Suzanne Horner, chair of the Business Travel Association, has warned that “staffing has been and will continue to be a massive struggle” for the industry.
Speaking at this week’s BTA conference in Belfast, Horner said that recruitment issues hampering business travel’s recovery are still rife and that the industry must accelerate efforts to attract new talent.
She continued: “Many great people have left the industry and found opportunities elsewhere and we as an industry need to be creative. We are an ageing population. We’ve had amazing careers in travel but how can we make sure we demonstrate that to the outside world? Never before has your industry needed you more.”
Only three of the 13 TMC representatives on the BTA’s newly created Next Generation board are under the age of 36 – the upper limit the organisation had initially set – such is the dearth of young talent, said Horner.
“They are new people [to the BTA] with new ideas who will challenge what we’ve done traditionally,” she explained.
The BTA chair was optimistic on the trajectory of business travel recovery but conceded it will not be a smooth journey.
“Most of us are busier than ever. Volumes are absolutely coming back but travel is complex,” said Horner, adding that bookings can now take four or five times as long as pre-Covid due to added checks and processes.
“When will the increase slow down? Maybe we have to accept that today is the new normal. Every part of the supply chain is facing increasing challenges around manpower, capacity, rising costs… We need to work very closely together to ensure the whole ecosystem comes out winning.”
She continued: “We’re through the pandemic but we still have a big fight ahead. Engaging with government is as high a priority today as it was [during the pandemic].
“The government doesn’t recognise that we are highly qualified, highly educated business people running really successful businesses. We all took the hit [when Covid hit] but we’ve made it through and we’re rebuilding.
“We must be at the front and centre of the minds of government in preparation for our next big challenge, and there will be many.”