Business Travel Recovery will be Uneven; Innovative and Creative Companies Will Take the Lead

Highly regarded international business forecaster shares his recovery projections with travel industry leaders from around the world

Alexandria, Virginia (August 12, 2020) The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the world’s largest professional association – hosted well-regarded futurist and trendcaster Dr. Shawn DuBravac for the first webinar in its GBTA Collaboratory 2020 series. DuBravac shared his insights on the path to pandemic recovery for the global travel industry.

DuBravac joined GBTA Interim-Executive Director Dave Hilfman to discuss the current state of travel and what the post-pandemic recovery may look like for airlines, hospitality and ground travel.

“What has been the quickest and steepest recession in U.S. history might also prove to be the shortest recession in history. The downturn has been ‘uneven’ and the recovery will be as well,” said Dr. DuBravac. “Different industries have been impacted at different rates and in diverse ways. For example, leisure travel and extended stay properties are bouncing back sooner than corporate travel.” Added DuBravac, “As we move forward into recovery, I see the unevenness remaining, as some segments of the economy recover more quickly than others.”

Other key takeaways from the webinar include:

• The rate of recovery depends on changes in the landscape of the pandemic, according to DuBravac. “Key drivers of recovery will include the release and dissemination of a COVID-19 vaccine and a steady decline in the rate of positive cases, both of which will breathe confidence into businesses and consumers.”

• Business stability will be aided by increased fiscal stimulus from government, more uniform and systematic quarantine rules, and the proposed liability waiver that would grant immunity against potentially fraudulent class-action lawsuits to businesses that follow public safety guidelines and take recommended precautions against coronavirus infection. “In previous downturns, we worried our industry wouldn’t recover to pre-recession levels, but it did,” said Hilfman. “Each of the steps listed above will help remove barriers for travelers.”

• The pandemic exerted unique pressures on the industry that can’t be solved simply by pricing; changing prices won’t stimulate the full return of pre-pandemic demand. Early industry data suggests travelers are showing preference for travel closer to home, suggesting drivable destinations might recover quickest. As broader uncertainties abate, there will be greater opportunity to influence demand with pricing and other creative solutions.

• As an ‘uneven’ downturn gives way to an ‘uneven’ recovery, travelers will return in an equally uneven fashion. They will bring with them pandemic-influenced preferences, some of which have yet to fully emerge. Domestic travel will return more quickly than international travel, suggesting areas of the industry that rely on international travel the most will feel a slower recovery.

 

DuBravac highlighted the importance of innovation and creativity. “Businesses that have paid attention to the shifting needs of travelers during this pandemic, and those that capitalize on emerging opportunities to offer new and innovative solutions will be the businesses that not only survive the downturn, but thrive in the recovery,” said DuBravac.

This webinar, “The Economics of Business Travel Recovery,” is the first in a series being presented by GBTA. For more information on future webinars, visit gbta.org.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

David Leibowitz (NORAM), 602-317-1414, david@leibowitzsolo.com

Nikki Stimson (EMEA), +44(0) 7764 618199, nstimson@gbta.org 

 

About the Global Business Travel Association

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations on six continents. GBTA’s 9,000-plus members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA delivers world-class education, events, research, advocacy and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. To learn how business travel drives lasting business growth, visit www.gbta.org.