If you are in charge of managing business travel for your company, it’s fair to assume that a lot has drastically changed since 2020. Issues you will have faced such as cancellations and refund requests will be more prominent than ever, as travel plans and the way in which they are managed and booked transform to align with the “new normal”. There are certain tools along with specific techniques you will need to apply to take care of your business when it comes to corporate travel management while Coronavirus is still prominent.
The Main Risks
The main tasks you will need to bear in mind when it comes to travel in the era of Corona include:
- Reviewing any upcoming company travel before conducting a risk assessment. It is also to be weary as to what is essential and what is non-essential travel, which will differ between countries.
- Cancelling any upcoming trips – whether this is for your employees or clients, it is essential to stay wary of flight changes and handle this appropriately. If trips don’t pass the risk assessment, then they will certainly need to be cancelled.
- Working with travel management companies in order to get direct refunds.
- Track all credit received for refunds and be mindful of what the expiration dates are between different vendors.
- Generating new guidelines for business travellers.
- Consider what you can do to assist corporate travellers in order to arrange virtual meetings while working on a remote basis.
- Always monitor pandemic levels. This goes for both at home and abroad. Ensure you respect safety and healthcare guidelines as well as travel restrictions within different destinations.
Should I Cancel all Business Trips?
Whatever your managerial position may be, and whether or nor you are handling all of the above by yourself, it is important to be aware of all of these points to ensure they are thoroughly addressed within your organisation. Although not every region in the world is still under tight restrictions, things can change rapidly in the current landscape, with the situation changing by the hour in some cases. If the worst is to happen and you are in the position where you may need to cancel trips, the following criteria can be used as a good indicator of whether you should or should not cancel:
You should use the following criteria to help you decide whether to cancel trips:
- International travel guidelines
- National health and safety restrictions
- How the traveling team member feels
- Whether or not the trip is essential
How do I Conduct Corporate Risk Management for Business Travel?
Conducting a risk assessment is a very valuable tool in ensuring that your trip is successful while remaining COVID-19 friendly. If travel is allowed by regulating bodies, then execute a quick risk analysis involving considerations such as the destination, the health of the employee, the length of the trip, as well as the likelihood of spreading the virus during the trip. Generally, risk assessments weigh likelihood and impact. If you can find this balance, then you should be able to perform the correct action in order to have a successful trip within the ever-changing new landscape.
