well as shortly after arrival, and there will almost certainly be access to hand sanitiser on board at all high-touch points for the foreseeable future.”

Touchless technology

Touchless technology – often referred to as ‘contactless’ or ‘contact-free’ technology – is playing a significant role in helping to restore traveller confidence. This technology includes biometric boarding, contactless check-in, contactless lifts, and digital check-in at hotels. The focus is to reduce a traveller’s risk of physically coming into contact with pathogens, and many of these technologies also strive to automate the passenger journey as much as possible.

Along with optimising safety, these technologies maximise convenience, too. Companies are encouraged to join forces with a TMC if they are uncertain of how to fully embrace these available, ever-advancing technologies for the benefit of their employees, advises Desai.

Hybrid meetings

Hybrid meetings refer to meetings that are made up of ‘audience’ members in an office environment in combination with ‘audience’ members who are joining from a remote location through video or audio-conferencing technology.

According to recent research, approximately 1 in every 4 meetings nowadays can be classified as a hybrid meeting. This relatively new approach to corporate communication is popular right now as it works to facilitate social distancing. It also reduces the need for frequent business travel, which is great news for organisations striving to promote only business travel which can be deemed ‘essential’.

Reliance on TMCs

Travel Management Companies (TMCs) are fulfilling a critical role when it comes to navigating the complexities of travel at the moment, as well as mitigating risk for companies far and wide as they prioritise duty of care.

A TMC does more than simply vet all travel service providers. It also evaluates any potential risks incurred by business travellers, alerts business travellers to these risks before and during the trip, and actively liaises with local consulates and embassies for a safe and streamlined journey. Furthermore, TMCs are equipped to assist companies in adapting their travel policies based on COVID-19 risks and restrictions, in embracing the various travel-related health and safety technologies available, as well as in saving time and money.

Flexible booking solutions

With so much up in the air during these uncertain times, numerous organisations may feel hesitant to book business trips in advance for fear of losing money in the process. This has led to the majority of travel suppliers to adopt more flexible booking policies and solutions. It is now easier to make a booking and to postpone or cancel that booking should a COVID-related event or problem get in the way ahead of an employee’s departure. As COVID is likely to hang around for the next few years, these flexible booking policies and solutions will likely remain in place for a long time to come in an effort to boost company and corporate traveller confidence.

Improved loyalty programmes

Many airlines and hotels have turned to their loyalty programmes with the goal of enticing a return to regular corporate travel, thus filling those empty seats and rooms faster for the duration of the travel industry revival. It is likely that these travel suppliers will continue putting more effort into value-adds for business travellers for a lengthy period of time, offering bonuses such as double qualifying miles, middle-seat blocking for optimised social distancing, and shortcuts to qualify for ‘elite’ status.

Desai concludes: “Ultimately, business travel will always be an important part of securing new business, nurturing business relationships and ongoing growth and prosperity. Therefore, it is vital for companies and employees to embrace the different changes brought about by COVID-19, and for travel suppliers to support them in doing so.”

“We expect the significant pent-up demand for local travel to continue over the next 6 months at least, with customers looking to book their holidays with flexibility and peace of mind in these highly unusual times,” says Andrew Stark, Managing Director Flight Centre Travel Group Middle East and Africa. “We listened to our customers to see how we could offer even more flexibility and assurance. Now customers can book any of our South African accommodation deals and if they need to, they are able to cancel their booking for any reason, with just 24 hours’ notice, prior to check-in for a full refund. No questions asked,” says Stark.

“We launched our ‘no questions asked’ Moneyback Guarantee on our Homegrown Holidays domestic holiday collection last year August. It was incredibly popular due to the flexibility it offered – hence our decision to expand this guarantee across our entire South African accommodation range.”

Assurance and flexibility top of mind

“We know that customers need assurance and peace of mind when booking travel and that situations can change rapidly in our current reality,” says Sue Garrett, Flight Centre Travel Group’s General Manager for Product and Marketing. “All customers need to do to activate the Moneyback Guarantee included on their domestic holiday booking is contact their Flight Centre travel expert, in writing 24 hours before intended check in date, and we will refund immediately.”

The most popular* local hotels for South African travellers based on the past six months booking data are:

1. Sun City – The Cabanas has been a top pick, followed by the Palace of the Lost City, Soho Hotel and the Cascades respectively
2. Cape Town’s Lagoon Beach Hotel and Spa in Milnerton, with views of Table Mountain and Robben Island
3. The President Hotel in Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard suburb of Bantry Bay
4. The Pavilion Hotel in the heart of Durban’s Golden Mile
5. Urban Park Apartment and Hotel in popular Umhlanga Ridge
   *Based on Flight Centre Homegrown Holidays bookings August 2020 to date.

Homegrown Holidays is a specialist collection of domestic self-drive travel packages, often including self-catering accommodation, national park stays and lodges, as well as a mix of hotels and smaller accommodation establishments.  View the Homegrown Holidays collection here.

Travel with peace of mind and read more about Flight Centre’s Moneyback Guarantee here.

Business as usual has been flipped on its head in 2020. What was for many companies second nature—sending employees across country and continent to meet with clients and colleagues, sign new business and share knowledge—has become a more measured and complex exercise.

Business trips are being classified as essential or non-essential, travel budgets have been re-evaluated, and duty of care is front and centre. While duty of care has always been a priority, a company’s actions to manage traveller risk more often occurred behind the scenes. That has changed over the course of this year with employees taking a more active role in their personal health and wellbeing and calling for greater policy transparency and reassurance of their safety.

Even before COVID-19, travel risks were growing increasingly difficult to predict. All it takes is a lost passport, misunderstanding with local authorities or unforeseen natural disaster to derail a perfectly planned business trip. Add a pandemic and ever-shifting travel restrictions and it becomes evident why some businesses are grappling with their heightened duty of care obligations.

It’s important that as small businesses resume their business travel programmes in 2021, they thoroughly reassess the processes, suppliers, tools and resources they have in place to help employees travel safely and seamlessly. However, while much of this responsibility naturally falls on the company, the traveller also carries responsibility and must act in accordance with the duty of care policy.

Oz Desai, GM Corporate Traveller, sheds some light on where the line lies between an organisation’s duty of care and a traveller’s personal accountability.

Your company’s moral and legal obligation

Duty of care is a company’s moral and legal responsibility to take all the possible steps to ensure its employees’ health, safety and security—whether travelling for business, in the office, or even working from home. This duty is fulfilled by actionable strategies within a travel risk management programme. 

Unfortunately, several risks are beyond the control of even the most organised and compliant of companies. As we’ve seen with COVID-19 and over the last few years, threat levels can change rapidly in a country, weather is increasingly unpredictable, and disruptive global events can stop travel in its tracks. This is when it becomes essential for a company to have strategies in place to prevent, support and respond.

Desai explains: “The pandemic essentially made most countries around the world high-risk destinations—all in the matter of a few weeks. This unlikely scenario became our reality with little warning back in March 2020 while countless business travellers were mid-trip at the time. While this was a truly unprecedented series of events, those companies and employees who expertly managed the situation, acted quickly and saw the safe, swift return of travellers without hitting the panic button, were those who had a robust risk management plan in place, where both parties understood their responsibilities.”

A company’s travel management team must clearly communicate what is being done to keep travellers safe on the road. A travel management company (TMC) can help devise a programme that includes:

1. Identifying and assessing possible risk before the trip.
2. Verifying that all suppliers are vetted and reliable.
3. Preparing employees with accurate, up-to-date information regarding health, safety and security.
4. Tracking all travellers and offering advice on-the-ground.
5. Responding swiftly and adequately in the case of an emergency or threat.
6. Helping to resolve issues—from minor inconveniences to unlikely and extreme events

The rule of common sense—when are you personally responsible?

In general, the company is responsible for the traveller and their conduct on a business trip—but there are limitations.

A company’s duty of care and travel risk management programme provide the roadmap for business traveller safety, but ultimately the traveller is the driver. Companies tend to trust their business travellers and give them freedom to plan their course, but if a traveller ignores recommended precautions, they’re knowingly putting themselves in harm’s way.

Desai explains that a business traveller’s ‘duty of loyalty’ requires them to follow the procedures outlined in the company’s travel risk policies and to use common sense to avoid unnecessary risks.

If a business traveller deliberately takes risks, acts disorderly, or flouts the law and COVID-19 restrictions in a destination, their employer may escape liability—especially if the situation has nothing to do with the actual business portion of the trip.

Desai explains that most employees, fortunately, don’t tend to indulge in reckless behaviour, but travellers can be complacent about the risks they face, which is equally problematic.

A good example of this is bleisure travel. Before a business traveller extends their trip to partake in activities that require reams of indemnities, helmets, harnesses and the like, it’s essential that they find out what their company’s travel policy says about the leisure portion of your trip.

Unfortunately, despite a surge of bleisure trips in years leading up to 2020, one in four organisations has not even considered bleisure travel in their travel policy, according to a survey conducted by International SOS and CAPA (Centre for Aviation).

“Companies need to speak to their Travel Management Company for help on how to adapt their travel policies to include duty of care and risk management that works for our current world. And importantly, it has to work for a company’s employees and their current behaviours, preferences, and priorities—because you really need both parties to play their part to ensure safe and productive business travel,” says Desai.

Desai concludes that it is important to clearly communicate where and when the traveller is covered under the company policy ahead of any travels. He says: “A trusted TMC can help small businesses navigate this complexity of business travel and duty of care—allowing businesses and employees to focus on more productive matters at hand.”