The majority of Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) companies expect their employees to return to in-person events in 2021. Almost half (45 percent) expect attendance to resume in the first half of the year, according to the latest poll conducted between September 15-19, 2020, by GBTA, with an additional 25 percent expecting a return to in-person events in the second half of 2021.
While most do not expect their company to host in-person meetings, events, or conferences through the remainder of this year, there is growing optimism for 2021, with 37 percent expecting to host some or many meetings or events in Q1, rising to 61 percent by Q2. An average of one in four GBTA members still remain unsure, echoing the general “wait and see” approach due to the current uncertainty caused by the pandemic.
Expectations on company plans to return to office vary with 1 in 5 (20 percent) of GBTA companies reporting a return to office in 2020. One in three (35 percent) plan to return in the first half of next year including 28 percent who expect to return in Q1, but one in five 21 percent are still undecided. The poll also finds that 16 percent of member companies have already returned to the office.
Looking at factors to influence the return to the office and in-person events, half (52 percent) say an effective vaccine for COVID-19 would have the most influence on the planning process. Just under a quarter of respondents (24 percent) would like to see decreased COVID-19 transmission rates worldwide. Fewer respondents requested increased coronavirus testing and rapid results reporting worldwide (8 percent) and slowing unemployment and growth in global economies (3 percent).
GBTA Interim Executive Director Dave Hilfman
Throughout the pandemic, the role of a travel manager and the necessity for a managed travel program has been high on the boardroom agenda. The GBTA poll reveals half (48 percent) of GBTA companies say their senior managers value a managed travel program “much more” or “more” than they did before COVID-19. This sentiment is consistent with key corporate stakeholders including human resources or risk management, with half (51 percent) of GBTA companies reporting that these stakeholder value the managed travel program “much more” or “more” than before the pandemic.
“While there is no doubt the current global uncertainty around a second wave is delaying the return to business travel, the outlook for 2021 is looking more positive with companies planning a return to face-to-face meetings and events. It is encouraging to see businesses planning their return to office in a careful and safe way” said Dave Hilfman, the interim Executive Director of GBTA.
View the entire poll results here
Methodology
GBTA conducted its eleventh poll of members across the globe from September 15-19, 2020. A total of 1,364 responses were received.
Visit gbta.org for more information.
[09.29.20]