OPINION
WORDS ADRIAN PARKES
STOPPING THE STANDSTILL
The business travel industry’s resilience will be tested again
M
Y PUBLISHING DEADLINE means I’m writing these words just in advance of the October Budget, so I can only hope
everything that follows hasn’t been superseded by events. I only say that because, having passed my first-year anniversary in the GTMC hotseat, I thought it apt to look forward at some of the big issues we are facing as an industry and as a nation. If the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, has pulled out a huge chequebook along with a raft of pro-business policies then feel free to stop right here. If not, then read on…
It is a sad fact that, whatever our individual political views, the country seems more divided now than at any other point in my lifetime. Blame Brexit, blame the polarising effect of social media, but what we can be certain of is that the poor quality of political discourse is breeding uncertainty. Aside from the confusion created by leaving the EU, the knock-on effect of Brexit is that much of the day-to-day business of government seems to have ground to a halt. While the bickering continues, the
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stuff that really matters to industry in the short, medium and long-term has been kicked into the long grass.
BREAKING THROUGH The travel industry, both corporate and leisure, is incredibly resilient. Given freedom to operate, we have constantly demonstrated that we can overcome most obstacles. In the last 12 months, for example, companies have faced the challenges of GDPR, PSD2 and the new-look Package Travel Directive (PTD2) without any interruptions to their operations. Of course, behind the scenes huge efforts have gone in to planning and implementation, but we have come through the other side. Similarly, TMCs have
embraced the opportunity that NDC will eventually bring clients through improved rich content and merchandising. However, 2019 will be a pivotal year for adoption of NDC to the level promoted by IATA for airlines and, therefore, TMCs to start transacting scalable volumes, while still offering clients transparency of choice and integration
into management systems. We hope, as many airlines start their NDC journey, that it is one of collaboration and communication to ensure the products available match expectations of the end customer and traveller.
IT IS VITAL
UK PLC DOES ITS UTMOST TO KEEP PEOPLE AND GOODS FLOWING FREELY
HIT THE BOOKS At the GTMC we have been investing time and money in the future, too, with a new e-Learning programme setting the benchmark for industry training. This new platform will ensure that we have a transferable qualification for employees and ensure a clear pathway for much-needed new talent. In the same vein, our new partnership with Bournemouth University’s Department of Travel and Hospitality gives us another way to talk up business travel’s excellent career prospects to the brightest young people. These investments in the industry need to be matched at a higher level. Brexit is likely to increase the pressure at airports and seaports, so it is vital UK Plc does its utmost to keep people and goods flowing freely in the months to come and avoid the embarrassingly long delays for incoming visitors that we saw earlier this year.
If I could make one wish for 2019, it would be more spend on infrastructure – be it roads, rail, airports or wifi coverage… or ideally, all of the above – to show we have what it takes to prosper in the 21st century.
Adrian Parkes is chief executive of the GTMC, which represents travel management companies (
gtmc.org)
buyingbusinesstravel.com
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