The Future of Business Travel
The Future Of Business Travel
How crucial to business transactions is that handshake or creating that relationship in person?
In barely a year our lives as sociable humans has been transformed to that of solitary creatures only able to have any touch or personal interaction with those we live in the same household with.
Online meetings
Business meetings and the relationship building has had to turn to Zoom, Google meet or Microsoft Team. Not quite the seal the deal handshake of previous years. Although, we have still had to get those deals done and the paperwork signed, so how has the new virtual landscape measured up and how can we expect business to be done in the future?
Meeting in person demonstrates the value you put on a persons time and business. It clearly shows that you are putting the relationship in high standing and committed to listening to the other party.
Nonverbal communication
Face to face meetings tend to be more positive and perceived as more credible than online conversations. See the stats below from a report pulled together by the Great Business Schools about networking…
- 7% Actual words – hence, your choice of words is important
- 38% Inflection – The way we say our words
- 55% Facial Expressions – how we look when we speak
The Future of Business Accommodation
Socially distancing from a large crowd in a hotel could become a thing of the past. Hotels have already started to diversify to include self catering accommodation in their grounds and moving towards becoming Aparthotels.
The space and freedom to hold your meetings in a private space with all facilities you could need will be in high demand not only for UK meetings but International visitors may also demand a more socially conscious set up.
Full speed ahead
This bodes well for the future. Rapid change means more open minds that will be much more willing to accept further change and technology in favour of the wellbeing of employees and more successful outcomes for in person meetings.
Finding the balance between the office, mobile office, apartment, aparthotel and self catering cottage or castle to hold your next meeting will be just another day in the office by the end of 2021.