GBTA's survey results: the clarion call to heed traveller concerns. Credit: Getty Images
USA - The latest research issued by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) indicate that health and safety measures are now of significant importance as the industry tries to gain momentum for recovery.
"People aren't going to travel until they feel safe. Our member companies want to see several health and safety steps taken at every stage of the travel process- from ground transportation to airlines, to hotels. As restrictions across the globe begin to lift, small green shoots of optimism are sprouting in the industry with more than half (54%) of companies considering resuming all travel in the near future. That is a positive, albeit small, sign that we are finally headed in the right direction," said GBTA CEO, Mr Scott Solombrino.
Credit: GBTA
GBTA's seventh poll among membership from May 13-15, 2020 saw responses from 1,705 member companies throughout the world. Here is a summary of their response and how their concerns can be addressed:
Hotels
• Increasing cleaning standards to exceed current protocols (80%)
• Requiring employees to wear face masks (55%)
• Providing additional staff training about COVID-19 sanitary practices and incident reporting (53%).
• Providing guests with safety information about their hotel (40%)
• Placing signs throughout the property to remind guests and employees of best sanitation practices (35%)
• Providing face masks to guests (24%)
• Changing guest room housekeeping upon request (20%).
Ground transportation
• Requiring drivers to stay in the driver's seat and not assist with luggage or opening the door (27%)
• Installing a partition to separate the passenger from the driver (52%)
• Increasing cleaning standards to exceed current standards (70%)
• Providing hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes to customers (68%)
• Requiring drivers to wear face masks and gloves (58%)
• Training drivers about sanitary practices (43%).
• Provide additional staff training about COVID-19 sanitary practices and incident reporting (36%)
• Requiring passengers to wear face masks and gloves (34%)
• Providing more communication and information concerning cleaning protocols (28%)
• Providing face masks and gloves to passengers (16%).
Airlines
• Keeping the middle seats empty (59%)
• Increasing airplane cleaning standards to ensure every traveller touchpoint is sanitised before each flight (76%)
• Requiring passengers to wear face masks (60%)
• Requiring employees to wear face masks and gloves (52%)
• Providing all passengers with hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes (47%).
• Provide additional staff training about COVID-19 sanitary practices and incident reporting (27%)
• Provide all passengers with face masks (23%)
• Suspend or reduce in-flight food and beverage service (17%).
Cleaning and sanitation information
• Half (48%) of GBTA member companies feel they have enough information
• One-third (36%) would like more information
• Only one in ten (15%) say they do not have enough information.
• Member companies in North America (51%) are more likely than member companies based in Europe (32%) to say they have enough information.