Remote work: Is your travel program keeping up or falling behind?

The modern workforce won’t be happy sitting in offices full-time – and business travel stakeholders need to be ready for what that means. The 2024 Big Idea sessions at the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) conferences in Europe and APAC explored this shift, addressing the question: “What is today’s work culture, and what does it mean for business travel?”

Managing the “Everywhere” workforce

Attended by over 700 participants, the sessions explored:

  • How do you manage travel for a dispersed workforce?
  • How will remote work reshape recruitment, manager-employee dynamics, and business relationships?
  • What changes are needed in duty of care to address new risks?

Key takeaways include the critical role travel managers play in flexible work environments while addressing practical concerns like compliance, cost control, sustainability, and equitable travel access. The report offers advice stakeholders can immediately apply to their managed travel programs.

“The last few years have reshaped how we think about work,” said panelist Christian Dahl, EVP of People & Culture, BCD Travel. “BCD leaned into the change a lot faster than much of the industry so that we could make sure our people keep thriving regardless of where they worked. We’ve been a leader in remote work for some time and we’re doing really well.”

The role of travel managers in flexible work models

Remote work isn’t a trend – it’s a standard. Travel managers must adapt by:

  • Guiding collaborative meeting solutions and group travel arrangements.
  • Supporting policies that integrate work and leisure travel.
  • Addressing challenges like tax, immigration, and sustainability.

“The role of the travel manager is constantly changing with the evolving workplace, from tickets handwritten by on-site agents to AI driven itineraries: these hybrid and remote environments give us the opportunity to create greater solutions for teams to meet in person,” said panelist Rosemary Maloney, Vice President of the Global Business Travel Association Board of Directors and Senior Director of Corporate Travel at Freeman Company.

Duty of care in remote work models

Duty of care is another discussion. ISO 31030 Travel Risk Management guidelines emphasize the critical role organizations play in safeguarding the health, safety, and well-being of their employees – no matter where they work or travel.

“The last few years have changed the perspective on remote working and mobility; work from home has become work from anywhere. This can attract and retain talent, but it also provides additional challenges for organizations. That is why forward-thinking organizations are moving from travel risk management into people risk management,” said Jorge Mesa, GBTA Europe Advisory Board member and Senior Director of Travel Risk Management at BCD.

“While before the focus was about keeping traveling employees safe, now the focus will be to keep all people safe no matter where they are. It’s about ensuring employee safety during business trips, addressing risks in remote work settings, and planning for emergency responses in unfamiliar environments.”

Read the report

For more on the changing world of work and the business travel industry, download the full report.

YouTube video

The Big Idea is a hallmark of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) conferences in Europe and APAC. These interactive workshops provide a collaborative platform to tackle challenges and explore opportunities in the business travel industry. Christian Dahl, Executive Vice President of People & Culture at BCD Travel, and Rosemary Maloney, Vice President for the GBTA Board of Directors and Senior Director of Corporate Travel at Freeman Company, led the sessions. Chris Elmitt, CEO of LIVVE, was moderator.

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