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The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) recently issued the findings from its 18th COVID poll assessing the impact of the pandemic and the road to recovery for the business travel industry.
![GBTA Poll Results](/images/industry/2021/teasers/cd0421-26-gbta-poll-results-teaser.jpg)
Nearly one-quarter of poll respondents report that their company has resumed non-essential business travel, or that the company has in place a plan to resume travel. This latest poll shows multiple positive signs for business travel recovery, including an increase in willingness to travel, a decrease in trips cancelled and a more optimistic view towards returning to the road as travel bookings continue to increase.
Key Highlights in Business Travel
- About one in ten (9 percent) poll respondents say their company already has resumed non-essential business travel, while an additional 13 percent report their company now has in place a fully developed travel-resumption plan. Additionally, 31 percent of respondents say their company is actively working on a travel-resumption plan, while 20 percent say their company has begun the process, but has more work to do. Only 18 percent report no formal planning underway, while 7 percent reported being unsure.
- Two-thirds (65 percent) of poll respondents feel their employees are ‘’willing’’ or ‘’very willing’’ to travel for business in the current environment, an increase of 11 percentage points from the March 2021 GBTA poll results.
- Positive signs in the U.S. were further underscored by guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that “fully vaccinated people can travel at low risk to themselves.” More than six in 10 U.S. respondents said the new CDC guidance makes them much more (29 percent) or somewhat more (32 percent) comfortable traveling for business.
- Half of U.S.-based corporate travel buyer and procurement respondents feel recent CDC guidelines will have a “major” or “some” influence on their company’s timeline for resuming non-essential domestic business travel. Another one-third say the new guidelines will have a minor (18 percent) or no influence (15 percent) on their company’s timeline. One in ten (14 percent) say they are unsure.
- Half (50 percent) of supplier respondents say their bookings from corporate customers have increased in the past week, while two in five (38 percent) report their bookings have remained the same from the previous week. One in ten report their bookings have decreased (11 percent).
- Three quarters (75 percent) of respondents who report canceling or suspending most or all trips to a specific region/country are considering resuming travel in the near future (1-3 months) or are considering resuming travel in the near future but do not have definite plans. Among those companies, 16 percent report plans to “resume all travel in the next 1-3 months,” while 59 percent report that they are considering resuming all travel in the near future, but have no definite plans as yet.
- Seven in ten (71 percent) poll respondents think issuing government-issued digital health verification (or digital green certificates and/or vaccination passports) is either “very effective” or “effective” in terms of resuming business travel.
- Respondents from Europe are more likely (81 percent) than respondents from North America (68 percent) to say issuing digital health verification is effective in terms of resuming business travel.
GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang
“It is encouraging to see key indicators all pointing towards a return to business travel, as organizations collaborate internally across multiple functions to ensure a safe return for their travelers and commuters,” said Suzanne Neufang, GBTA CEO. “Many companies have also revisited their work-from-home policies due to the pandemic, and in many cases are making a permanent change that will remain in effect even after the pandemic. It’s clear the way we manage and conduct business will be noticeably different moving forward.”
View the entire poll results here and key highlights here.
Methodology: GBTA conducted a poll of its members across the globe from April 12-17, 2021. A total of 942 responses were received.
Visit gbta.org for more information.
[04.26.21]
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The American Bus Association (ABA) is sending out an urgent message to its members and anyone in the motorcoach industry to contact their elected representatives. Congress is working on fiscal year 2022 annual funding, and ABA says that more funding is needed for the CERTS grant program to save the motorcoach industry.
![American Bus Association (ABA)](/images/industry/2021/teasers/cd0421-28-aba-email-congress-certs-act-teaser.jpg)
“Even though we are still waiting for the Treasury Department to release the first round of funding, we already know the program is oversubscribed and needs more funding. So, our House of Representatives CERTS champions from last year have put together a letter on our behalf, making this request—but we need to have other legislators sign-on,” read the call to action posted on the ABA website. “It is through your grassroots outreach last year to legislators that the CERTS program was passed, we need your outreach now to keep it alive.”
The CERTS Act was passed late last year as one of the final COVID aid measures of the Trump administration. Since then, the new program has been being developed by the Treasury Department, and the industry is awaiting the opportunity to apply for the funding. The program applies liberally to numerous passenger transportation sector (although not luxury ground transportation), and ABA fears that little money will be left over for motorcoach operators who have been severely impacted in the past year during the shutdowns.
ABA has crafted a sample letter to send to your representative, which is available on the association’s website. Calls were also very instrumental in helping to get the original bill to the finish line.
Contact information:
House Staff
Senate Staff
Visit buses.org for more information.
[04.23.21]
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NFI Group, an independent bus and coach manufacturer and a leader in electric mass mobility solutions, announced that its electric vehicles (EVs) have collectively traveled more than 40 million zero-emission miles. Through this milestone, NFI EVs have prevented nearly 150,000 imperial tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from entering the environment—the equivalent of removing 23,000 cars from the road for one year.
In addition, NFI announced that New Flyer Infrastructure Solutions, NFI’s full-suite infrastructure project management service, has now installed more than 200 EV chargers.
“Today’s achievements are tomorrow’s gains. In reaching 40 million electric miles across NFI’s EV line up, we continue to decrease the carbon footprint of transportation while delivering clean, safe, quiet mobility powered by our advanced zero-emission technology,” said Paul Soubry, NFI president and chief executive officer. “Decades of strengthening our core competencies—including scalable customized manufacturing, lifetime service and support, technology innovation, and workforce development—have led to these milestones and established NFI as a leader in the EV market.”
NFI’s industry-leading EV offering includes the broadest range of vehicles: single and double-deck heavy-duty transit buses, motor coaches, and medium-duty buses. NFI has been manufacturing electric vehicles since 1969, and its current offering includes battery-electric and fuel-cell electric variants.
![NFI Group](/images/industry/2021/cd0421-28-nfi-group-xcelsior-charge-ng-bus.jpg)
NFI meets urban mobility demands through a unique four pillar approach, including:
- vehicles (buses and coaches)
- infrastructure
- smart, connected technology
- workforce development
This approach directly meets the call posed by this year’s Earth Day theme to “Restore Our Earth,” inviting innovative thinking, emerging green technologies, and climate restoration to ecosystems.
“In recognition of Earth Day, NFI is committed to leading electrification of mass mobility around the world,” said Soubry. “With over 600 engineers globally, our ability to design and deploy sustainable technology is unmatched. We remain relentless in our delivery of four-pillar mobility solutions, as well as our ultimate pursuit of more livable communities, cleaner air, decreased GHG emissions, and a protected environment—all of which contribute to mitigating climate change.”
NFI is a leader in zero-emission mobility with battery-electric and fuel-cell electric vehicles operating in more than 80 cities in four countries that have completed over 40 million electric service miles. NFI also operates the Vehicle Innovation Center, the first and only innovation lab of its kind dedicated to advancing bus and motor coach technology and providing essential workforce development through electric bus training, now available online. NFI is testing automated vehicle technology and remains committed to the development of technology standards that deliver safe, clean, sustainable, connected mobility options to communities.
Visit nfigroup.com for more information.
[04.22.21]