Plenty has changed in the last couple of years – not least our ability to travel. The pandemic has closed borders and restricted visas, leaving businesspeople with little chance to travel to seal deals or attend conferences. As borders re-open and more and more travel is permitted, international conferences are finally resuming – and businesses are keen to finally meet face to face. In this short guide, we’ll look at three key tips for traveling in 2021, as we emerge from the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. 

Safe Travel

Workers’ health and safety has risen up the agenda for businesses in the past 18 months. With COVID-19 infections putting thousands of workers out of action every day, you’ll want to avoid the risk of an infection in your team when they travel. It’s also not a good look if, after you’ve met with business associates in a different country, several of their team come down with sickness. 

So, what can you do to avoid that eventuality? Well, masks and face shields go some way to mitigating the risk of infection, as does good ventilation inside buildings. But testing – every day, if possible – is the best way to make sure your team isn’t harbouring a COVID-19 infection at any point of their trip abroad. Set a rule for daily testing for the safety of your team – and those they meet. 

Pandemic Changes

Other than the safety aspect, which is of course paramount to travel in 2021, there have been several changes to how we travel since March, 2020. Staying abreast of these before you book your trip will help ensure you’re not caught out by rules and regulations when you arrive in a new country. Some of these might include:

• The requirement for new, special visas in different countries
• Entry requirements, such as a vaccination certificate or a recent negative test
• Local rules regarding mask-wearing or other pandemic-related measures
• Hotel and venue rules to do with contact and social distancing

Research is how you’ll get on top of these changes. Or, if you’d prefer, you can outsource all of this to specialist companies that manage your corporate travel for you, from flights and accommodation to letting you know what special measures are in place in your chosen destination. 

Flights and Accommodation

Speaking of those two key elements of travel, if you are planning on going it alone, this is something that you’ll want to take care of as soon as possible. As you’ll know, flights are less regular and more subject to sudden change than they were before the pandemic – and this means booking flexible flights, or getting insurance.

The same goes for accommodation. Some hotels have been closing as a response to governmental regulations, leaving those who were booked in to them out on the street. Solutions to this issue include hiring an Airbnb or similar whole-property rentals, which are likely to be available when hotels are otherwise full or closed. 

Follow these tips to make sure your travel arrangements this winter are free from hassle and stress.