Business Travel Jobs

For those keeping their eye out for business travel jobs, there have been several events in 2010 that have given consultants and managers food for thought. The field is unpredictable by its very nature; there can sometimes be little warning before a problem overseas requires attention, or a new opportunity must be taken advantage of with an early meeting a long journey away. Travel managers, however, can never assume all will go as planned during these trips. Take a look at some of the events which affected the industry during 2010, and how they might affect the future of corporate travel.

Volcanic Ash

One of the biggest disruptions for travel in 2010 was the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull, a volcano in Iceland, which caused the most significant closure of European airspace since the Second World War. For weeks, many people simply couldn't fly for a myriad of technical and legal reasons concerning the volcanic ash which was released over European airspace. Those looking for travel jobs would be wise to take note of the ways businesses adapted to the restrictions - making use of online conferencing programs like Skype and using long-distance train and ferry travel as a substitute. Many businesses found that their air travel wasn't quite as critical as they'd first assumed. The most important lesson the volcanic eruption taught those in business travel jobs was to always have a back-up plan for travel arrangements, and a back-up for the back-up!

Snow Problems

At the beginning and end of 2010, heavy snowfalls in Europe left many airports and airlines struggling to cope. While the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull couldn't have been predicted by those working in the industry, regular occurrences such as snow during the winter months should factor into business travel planning in 2011. It was Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, which was the most affected because - as its critics noted - it had done the least to prepare. A lesson for those in travel jobs in 2011 is not to assume major transport hubs will be 'ever-ready' whatever the weather - they are as susceptible to misfortune, and even closures, as smaller transport hubs.

Future Developments

With new transport security developments on the horizon in 2011, it remains to be seen what impact they will have on business travel jobs. In October 2010, the US Transport Security Administration introduced controversial new full-body scanners. Many air passengers saw them as highly intrusive as operators were able to see through clothes. When those in travel-related jobs need to deal with urgent or short-notice travel arrangements, avoiding such stringent security procedures may not be an option, and so the preferences of those embarking on the journey must be taken into account.

While 2010 threw up many challenges for the travel industry, there will always be a necessity for efficient travel arrangements. Those looking for travel jobs could learn a few lessons for the year ahead by examining the problems faced by travellers in 2010.

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