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)

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The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company expanded its all-season portfolio with the Vector All Season 4, launched in late April 2026 and aimed at a broader span of European vehicles, from premium models to electric vehicles. Aimed at motorists who prefer a single set of tyres for the whole year, the product builds on almost five decades of Goodyear all-season development and debuts WeatherReady Technology, an engineering platform created to keep performance steady as conditions shift.

Independent testing has already brought the tyre attention. Tyre Reviews named it ‘Test Winner’ in its most recent all-season comparison, and Auto Bild Allrad likewise placed it first as ‘Test Winner’, drawing attention to exemplary snow traction plus second-place finishes in snow handling, dry handling and rolling resistance.

For regions where climate, roads and regulations favour all-weather rubber, the Vector All Season 4 serves as a premium choice for drivers wanting readiness for dry, wet and milder winter conditions year-round while easing the hassle of seasonal swaps such as workshop appointments, scheduling and off-season storage. Balanced dry, wet and winter capability now reaches rim diameters up to 23 inches, opening premium year-round convenience to segments that previously lacked an all-season option.

The new tyre sits alongside Goodyear’s existing all-weather range, including the Vector 4Seasons Gen-3, which in 2024 became the first all-season tyre to earn ADAC’s overall ‘Good’ rating. The Gen-3 remains especially suited to smaller cars, with most SKUs at 16 inches and below, pairing strong wet and snow performance with efficiency. Goodyear’s all-weather work dates to 1977 and the Tiempo, which the company calls the world’s first all-weather tyre. With the technology’s 50th anniversary nearing in 2027, Goodyear continues refining all-season tyres for evolving European driving conditions.

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Hankook Tire’s new Winter i*cept evo 4 delivered a strong debut in Auto Bild’s major 2026 winter tyre test, finishing joint third among 50 models in size 245/45 R19. The premium tyre earned an overall score of 1.4 and an ‘exemplary’ rating reserved for only the four highest-placed tyres. Testing was carried out on a BMW 5 Series, with two tyres sharing first place and two sharing third after consistently strong results across all 16 disciplines.

The publication’s test panel characterised the Hankook model as a newcomer combining a strong cost profile with precise dry-road handling. Before the full test, all 50 tyres underwent wet and snow braking comparisons, and only the 20 with the shortest combined stopping distances progressed. Hankook had already secured fourth place in qualifying with a combined braking distance of 65.5 metres.

Its individual results comprised 36.3 metres when braking from 80 kmph in wet conditions and 29.2 metres from 50 kmph on snow. The outcome marks a successful test debut for the Winter i*cept evo 4, placing it among the leading performers in the 2026 evaluation.

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Apollo Tyres’ five manufacturing plants in India have received Five-Star Ratings and Sword of Honour awards for 2026 from the British Safety Council, recognising their occupational health and safety management.

The awards follow the council’s Five-Star Occupational Health and Safety Audit, which assesses an organisation’s safety policies, processes and practices through documentation reviews, stakeholder interviews and sampling of operational activities.

The Sword of Honour recognises organisations that achieve the maximum five stars in the council’s independent audit and demonstrate a strong culture of health and safety across their operations. The 2026 awards mark the 47th consecutive year in which the council has presented the honour.

Rajeev Kumar Sinha, Chief Manufacturing And Sustainability Officer at Apollo Tyres, said: “Safety is a core value at Apollo Tyres and integral to everything we do. The recognition of all five of our manufacturing plants in India by the British Safety Council reflects our collective commitment to high standards of health and safety. While this achievement is a matter of pride, we remain focused on continuous improvement and fostering a culture where everyone takes ownership of safety and returns home safe every day.”

Peter McGettrick, Chairman of the British Safety Council, said: “On behalf of the board of trustees and staff of the British Safety Council I would like to congratulate Apollo Tyres on achieving the highest standards of its health and safety management. Achieving recognition of this sort takes absolute dedication and the utmost professionalism. We are proud to support you in your achievements and delighted we can contribute to your ongoing success.”

Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of the British Safety Council, added: “I would like to congratulate Apollo Tyres and its staff on this award, in tribute to their commitment to keeping their workplace safe and healthy and contributing to safeguarding the environment. All of the Sword award-winning organisations share a commitment and willingness to achieve the uppermost standards of health and safety. We thank Apollo Tyres for contributing to achieving our vision that no one should be injured or made ill through their work.”

The assessment period for the 2026 awards ran from  1 August 2025 to 31 July  2026. Award recipients also had to demonstrate to an independent adjudication panel a track record of good health and safety practices throughout their organisations, from the shopfloor to the boardroom.

Apollo Tyres manufactures tyres in India and Hungary and sells products under the Apollo and Vredestein brands in more than 100 countries.

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Michelin will present its newest trailer tyre, the 385/65 R22.5 X Multi T2, at stand D60 during RTX Scotland, scheduled for 18–19 November at Glasgow’s SEC. The Glasgow event marks the UK show debut for the tyre, which Michelin says offers 15 percent more mileage and six percent lower rolling resistance than the model it replaces.

Alongside the tyre, Michelin will highlight its Remix 2 process, an extension of its multi-life policy that permits a second retread and further regrooving. The company claims this can extend a tyre’s service life by as much as 375 percent. Remix 2 is presently undergoing trials with selected Michelin customers and builds on established retreading at the firm’s Stoke remanufacturing site.

Designed for regional and mixed transport, the X Multi T2 handles heavy loads and lateral forces during manoeuvring while remaining robust across varied conditions. It carries EU label ratings of B for rolling resistance, C for wet grip and A for external rolling noise, plus 3PMSF and M+S markings for winter suitability.

The combination of a second premium retread with up to three regroovings during service is central to Michelin’s multi-life proposition. Fleets gain greater value and mileage from each fitment, with the maximum safe distance potentially reaching 375 percent of a single-life Michelin tyre’s baseline.

Andrew French, B2B Sales Director at Michelin UK & Ireland, said, “We’re excited to be giving the X Multi T2 its UK debut at RTX Scotland. Enhancing our popular X Multi range, it’s another asset that can help hauliers go further for less as part of a well-managed tyre policy. The opportunity to showcase our Remix 2 offer, which can significantly boost the longevity of each tyre and reduce the total cost of ownership, underlines our commitment to maximising value.”

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