Carol Fergus is taking part in two sessions at Business Travel Show Europe: Get up, stand up – bringing diversity, equity and inclusion to corporate travel and Diversity, equity and inclusion – let's organise! Business Travel Show Europe takes place on September 30 and October 1 at ExCeL London. Click here to register for the free two-day event.
What’s the biggest challenge facing you as a buyer right now and why?
The ever-changing world of the travel industry and being able to keep your travel community informed and motivated to get back to travelling again. The complexity of travel has changed the way travel buyers now need to operate and work.
What do you expect your business travel volumes to look like post-pandemic?
I cannot see our travellers returning to travel with any significance until next year. It will not be more than 20 to 30 per cent of pre-Covid levels in the first quarter and that assumes that governments across the globe get their act together with regard to the rules around who, when and how people may travel.
What support would you like to see from governments to get us all back on the road?
Make solid decisions that are clearer, easier to manage and navigate, and are less costly for the traveller.
What are you doing to make your travel programme more sustainable and why is this important?
Fidelity recently announced that we are looking to reduce our business travel by 50 per cent by 2024. That statement alone, and being led from the top, shows how important sustainability and managing our carbon footprint is to Fidelity. We have put our stake in the ground.
Why are you looking forward to attending Business Travel Show Europe and meeting face-to-face once more?
I am really looking forward to networking with my peers in the industry and finding out what’s new out there across all the categories. We have a lot that we can share, and we need each other, both buyer and supplier, more than ever now to move the industry along and get back to where we were prior to the pandemic, but even stronger.
Tell us in 30 words or fewer why buyers should attend your sessions about diversity, equity and inclusion in travel?
All those who attend, whatever their race, gender, sexual orientation, mental or physical health, will find a safe place where they can listen, learn, speak their truth and share.
• Carol Fergus is taking part in two sessions at Business Travel Show Europe: Get up, stand up – bringing diversity, equity and inclusion to corporate travel and Diversity, equity and inclusion – let's organise! Business Travel Show Europe takes place on September 30 and October 1 at ExCeL London. Click here to register for the free two-day event.