Is business travel back?
I just published a new poll to the LinkedIn Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group posing that question in this form:
Have you/your company resumed business travel in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic?
With a handful of votes so far, the results:
- Yes, back to full travel mode: 14 %
- Select travel by car only: 36%
- Limit air travel- key accounts: 7%
- No travel yet: 43%
The psychology of American business leaders during these next few months will be fascinating to watch. Even without a vaccine, there may be a sudden acceleration in the willingness to travel if it appears other companies are relaxing their travel restrictions. That is dependent, of course, on the absence of a feared second wave of COVID infections.
At the same time, the individual willingness of business professionals to board a plane and accept the risk of travel in this virus-changed world will vary considerably, I believe. The stakes are high for all industry associations and operators seeking to estimate when the appropriate time should be to reconvene in-person events, albeit with social distancing safeguards.
Another poll, now closed, that I posted to the group asked members this:
“Prediction time: Who do you think will win the presidential election? (not necessarily who you will vote for)”
With 90 plus votes received, the votes were:
- Biden: 28%
- Trump: 72%
This high confidence that Trump engenders is somewhat puzzling considering “conventional wisdom” that Biden is nearly a shoo-in.
One member lauded Trump’s support of business, the nation’s impressive economic numbers before the COVID-19 pandemic and his determination and resolve.
Poll numbers aside, the presidential debate on Sept.29 should help illuminate the question of how much Trump wants a second term, and if Joe Biden is powerful enough to turn him back.
The Packer’s Fresh Trends Insights
