The State of Corporate Travel and Expense 2022 14 SKIFT + TRIPACTIONS BUSINESS TRAVEL GEARS BACK UP There’s no question that demand is picking up after a long hiatus. But with new concerns around the Covid-19 variants, along with larger shifts underway in workplace culture, there may be some ups and downs moving ahead. Still, the corporate world’s commitment to business travel remains undiminished. Roger Dow, president and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Travel Association, has been a prominent champion for the safe return of business travel throughout the pandemic. “Business travel was such a powerful section of our travel and U.S. economy and a major driver of our total economy,” stated Dow in a June 2021 release. “It contributed $791 billion to the economy in 2019 and was responsible for 5 million jobs. We need to look at how we can get it going faster. Domestic leisure travel is really doing well, but it’s the business travel, group and meetings, and events that are so important.” “A thriving travel industry — and the broader U.S. economy — are dependent on the return of business travel and PMEs (in-person professional meetings and events),” noted Dow. “Americans are eager to reconnect with colleagues in person, via business meetings, conferences and conventions.”