There’s no universal dress code for business travel, but there’s an increasing preference for green, says BCD Travel

17 December, 2019

There's no universal dress code for business travel, but there's an increasing preference for green, highlights corporate travel management company BCD Travel as it looks ahead into the next decade. Sustainability is top of the agenda and we all have a responsibility to protect and maintain a healthy environment.

"Not only do we have an obligation to ourselves, our clients and our communities to manage our responsibilities without limiting options for future generations. We also have a role as trusted advisor for our clients to help them being more sustainable," says BCD Travel in its recently released 'How to Travel Beyond 2020' online report.

In the publication, BCD Travel identifies what it perceives as the sustainability and mobility trends for 2020 and beyond as we strive for climate-neutral journeys. "Climate-neutral transport may be around the corner, but we're not entirely there yet," it acknowledges. "So, in the meanwhile, we provide tools and solutions to help companies achieve their climate goals, because travel can and should be part of a sustainable corporate strategy."

Studies shows that every dollar spent on business travel results in USD12.50 in incremental revenue, face-to-face interaction can be 34 times more productive than email and prospective clients are 50% more likely to sign a contract after an in-person meeting.

"We're travelling more than ever before. The number of international flights rose to 1.4 billion in 2018, two years sooner than predicted and the global economy is still growing," says Mike Janssen, global chief operating officer and chief commercial officer at BCD Travel.

"In our partnership with clients, our role is to help customers accomplish their business objectives while also providing them with the tools and information to reduce the impact that air travel has on climate change."

The value of travel in the business market is clear and travellers are increasingly looking to travel more efficiently to free up time for working and relaxing. The big questions remains: how can we still travel as often as we'd like without further damaging the planet? The transport and mobility industry has already taken on the challenge and is busy working to solve the sustainability puzzle. "Fast, clean transportation could be just around the corner," says BCD Travel, and its new report highlights some of the key technology developments.

It highlights that the continued development of autonomous cars could allow business travellers to spend their time as passengers preparing for meetings, rather than as drivers who must keep their eyes on the road. Urban air mobility solutions like an autonomous flying taxi could truly take mobility a few levels higher and resolve increasing traffic problems.

The renewed interest in space travel could lead to innovations that reduce long-haul travel time to almost a tenth, a return of supersonic, or even hypersonic air travel could deliver travel times that would be a blessing for business travellers. Meanwhile, robots popping up in airports and hotels could improve business travel experiences.

While the travel and transportation industry focuses on next-generation technology, companies and their travellers can act now to reduce the climate impact of business trips, says BCD Travel. From assessing internal sustainability efforts to carefully considering whether an in person meeting is necessary or if alternatives to air travel are available, there are numerous ways for a business to find sustainability solutions.