Remote work isn't killing business travel – it's transforming it

During pandemic-era lockdowns, companies were forced to find virtual alternatives to once-essential business trips. As video calls became standard, technology provided a reasonable stand in for face-to-face client meetings.

When the world reopened again, many leaders realised that much of their pre-pandemic business travel was no longer necessary or financially sensible. Why pay the expense, when Zoom calls now got the job done, and in many cases were safer than in-person interaction?

The business travel industry took a big hit as a result. This year, in their earnings reports, many airlines – especially US budget carriers – reported steep financial losses, due in part to a decline in corporate trips. Yet some experts believe that as people settle into the practical realities of hybrid and remote work, business travel is due for a resurgence – and a makeover.

An August 2023 report from the Global Business Travel Association showed that the worldwide business-travel industry is expected to surpass its pre-pandemic spending level of $1.4tn (£1.1tn) in 2024 – two years earlier than some industry analysts originally predicted.

May data from American Express Global Business Travel, an international B2B travel platform, may help explain why. In collaboration with Harvard Business Review, Amex GBT researchers surveyed 425 US professionals, and found companies are changing why their workers are travelling. Instead of the pre-pandemic focus on sales-driven outings, business trips are now centred on what the report defines as «non-customer travel»: companies are meeting up internally. 

For businesses operating in a hybrid pattern or full-remote set-up, this travelling for face-to-face interaction has become vital. «In the