Business travel represents a substantial force in the global economy. Just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, it contributed to more than USD 1.2 trillion, about 25 percent of the travel and tourism sector’s overall economic impact, to the global GDP. Businesses had resumed spending on travel after substantial declines in 2008 and 2009.
A research by Global Business Travel Association Foundation had found that for every one percent change in business travel spending, the US economy typically gains or loses 74,000 jobs, USD 5.5 billion in GDP, USD 3.3 billion in wages and USD 1.3 billion in taxes. The report also stated that personal vehicle (35 percent) was the most popular mode of transportation among US business travellers in 2016, followed by airplane (28 percent) and rental cars (13 percent).
Internal travel encompasses trips taken for intracompany purposes, where employees participate in activities such as training, team building or inspection of field operations. External travel, on the other hand, refers to travel done by employees for engagements outside the company, including in-person meetings with clients and suppliers, trade conferences and customer sales calls.
"Obstacles to business travel, such as cumbersome visa protocols and long flight connections, constrain access to knowhow and limit growth opportunities, especially in developing countries," said Frank Neffke, research director at Harvard Kennedy School’s Growth Lab.
Benefits Of Business Travel
In the past, companies have experienced that, on average, 40 percent of customers would eventually be lost without in-person meetings and support.
Detailed statistical modelling over 18 years and 14 industries indicates that for every dollar invested in business travel, US companies make a USD 9.50 return in terms of revenue. The modelling also found that US business travel has yielded USD 2.90 in profits for every dollar spent.
There is a small segment of employees for whom travel is deemed essential for conducting business. This category accounted for around 15 percent of all corporate travel expenses in 2019 and includes decision makers in manufacturing companies with a wide distribution of factories and plants, and field-operation workers. For some corporate travellers, it is possible to move oversight responsibility to local personnel and/or utilise digital medium. This segment will see their business travel decline. A large segment of business travel is done to cultivate new or important client relationships. This segment will bounce back as soon as Covid-related restrictions are lifted.
A tiny portion of business travel comes from the public sector, professional associations and nonprofits. During the pandemic, many professional associations were able to hold virtual events to replace in-person conferences and will likely be more cautious in their return to travel.
Business Travel Catches The Virus!
Business travel has taken a big hit during the Covid-19 pandemic and its future is still up-in-the-air, waiting for the end of the pandemic and firming up the ‘New Normal’. In 2020, total global business travel expenses contracted by 52 percent, while managed corporate-travel spending in the United States alone plummeted by USD 94 billion (71 percent).
The World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) latest annual research shows that the global travel and tourism sector suffered a loss of almost USD 4.5 trillion to reach USD 4.7 trillion in 2020, with its contribution to GDP dropping by a staggering 49.1 percent compared to 2019. In 2020, sixty-two million jobs were lost, representing a drop of 18.5 percent, leaving just 272 million employed across this sector globally, compared to 334 million in 2019. The threat of job losses persists as many jobs are currently supported by government retention schemes and reduced hours, which could be lost without a full recovery of the travel and tourism sector.
Some business travellers expect to take at least as many business trips in 2022 as they had in the year before the Covid-19 pandemic was declared. While teleconferencing will reduce the need for some business travel, many survey respondents cited the need to meet in-person to rekindle relationships with customers, suppliers and business partners. Another frequent reason cited for the need to travel for business was a job change.
The countries most eager to travel for business once Covid-19 travel restrictions are lifted seem to be China, US and Australia. Of course, the potential increase in Covid cases from the Delta and future variants of the virus may still cause further backsliding on rising confidence levels for resumption of business travel. (TT)
DUNLOP Launches Dominant European Media Campaign For Australian Open 2026
- By TT News
- January 17, 2026
Capitalising on its role as the official ball of the Australian Open, Dunlop Tyres is launching a major pan-European campaign to align its tyre brand with the tournament’s elite sporting values. This new initiative will unfold across Warner Bros. Discovery platforms throughout the 2026 event (18 January – 1 February), leveraging the competition’s global prestige to enhance brand perception in key markets.
The campaign will achieve blanket coverage via extensive broadcasting on Eurosport and TNT Sports, reaching audiences in 46 countries. In territories such as Germany and Austria, this presence will be exclusive. As a sponsorship partner for the tournament’s broadcasts, Dunlop will consistently associate its brand with core attributes of precision, performance and reliability, effectively transferring these qualities from professional tennis to its automotive products.
Central to the strategy is high-visibility branding during premium match coverage. Sponsorship bumpers will feature in all live broadcasts, replays and highlight summaries across linear TV and streaming services like HBO Max and discovery+. This ensures continuous engagement with sports-focused audiences. Additional impact will be driven by integrating these bumpers into promotional trailers within other high-reach programming, amplifying awareness before and during the Grand Slam.
This activation underscores Dunlop’s century-long legacy in tennis, dating back to its early manufacture of tennis balls in the UK. By anchoring its campaign around the season’s first major tournament, Dunlop reinforces a deep commitment to the sport at every level. The partnership symbolises the brand’s dedication to quality and innovation, strengthening its international positioning through a revered and enduring sporting collaboration.
Maxam Tyre Europe Collaborates With Farming Influencer Tom Pemberton
- By TT News
- January 16, 2026
Maxam Tyre Europe, a division of the globally ranked Sailun Group, has entered a strategic partnership with farming influencer Tom Pemberton, known for his popular Tom Pemberton Farm Life digital channels. This collaboration was unveiled at the prominent UK agricultural event, LAMMA Show 2026, where Maxam is presenting its expanding agricultural tyre line with its exclusive distributor, Kirkby Tyres.
Under this new alliance, Pemberton will equip some of his farm machinery with MAXAM agricultural tyres. He will then provide his substantial and dedicated following across the UK and Ireland with authentic, practical evaluations based on daily use. His credible voice, built through sharing genuine farm life insights, will offer his community a trusted look at the tyres' real-world performance, durability and innovative features.
This initiative allows Maxam to connect directly with the farming community through a respected peer. Pemberton’s experiential content will be featured across his own platforms as well as on Maxam’s official social media channels. The partnership is designed to enhance brand recognition and practically demonstrate the value of the MAXAM specialist tyre range to a core audience of agricultural professionals.
Pemberton said, “I’m pleased to be working with Maxam agricultural tyres. It’s a fast-growing brand, at the cutting edge of technology and with good people; we already spent some time on my family’s farm together. It’s a partnership that feels like a good fit and one that I’m looking forward to developing over time.”
Harry Wang, General Manager, Sailun Group Europe, said, "Maxam agricultural tyres have proven their performance for example in the test conducted by DLG (German Agricultural Society) and being OE partner of leading agricultural equipment manufacturers like CASE IH and New Holland. Now is the time to further develop the brand and spread the word within the farming community. We feel privileged that Tom has agreed to work with the Maxam brand – and we really like his style and share the same passion for farming.”
BKT Debuts With Strong CDP Ratings For Climate And Water
- By TT News
- January 15, 2026
BKT Tires has achieved a noteworthy initial rating from the international environmental watchdog, CDP. The company’s inaugural disclosure for the 2025 fiscal year resulted in a ‘B’ score for its climate change management and a ‘B-’ in water security.
These ratings, issued by the global Carbon Disclosure Project, highlight BKT’s emphasis on operational transparency and its structured approach to environmental stewardship. The scores are recognised as an affirmation of the firm’s strategic initiatives aimed at minimising its ecological footprint and enhancing climate resilience throughout its business activities.
The accomplishment is attributed to the concerted effort of the organisation’s workforce. This milestone establishes a benchmark for BKT’s ongoing journey towards its sustainability objectives.
CEAT Partners With CleanMax On Major Renewable Energy Initiative
- By TT News
- January 15, 2026
Leading Indian tyre manufacturer CEAT is advancing its sustainability targets through a strategic partnership with CleanMax Enviro Energy Solutions Limited. Under a group captive arrangement, CleanMax will supply renewable electricity from a combined ~59 MW hybrid wind-solar project. This clean energy will power CEAT’s manufacturing facilities located in Halol, Gujarat, and Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
The hybrid model merges wind and solar generation, capitalising on their complementary patterns to deliver a more stable and consistent power output with a higher plant load factor. This reliability is essential for energy-intensive industrial operations and supports greater grid stability.
Annually, this initiative is projected to produce approximately 135.8 million units of renewable energy, elevating CEAT’s clean power consumption to around 60 percent of its needs. The environmental benefit is substantial, with an expected reduction of about 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year – an impact comparable to planting nearly 4.5 million trees annually.
This collaboration leverages CleanMax’s established expertise in the commercial and industrial renewable sector. For CEAT, it marks a significant step towards its net-zero ambition by enhancing energy security, boosting operational efficiency and achieving considerable progress in its decarbonisation journey.
Roopesh R, Senior Vice President – Procurement, CEAT, said, “This long-term partnership with CleanMax allows CEAT to strengthen our renewable energy footprint across Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Sustainability is an important part of how we plan for the long term and CEAT is committed to grow our business that serves our customer responsibly while remaining resilient for the future. As a company already advancing in areas such as green sourcing, sustainable transportation, biodegradable packaging, sustainable manufacturing and reduced distribution emissions, integrating this hybrid wind-solar renewable energy is a natural and strategic progression in our sustainability journey. These hybrid projects will bring cost efficiencies at our key manufacturing facilities and will help us in our journey to produce tyres with low carbon footprint – and be a benchmark in the industry.”
Kuldeep Jain, Managing Director, Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions Limited, said, “We are proud to collaborate with CEAT, a globally recognised brand in the automotive sector, and support its strategic sustainability objectives by enabling the decarbonisation of operations across its key manufacturing hubs. These projects demonstrate how well-structured collaborations can accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and build a more sustainable energy future for large-scale manufacturing.”
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