Business travel sector gains a voice in parliament

The APPG’s first meeting took place on Tuesday (8 September), with calls from the Business Travel Association for an extension to the furlough scheme, the temporary suspension of Air Passenger Duty, Business Rate relief and rapid development and approval of traveller testing.

The APPG is chaired by Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon and former parliamentary under secretary of state for transport.

“I look forward to making the case for business travel and making some quick submissions to government to help the industry, as well as formulating longer term policy ideas with the APPG,” he said.

The group heard from Clive Wratten, BTA chief executive. He said: “The BTA’s role is to grow the profile and importance of business travel in building a strong and sustainable economy, and today is a key step in that journey.”

Also speaking were Suzanne Horner, chief executive of Gray Dawes Global and BTA chair plus Andrew Crawley, American Express Global Business Travel chief commercial officer and Thomas Haagensen, easyJet group markets director.

Crawley stressed the need to move from complete risk avoidance to "intelligent risk management", stating: “We believe that bilaterally agreed quarantine exemptions for business travel, booked through a TMC, is a very viable proposition.”