GBTA Survey: Omicron Causing Near-Term Travel Jitters

The unfold of the omicron variant of Covid-19 has spurred some new enterprise journey restrictions and darkened some journey patrons‘ opinions about their vacationers‘ willingness to hit the highway, however most are assured that enterprise journey volumes will get well all through 2022, based on a brand new survey.

The share of member journey managers and procurement professionals surveyed Jan. 4-13 by the World Enterprise Journey Affiliation who indicated their vacationers have been „keen“ or „very keen“ to journey for enterprise was 64 p.c, down from 78 percent in October, the newest comparable survey. That determine additionally represents a low level within the GBTA surveys since Covid-19 vaccines grew to become extensively accessible within the spring of 2021. 

Moreover, about 27 p.c of surveyed patrons indicated that their organizations had instituted new enterprise journey restrictions or rules on account of omicron’s unfold, with one other 15 p.c suggesting their corporations may but accomplish that.

The dates the GBTA survey was within the discipline correspond with what seems to be the peak of omicron’s spreadin a number of components of the US, together with the Northeast, in addition to components of Europe. Instances in some areas have declined because the first two weeks of January. And most purchaser and provider respondents to GBTA’s survey indicated that, nonetheless jittery vacationers could also be right now, they nonetheless anticipate volumes growing. 

About 75 p.c of the 389 member journey managers and procurement professionals GBTA surveyed mentioned they anticipate their organizations‘ 2022 enterprise journey quantity will enhance from 2021 ranges. Solely about 5 p.c prompt it will lower. 

Equally, although about 70 p.c of the 319 provider members surveyed by GBTA projected omicron would have no less than some detrimental monetary impact on their corporations, about 76 p.c projected 2022 enterprise journey income would enhance yr over yr, with 5 p.c suggesting it will lower. A number of journey administration firm executives this month advised BTN that their company purchasers have been treating omicron differently than they did the delta variant that emerged final summer season. 

Citing a ballot respondent, GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang in a press release referred to as omicron a „moist blanket“ on enterprise journey, however prompt „there are constructive indicators, and business professionals proceed to be optimistic for the long-term outlook of worldwide enterprise journey.“