Zero Travel Is The Career Opportunity Travel Managers Have Been Waiting For

While other philosophers questioned the meaning of the universe, Gottfried Leibniz famously asked why it exists at all. The pandemic has created its own economic Leibniz moment with business travel.

Having been forced to trial alternatives to in‐person meetings, many companies are now questioning the need for physical travel. As the low‐cost option, virtual has become the default.

The argument to invest in travel may prove even harder to make as economic conditions deteriorate. This poses a challenge for travel managers, who face a sudden reinvention of their role and responsibility. If organizations are questioning the fundamental need to travel, aren't they also questioning the role of travel manager?

We need to see the crisis as a hidden opportunity. Travel managers have long been asking the business to view travel more strategically. Ironically, the pandemic could elevate the visibility and status of corporate travel management across the organization.

In the last 12 months, travel managers have worked closely with business lines and C‐suite executives to ensure travel policies offered the right degree of protection and reassurance.

Now they must work with the same budget holders on a different challenge: strategic evaluation of the purpose and commercial value of travel.

• What makes a business trip essential?
• How does it generate business value and what is that value?