The business travel is evolving faster than ever. We'll help you adapt.

The Covid-19 pandemic, which began in 2020, radically altered not only people’s daily lives but also their way of working. At that time, many health experts, CEOs, and media outlets predicted that business travel would come to a halt indefinitely. The idea was that if daily tasks and meetings could be conducted through platforms like Zoom and Slack, then it would make sense to apply that digital approach to work travel.

However, by the end of 2020, Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, and a professional at United Airlines, made a prediction that turned out to be accurate. She argued that while virtual meetings had connected people in innovative ways, the tourism industry showed that as more people connected through technology, their desire to travel increased, as physical interaction remains a human longing. She also claimed that once someone gained an advantage by attending in person, companies would prioritize these expenses again.

Reality confirmed her prediction. With the widespread availability of vaccines and the diminishing threat of the virus, many companies began calling their employees back to the offices and financing their flights. A 2024 report from the World Travel and Tourism Council indicated that global business travel has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, reaching an estimated spending of $1.5 trillion last year.

In response to this recovery, airlines are in a bit of a competition to offer more attractive lounges at airports, such as the new Delta One opened at JFK, as well as improvements in in-flight business class services. On the other hand, millennials, eager to enjoy their purchasing power, have contributed to a boom in "bleisure" travel, which combines business and leisure. This trend also underscores the growing understanding that traveling for work can be a social experience and an opportunity for personal growth.

The resurgence of business travel has also brought significant technological advancements. Wi-Fi connections on planes, which were once unreliable, are now functioning remarkably well. Additionally, airlines and tech companies are incorporating generative artificial intelligence advances, innovating in areas like customer service and expense reporting software, providing faster responses and automating tedious tasks.

It is anticipated that in the near future, artificial intelligence will even be able to book and manage complete schedules, adapting its decisions according to users' individual preferences and keeping them informed about last-minute changes. This topic will be explored in an upcoming informational package that will address what can be expected from the future of business travel, sharing detailed stories about various aspects of this activity, from extended trips to the technology that keeps planes in the air.