The travel industry has been upended in the last year. Although many businesses have thrived under a digital-first model, many companies will need to take business trips again when restrictions allow.
With such uncertainty for travel now, what could business travel entail in the future?
Visa requirements
In the wake of Brexit, business travellers from the UK to the EU and vice versa will have to clear more red tape than before. Although there will be no visa requirement for 90-day stays withing in 180-day period, some business travellers may need to obtain visas for longer stays.
Company legal teams should be equipped to support their employees when they need visas for business travel. Should your company require you to travel for longer than the 90-day period, your company will need to obtain the correct visa for the entirety of your stay.
Vaccinations and testing
The worldwide vaccination rollout is vital for getting travel and business travel back on the go. The UK’s vaccination programming is progressing at speed, meaning UK business travel could be up and running when restrictions ease on May 17th.
Nevertheless, staying on top of vaccination top ups will be essential for business travels. Ensuring that they can migrate across borders with ease. Many European countries are currently assessing their Covid-19 regulations for travel, which could include vaccine passports and increased testing.
Accommodation concerns
Business travellers often have to hop between multiple accommodation locations. A we have seen in the last year, hopping between different locations increases the spread of bacteria and viruses, potentially exacerbating contagion events.
However, business travel could be greatly improved by choosing appropriate business accommodation. For example, opting for serviced apartments in London would greatly reduce your risk of cross contamination with other guests in a busy metropolitan area.
Serviced apartments are regularly cleaned to a high standard between guests. Ensuring your safety when visiting somewhere for business.
Quarantine impact
The announcement of the UK travel traffic-light list means that business travellers will know where and when they will be expected to quarantine when travelling. With the traffic lights expected to change quickly and be reviewed every three weeks, restrictions could be put in place on very short notice.
This would leave business travellers forced to make last minute changes to their trips, at additional cost to their companies. Altering the way business travel might be done.
