While virtual meetings and remote work are here to stay, business travel and face-to-face meetings remain extremely important. Seventy-six per cent of survey respondents to a survey conducted by BCD Travel in July said business travel helps them perform their work efficiently.

According to a recent survey of 738 business travellers worldwide, in a post-pandemic travel environment, 60% prefer to return to pre-pandemic levels of business travel, while 26% prefer to travel less and 9% to travel more.

When it comes to corporate travel policies in a post-pandemic environment, survey respondents care most about being able to decide for themselves whether to travel (64%). In addition, they desire a more simplified trip approval process (58%) and the prioritising of direct flights (53%).

For remote versus face-to-face meetings, 74% rate in-person client meetings as the most important reason for business travel, followed by teambuilding, sales meetings and meetings with partners or suppliers.

The main travel concerns remain consistent with previous BCD traveller survey results. Travellers mainly worry about quarantine on arrival, followed by concerns over sudden lockdowns and rapidly changing travel regulations.

Respondents believe remote work and meetings are here to stay, but they are clearly lacking when it comes to relationship building.

They say the main weaknesses of virtual meetings are:

• Lack of human contact (66%)
• Limited interaction (58%)
• Easy distraction (54%)
• Unsuitability for some meeting types (51%)
• “Zoom fatigue” and technology issues (49%)

“Meeting face-to-face not only remains a critical component to achieving company goals, (but) it’s also essential to satisfying businesses’ need for efficiency and human interaction,” said Mike Janssen, global chief operating officer and chief commercial officer at BCD Travel.“

With vaccinations growing by millions every day, a majority of the workforce is ready to go back on the road, notwithstanding recent spikes of the Covid-19 variant. In a post-pandemic environment, corporations need to continue giving guidance. In order to remain an attractive employer in this fast-developing environment, they should also consider empowering employees to make their own travel decisions.”

“While in some parts of the world the pandemic is slowly receding, other parts might continue to rely on virtual meetings,” said Scott Graf, global president at BCD Meetings & Events. “Event planners and managers need to up their game with a new skill set that allows them to compensate for the weaknesses of virtual meetings, such as the lack of interaction. Training or outsourced support can be the answer to keep employees focused and motivated in a continually challenging environment.”

Respondents also shared their views on the future of work. Currently, 57% are working remotely, compared to 24% before the pandemic.

When asked about the future workplace:

• 71% prefer a mix of remote and office work
• 20% favor full-time remote work
• Only 6% give preference to full-time office work

When asked about bleisure:

• 49% say they might extend a business trip for a few leisure days
• 38% like to travel for work accompanied by a partner or friend
• 33% like to extend their stay and continue remote working at the destination
• 32% consider combining a business trip with a vacation of one to two weeks