The impact of virtual meetings on the future of business travel
Abstract: COVID-19 has created a crisis which is still present in the travel industry and in particular in the business travel segment. The pandemic-induced migration of communication from face-to-face to digital formats has led many to question the necessity of business travel in relation to the functionality of virtual meetings. This constitutes unprecedented uncertainty of future business travel, which this thesis addresses through studying Swedish industrial companies. Using a grounded theory approach, factors influencing companies' choice of either videoconferencing or face-to- face business travel are explored and put in relation to each other. The grounded theory is derived from interviews with professionals involved in travel planning at major Swedish industrial companies to map out what factors are at play in the selection process and how the companies themselves believe business travel will develop. The resulting theory indicates that many activities will remain digital as a consequence of rationalization and new habits - even after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted - while some types of travel will return. Internal meetings in particular are expected to be conducted virtually to a high degree in the long run, while senior meetings or activities that are physical in nature are expected to return to travel.
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