After months of stay-at-home restrictions that varied from state to state, the U.S. is finally reopening for domestic travel. Business travelers are relieved because travel is the lifeblood of sales, client service, and networking. While air travel is slowly ramping back up, companies are weighing the merits of driving for business travel. In addition to the inherent safety factors, you get some additional benefits when Covington makes your reservations.

Safety Factors of Business Travel Drive Trips

The elephant in the room remains COVID-19. Travelers are concerned with their personal safety and not transmitting the virus. To that end, every reputable travel supplier – airlines, hotels, and car rentals – has updated and improved their cleaning standards.

Hertz introduced a first-of-its-kind practice in the rental car industry. They place a seal across the car doors and certify it ‘Hertz Gold Standard Clean’ after it undergoes a 15-point cleaning and sanitization process that follows CDC guidelines.

When you drive for business travel you have more control over your environment. You can choose where and when you go, allowing better hygiene management. That’s not saying that airlines are not also working very hard to maintain cleanliness, but when driving a car, you can dictate who you sit next to in an enclosed space for an extended time.

Travel Maestro tip: Covington has proprietary discount numbers that allow our clients access to specially negotiated rates. Ask your booking agent to compare car rental rates for you.

Hotels – What Has Changed and What Has Not

Like airlines and car rentals, hotels have launched intensive cleaning protocols to protect guests and staff. All extraneous items such as notepads and pens, information booklets, and extra towels and linens have been removed from the rooms. Most hotel chains have ceased daily housekeeping and use a knock-and-drop delivery system outside the door for room service.

Travel Maestro tip: As always, Covington clients can use discounted BCD corporate rates on thousands of hotels in the U.S. As a member of Virtuoso, we also provide our travelers access to exclusive pricing and complimentary amenities at the finest luxury hotels in cities across the country. 

24 Hour Agency Support

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that unusual situations can and do occur. Travel is not immune. Covington provides 24-hour support for your driving business trip, as well as airline travel. When you make your car rental and hotel reservations with Covington, we can help resolve issues with overbookings or advise you of an impending strike that may affect your stay. In the event of a natural disaster, we immediately identify travelers at specific hotels in the area to support your company in their duty of care.

But our support services don’t only address the negatives. We can share information about area attractions, provide comparisons between hotel properties, and use our industry relationships to assist with special requests.

Travel Maestro tip: Our industry connections and clout allow you benefits and resources that you would not likely obtain on your own.

Business Travel is Rebooting

Business travel seems to be restarting from the ground up; that is, many of our corporate clients are rebooting their business travel with drive trips. When you’re ready to get back on the road, Covington is prepared to use our full resources to help you do it safely and with confidence. Contact us to get (re)started.