Feeling a little out of touch? Oz Desai, GM Corporate Traveller, shares seven travel terms to pay attention to right now. 

1. Business travel MI

Most reputable travel management companies (TMCs) will continuously gather business travel management information (MI) to aid enterprises in cutting costs and/or maximising traveller confidence, safety, and compliance regarding all future corporate-related travel.

Business travel MI could include data relating to duty of care, problems experienced before, during, or after a trip and how they were solved, CO2 emissions, and more.

2. Flexible bookings

The term ‘flexible’ is likely to pop up again and again at the moment – whether you’re talking fares or accommodation bookings.  However, not all ‘flexible’ policies are created equal.

“It’s crucial to take the time to examine the fine print before making a payment. In some cases, ‘flexible’ may allow for only a single change to a booking while, in other cases, it may allow for unlimited booking alterations,” comments Oz Desai, GM at Corporate Traveller.

“A ‘flexible’ booking could also allow companies to make penalty-free cancelations, or it could prohibit cancelations entirely and only make it possible to reschedule a flight or a stay following a COVID-related incident that prevented the corporate traveller in question from fulfilling their booking,” he adds.

At the moment it’s all about the Ts&Cs – and it helps to have a TMC in your corner to help you navigate business travel today.  

3. Fully-vaccinated

Europe is starting to open up to fully-vaccinated travellers, including from South Africa, but what does fully-vaccinated actually mean?

According to French officials, proof of vaccination is only valid if it can attest to the completion of a full vaccination schedule, i.e. 2 weeks after the 2nd  injection for double injection vaccines (like Pfizer) and 4 weeks after the injection for single-injection vaccines (Johnson & Johnson). Again, it’s useful double-checking your destination’s unique requirements with your travel expert.

4. Red/amber/green lists  

A significant number of countries across the globe use red, amber, and green lists to highlight other countries that pose high, moderate, or low risks when it comes to spreading the COVID-19 virus through travel (most often if the country is dealing with new or worrying variants). These lists are generally updated every three weeks.

Travellers travelling from a country on another country’s red list will be barred entry unless they are a national or have residence rights. In these instances, a two-week quarantine period is required.

Those travelling from a country on another country’s amber or green list will usually be required to present proof of vaccination and/or a negative COVID test, followed by undertaking another test upon arrival in the country. These rules will vary based on each traveller’s vaccination status.

5. Remote working visas

Remote working visas, also known as ‘digital nomad visas’, allow for longer-term stays specifically geared towards remote working individuals or freelancers who are actively employed outside of the country to which they intend to travel. Remote working visas go hand-in-hand with extended ‘workations’ and an always ‘OOO’ (out-of-office) status.

A few examples of countries offering access to remote working visas include Antigua & Barbuda, Dubai, Mauritius, Mexico, and Estonia.

6. Rogue bookings

Also referred to as ‘off-channel bookings’ or ‘programme leakage’, rogue bookings refer to any travel booked outside of a company’s travel policy/without the necessary go-ahead and guidance from the appointed booker, travel manager or TMC.

While they posed their fair share of concerns pre-COVID, these types of bookings are especially problematic when it comes to post-COVID travel.

“Rogue bookings have the potential to result in higher travel-related costs for the company, as well as impairing the TMC’s ability to keep track of travellers’ whereabouts and provide timeous assistance in the event of an emergency,” explains Desai.

7. Traveller tracking

Traveller tracking is vital nowadays considering how unpredictable the travel landscape can be. Traveller tracking refers to the act of using technology to remain constantly up to date regarding a travelling employee’s location for the duration of their trip. Traveller tracking makes it easy for the company or TMC to provide tailored assistance, guidance, and support in the case of an emergency, such as the traveller finding themselves stranded at an airport following an abrupt change in travel restrictions.

“Stay responsible, stay safe, and if ever in doubt, reach out to your TMC for 24/7 support – that’s what it’s there for!” concludes Desai.

Andrew Grunewald, Flight Centre Business Travel Brand Leader, explains that he foresees that the corporate travel market will continue to grow in South Africa in the year ahead.

He shares his view on the main trends to expect in this space for 2020:

1. An increased focus on personalisation

“Personalised service will be a key trend in 2020,” says Grunewald. Merely using a traveller’s first name in the subject line of a generic e-mail campaign is no longer enough. Modern travellers expect more: they want a streamlined, seamless and personalised experience.

Also, companies will increasingly look for specialised travel managers who know the business inside and out and who can make personalised recommendations that will help grow the company. 

• Consolidation of travel spend

“Even though we don’t foresee a considerable increase in prices for accommodation or air travel, corporate travel budgets will be under pressure in 2020, and the consolidation of spend will become increasingly important for travel managers,” explains Grunewald.

Whereas in previous years, clients would often use two or three corporate travel agents and have their travel spend split across different agents, they are now opting to consolidate this spend with just one agent, leveraging off corporate agreements and global buying power. Says Grunewald: “With a more holistic view of the company’s travel spend, it becomes easier to drive savings through consolidated yields and discounts instead of looking at the lowest prices for small personal expenditures.”

• Clever use of analysing your travel trend and spend to make strategic decisions

Companies will rely on their travel specialist to collect and interpret relevant travel data. Grunewald explains that over the years, travel consultants have become strategic advisors who can give companies insights on where they can consolidate their spend and how to identify and address gaps in the travel programme.

In 2020, this role will be further developed, he says. By analysing the budget and using the right data to investigate a company’s travel spend, travel management companies (TMCs) will have a unique opportunity to help companies drive intelligent savings.

• Bleisure will continue to flourish

A popular buzzword in 2019, bleisure is the conscious decision by business travellers to add days of leisure travel onto a business trip. The concept has proven to be more than just a fad and is likely to be just as popular – if not more – in 2020.

The second annual ‘State of Business Travel Survey’ by National Car Rental shows that 90% of millennials have engaged in bleisure travel in the past year compared with 81% of Generation Xers and 80% of baby boomers. 

Grunewald comments: “Besides the distinct advantages for the traveller, bleisure travel also has benefits for companies. If the traveller decides to arrive a few days early to explore the destination ahead of their meeting, they will be better rested and be able to make a better impression on the client. Meanwhile, if the business traveller chooses to prolong their stay, they will be incentivised to work more productively and efficiently.”

• Growth in the SMME market

2020 will see massive growth in the SMME market in South Africa, according to Grunewald. SMMEs have the potential to drive economic growth and employment in South Africa, as indicated by President Ramaphosa himself. This, in turn, provides opportunities for TMCs with a focus on this market and who can actively help SMEs grow their business through smarter business travel.

“It’s an exciting time for SME business travel, and now, more than ever before, the travel industry is equipped to meet the demand for flexibility that entrepreneurs and SME’s need to achieve business success,” he says.

Combined, all these trends reflect one thing, says Grunewald: although the economic climate will continue to be challenging in 2020, it will be an exciting year for the corporate travel space. The travel industry will continue to adapt and innovate to improve the quality of business trips for travellers.