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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Goodyear has introduced a new global campaign titled ‘Fast Is In Us’, dedicated to celebrating its renowned Eagle performance tyre family. The campaign debuted at the Kentucky Derby and follows last year’s STILL campaign, which underscored Goodyear’s iconic status. Fast Is In Us builds upon that foundation to elevate the Eagle legacy further.

Rather than focusing solely on traditional speed, the campaign highlights individuals deeply passionate about automobiles. It honours their appreciation for vehicle design, engineering and the tactile connection through the steering wheel. Fast Is In Us shifts attention from raw velocity to the emotional bond between driver and machine, celebrating those who feel performance rather than merely claim it.

The Eagle tyre family’s decades-long performance pedigree grounds the campaign, shaped in elite motorsport environments and high-performance automotive partnerships. After 45 years and millions of drivers, Eagle enters a new era believing fast is inherent to its design. This marks Goodyear’s first global campaign built around a performance tyre family, inviting drivers to embrace Eagle as a living philosophy rather than a one-off product.

The campaign will roll out globally across premium television, out-of-home, digital, social and cultural events. At the Kentucky Derby, the Goodyear Blimp carried the phrase Did someone say horsepower? Future integrations include the 24 Hours of Le Mans and other elite racing gatherings. Created with Publicis P1T Crew and led by BBH USA, Fast Is In Us aims to remind performance drivers why Eagle has always belonged with them.

Mark Stewart, Chief Executive Officer and President, Goodyear, said, "The performance car category is growing, and the drivers entering it want tyres worth bragging about. Eagle has more than four decades of credibility in performance and racing, and Fast Is In Us puts that legacy back to work – re‑establishing Eagle as the tyre knowledgeable drivers choose when performance truly matters. This campaign reflects how we're building Goodyear for the future: leading with premium products, authentic performance and brands that mean something."

J J Kraft, VP Global Creative, Goodyear, said, "Eagle isn't a product line – it's a piece of car culture. Fast Is In Us is a comprehensive platform built to put Eagle back at the centre of that enthusiasm. It expresses performance through feel and confidence behind the wheel, not just numbers on a page. It stands as one global campaign idea with the range to live across motorsport, retail and culture, and the ambition to lead the category, not chase it."

"For these drivers, Eagle is more than a tyre, it's a badge of devotion for drivers who respect the craft behind performance and demand confidence, responsiveness, and control every time they drive. Fast, in this world, isn't something you switch on. It's something you live," Kraft added.

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A comprehensive scientific review released under the umbrella of the Tire Industry Project (TIP) has concluded that despite significant advances in understanding tyre wear emissions, current data remains insufficient to quantify their direct impact on human health. The final paper in a three-part ‘State of Knowledge’ (SoK) series, supported by TIP as part of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, analysed over 850 peer-reviewed studies to assess global research on tyre and road wear particles. The authors found that inconsistencies in sampling approaches, detection techniques and analytical methodologies across studies prevent reliable comparison and robust risk assessment. As a result, while interest in the topic has grown, the evidence linking tyre emissions to specific health outcomes remains inconclusive.

According to the review, tyre wear particles constitute only a small fraction of total airborne particulate matter, typically less than five percent of PM2.5 and PM10 in urban environments. Toxicological data from both in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that tyre and road wear particles are no more harmful than general ambient particulate matter, with effects that are similar to or less potent than those of other airborne particle types. Although chemicals used in tyre manufacturing have been detected in human body fluids, the authors stress that these substances are also widely used in other applications, making it impossible to clearly attribute exposure to tyres as the primary source.

The paper, independently authored by Kathrin Müller, Julie Panko, Kenny M Unice and Dr Stephan Wagner, identifies the lack of harmonised global methods for sampling, analysing and characterising tyre wear emissions as a major barrier to drawing firm conclusions. This call for greater methodological consistency aligns with the findings of the first two SoK papers published in 2025, which examined the characterisation, quantification and environmental impacts of tyre wear emissions. Without standardised approaches, meaningful comparison across studies and reliable exposure or risk assessment remain unattainable.

Looking forward, the authors recommend that future research prioritise the identification of potential exposure pathways and examine relevant health outcomes, including chronic effects, under realistic conditions. Such studies should cover urban and suburban populations across different global regions to ensure comprehensive and applicable findings. The SoK series, representing the most extensive review of global science on tyre wear emissions to date, underscores the need for coordinated international efforts to improve the identification, measurement, and attribution of these particles in both environmental and human health contexts.

Dr Wagner, one of the leading researchers of Paper 3, said, “Tyre wear emissions are a complex topic that we still only partly understand, especially in relation to human health. While research has advanced our understanding of TRWP, the current data simply isn’t robust enough to quantify any potential health risks specifically linked to tyre wear. Looking forward, cross-stakeholder collaboration is fundamental to making rapid progress. By aligning methods, sharing data and focusing on real-world studies, we can build a stronger, more consistent evidence base to inform future decisions.”

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Citira has announced the acquisition of A&P Gustavsson Däck i Småland, a well-established tyre shop in Tingsryd, Småland. This transaction adds a key service point in the region and significantly strengthens Citira’s presence across southern Sweden.

Founded in 1985, A&P Gustavsson Däck has built a lasting reputation over four decades through high-level service for both heavy vehicles and passenger cars. Anders Gustavsson, who joined the business in 1985, became Shop Manager in 1995 and took full ownership in 2008, shaping the shop into a trusted local institution. His deep community ties have made the business a valued presence beyond just tyre services. Following the transaction, Anders will become a co-owner of Citira.

Linus Engberg, an employee since 2013, will assume the role of Shop Manager after the deal closes, ensuring continuity in daily operations and service standards. The shop will remain at the same premises with the same team, now backed by Citira’s resources and network to support further growth.

David Boman, CEO, Citira, said, "We are very pleased to welcome Anders, Linus and the team to Citira. The tyre shop has an impressive history and a genuinely strong local presence. That kind of trust, built over many years, is exactly what we look for when growing our network. We look forward to supporting the continued development of the business in Tingsryd and the surrounding region.”

Gustavsson said, "Joining Citira is the right next step for the business. It has been a privilege to serve this community for so many years, and I am confident that with Linus leading the team and with Citira's backing, the tyre shop will continue to thrive and deliver the service our customers deserve.”

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Prinx Chengshan has introduced its latest ultra-high-performance tyre, the Austone Meijie, through a charity test-drive event held in Kunming on 26 and 27 April. Centred on the theme ‘Cherish Every Moment with Love’, the initiative brought together dealers and store representatives to blend cutting-edge tyre technology with social responsibility. The new tyre was highlighted throughout as the group embarked on a mountainous journey focused on rural education support.

The charity effort targeted left-behind children, addressing both educational and daily needs as part of Prinx Chengshan’s broader corporate social responsibility commitments. Volunteers travelled to Jibi Primary School in Zhongshu Town, Luxi County, where 80 percent of students are boarders and nearly half of all families come from poverty-registered or low-income households. The convoy delivered stationery kits, sports equipment and backpacks to fill resource gaps at the campus.

Beyond material aid, the event fostered personal connections and emotional warmth, with the Austone brand philosophy of cherishing every moment put into practice. The new tyre played a key role in safeguarding the journey across city streets, highways and winding mountain roads. Participants gained direct experience of the Austone Meijie’s handling, durability and comfort throughout the convoy’s travels.

Professional test-drive sessions at Kunming Yujia Auto & Motor Sports Park further demonstrated the new tyre’s capabilities. In dry braking tests, the Austone Meijie delivered confident control and immediate response. The tyre’s high-grip tread compound and wide longitudinal grooves tackled wet surfaces by ensuring stable lane changes even through standing water. The new tyre provided unwavering lateral support and precise steering throughout the journey.

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