In 2019, $1.4 trillion was spent on business travel. In 2021, it was at a mere $697 billion. Yes, that is still a considerable amount, however, the disparity is noticeable. And the industry might not be expected to recover. In fact, an astonishing two in five Americans who engaged in routine business trips pre-pandemic don’t expect to travel for work again, or at least not at the rate they did before. 

So, what is keeping the post-Covid business travel opportunities at what seems to be a standstill compared to what it once was? While buying tours and tickets is absolutely booming because of wanderlust born from isolation, why are businesses investing less in giving their representatives face time and valued working opportunities elsewhere?

1. The COVID-19 Pandemic

First and foremost – and most obviously – we have COVID-19. As was mentioned, travel of all kinds came to a halt in March of 2020. And while we would love to say that the virus was eradicated and everyone survived, however as of August 2022, over 598 million cases have been confirmed worldwide and we have suffered over 6.4 million reported deaths. This doesn’t include people who refused to – or perhaps didn’t have the means to – test for the virus. 

COVID, as we all know, has gone on to morph into other strains of itself with more complicated lists of symptoms. Some are experienced as a mild cold, others will keep you bedridden for days. By this time, it is more likely you have contracted the virus multiple times than never at all. People with weakened immune systems are especially at risk, and will most likely opt out of travel opportunities that could infect them. 

2. Financial Considerations

Another point to remember is that missing out on even a day or two of productive work can lose your company money. So, management will probably prefer to mitigate the chances of you contracting an illness by keeping you close. (Though, really, you can get sick anywhere.) 

Bosses are operating while considering the bottom line. They always have, and they always will. But it is especially noticeable as we are on the brink of a recession. The cost of fuel has skyrocketed, travel times have gotten ridiculous, and even paying for a hotel has become a financial nightmare. If they have to cut costs – and valuable time – somewhere, they’d rather cut costs on more frivolous travel than on incorporating new technology or (hopefully) keeping their whole team on-board without layoffs.

3. The War in Ukraine

Many people who became used to transatlantic flights, frequenting Europe for work (and probably spending some time vacationing along the way) are still at a standstill in their post-COVID travel. While the war in Ukraine rages on, world trade and investment is being reshaped based on projected outcomes and limited access to resources. The trajectory of the war is currently limiting European travel, discouraging trade agreements to those territories and their surrounding regions, and more. 

4. Work-Life Balance

The last couple of years has truly shed some light on established workplace dynamics, particularly in the United States. Our culture has been so tied to this idea of working more instead of working smarter, that generations of humans are experiencing burnout at a far quicker rate than ever before. With all of the other added stressors from the world around us, there is a greater need to find balance in every aspect of life, and it starts with the place you dedicate most of your time to during the week: your career. 

“Work/life balance used to be the thought that I could keep my career work in the window of 9-5, make sure I work out every day, prepare 3 well-balanced meals, and maintain a hobby or two, as well as volunteer work,” explains Visibility Coach Erin P.S. Zimmerman. But feeling that additional stress drove her to set more boundaries, indulge in rest, and ask for more support. Where she once was in overdrive, traveling all over the world and overextending her creative work, she began to find more peace in the pandemic-induced slowness. She began to enjoy her home and has since scaled back on travel simply to experience where she is.

The same holds true for many working professionals, who found that spending time with their families – chosen or otherwise -, friends, and solitarily really helped them blossom in their work, and to re-evaluate their priorities. Travel for work? Took a back burner. 

5. Access to Technology

While a good portion of the United States did have reliable internet and updated technology prior to the pandemic, many jobs did not have the built-in functionality to bring their work remote. When everyone was thrown into a remote work environment – or a complete standstill with work – there was an immediate need to adapt. Your company could either come up with a way to allow people to work from where they were, or they could essentially consider themselves out of the game.

There was no in-between.

New technology, advanced customer management systems and protocols, external drives, company-wide updates and passwords, and the like have driven us into a new space with increased comfort in our ability to work elsewhere. Internet speeds and access increased, and schools and corporations moved over to video communication and project management systems that proved more efficient than many of the in-person options had been. Even schools have utilized 

So, with all of this expanding functionality and the need to be everywhere all at once, the most cost-effective option is to simply hold meetings, walk-throughs, scouting agendas, and location or office tours via video chat. Having a project management system like Hive can allow CSuite team members, investors, managers, and people who cannot be in-office or on-site regularly to monitor progress and help determine KPIs and the scope of upcoming projects. Someone can even order lunch for the entire office via a food delivery app, whether they can be there in person for training or not. (Training which is also quickly moving to more sustainable, digital means.)

The Future

Business travel may never return to what it once was. But I’m not sure that should be the priority. While travel can be fun, especially if you can add some leisure in there, too much travel can throw the body into disarray. We’d rather evade the wonky sleep patterns and curved spines from all that time sitting in compact spaces like planes, trains, and automobiles.