So that London remains the center of business travel, we must sort Heathrow

London is currently the leading business trip center in Europe, but Heathrow is very embarrassing, wrote Andrew Crawley

While collaboration and virtual meeting tools have become commonplace, the organization is still very aware of direct connection value. People will always want to do business with those who trust, and there is something about meeting face to face that cannot be replicated from behind the scenes.

Most of the zero -based travel budget company after Pandemi, places greater supervision on justification for travel. As a result, business trips become more aimed; The company only puts their people on the road if they need. At present, most of the travel budget returns to pre-pandemic or higher levels, and the volume of British passengers in which business trips reach around 17 percent-estimated will remain stable.

London sat at all the centers and has become a favorite destination for business travelers in Europe for meetings and events. But if the capital is to maintain and expand this advantage because of the world council space (and encouraging economic growth in turn), it is necessary to improve airport infrastructure. Business has a part to play too and needs to create a case for this investment and continue to support this sector by uniting their people – for their own good and the economy.

Business trip is an advantage for the British economy

If London’s status slipped, there will be a prominent economic consequence. Travel and tourism contributed £ 286 billion to the British economy last year – 10 percent of GDP – with business expenses reaching almost one third. Capital has benefited from its location between the main market, a comfortable time zone and a variety of economies compared to other cities with the same infrastructure.

This economic contribution is more than just a traveler expenditure. Our data at AMEX GBT shows a strong taste among international companies to take advantage of opportunities in the UK, with the government’s priority growth sectors that reflect the top industry that travels to London this year: Finance, Infotek, Professional Services, and Health Sciences.

Zooming to business travelers comes from places of greater emphasis on government trade agreements and new technological plans.

While New York, Amsterdam and Madrid are ranked by our traveler volume to London in Q1, the route that shows the fastest growth is a more precise barometer than the dynamics of the shift.

The journey between London and the technology market that appeared in Helsinki and Bengaluru occupies the top of the list, while others in the top five such as Washington and Berlin have the same strong innovation credentials. Britain is undoubtedly going to benefit from increasing collaboration with fellow leaders of this technology and promising to see it already takes place.

The technology conference will be another key player. Not only because of the digital ambition of the government, but because of the significant economic impact of business events – more than the music and sports festivals are combined. London hosted his first SXSW this summer only a week before Tentpole London Tech Week, bringing tens of thousands to the capital, with the sifted summit.

It all provides a more strategic business trip and even more reasons to ensure London is the center that the world needs.

We need to talk about Heathrow

However, to do this, the transformation of the Heathrow-one of the British Hub Airport and the entry point for 15 million business travelers a year is very important. This must be a source of national pride and offer extraordinary passenger experiences, but initiatives such as Heathrow Reimagined are true to ask for a review of the rules models and how the most expensive airport in the world continues to formate. For London to achieve his potential and put forward his best feet, he needs a more attractive front door.

Very positive seeing Luton and Stanstead also want to improve. Heathrow may be the main aviation center of London, but the improvement of infrastructure throughout the board will ensure as many business travelers as possible, especially domestic travelers who rely more on smaller airports.

The company continues to embrace direct meetings and the benefits that come with it are very important for growth. When companies from the main growth industry gather in London, companies that make efforts to meet directly will have advantages for competitors. Likewise, regular face-to-face meetings can ease the concerns possessed by several bosses around the lack of involvement between the distributed teams. The touch point can be very beneficial for staff who are accustomed to seeing their colleagues on the screen.

Business trips are victory for business, victory for London and victory for England.

Andrew Crawley is the President of the Global American Express business trip