For the most part, there are two reasons for travelling from one place to another. The first is pleasure: we want to see the world, sample new tastes and sensations, and take a break from working life. The second reason is business. In today’s interconnected world, businesses which operate internationally
It is unlikely that businesses with operations in Hong Kong or sending employees to the region will be unaware of the current unrest. But some employers may be uncertain about the scale of the risks and what guidance to give to employees. Sebastian Liu, Global Threat Analyst for the Asia
Bournemouth Tourism has partnered with independent global creative agency Crowd to deliver a new website for Bournemouth Beach Lodges. The site promotes beachside accommodation on the south coast of England, in the style of the traditional British beach huts, but with modern conveniences for the tourists. The visual and verbal
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
For the most part, there are two reasons for travelling from one place to another. The first is pleasure: we want to see the world, sample new tastes and sensations, and take a break from working life. The second reason is business. In today’s interconnected world, businesses which operate internationally cannot silo their various branches away – they must occasionally send representatives from one place to another. Of course, the opportunities to do this are being heavily limited by the effects of the unfolding coronavirus pandemic, and it remains to be seen what effect this will have on the way international business operates. It is likely that alternative means of payment will be considered for employees less sure of the hours they need to be in the office – carnet tickets represent a flexible option that is likely to be popular. But why was it that we travelled for business in the first place? Why we travelled for business Network If you’re at a trade show or conference, you’ll have a unique opportunity to interact with your peers – and doing so is near-essential. This is where representatives with social skills will help to get your brand out there. Opportunity The rate at which prospects can be converted into customers vastly increases with the help of a face-to-face meeting. Some larger companies would not even think of signing a contract unless some form of real-world contact has been established. And if you’re signing international contracts, then some form of travel is always necessary. Human Interaction Face-to-face contact is advantageous for several reasons. It allows us to put a face to what might be a name on an email, and help individuals to endure for longer in the memory. Another plus side is that it will reduce the chance of a miscommunication. Business Travel Spend Through the Years According to Statista, business spending on travel has steadily increased in Britain over the last decade, from just under forty billion in 2010 to just over fifty billion in 2017. It remains to be seen whether the current nosedive in business travel represents a fundamental change, or a temporary blip before business-as-usual is restored. Effects of Brexit While Brexit might seem like a bit of a sideshow now, there’s no doubting that the effects it will have on business will still be consequential in the long-term. They just won’t be anywhere near as seismic as those of Covid-19. Freedom of movement across Europe will be restricted, and thus travellers may need to seek documentation prior to travelling to the mainland. Moreover, delays along the way are possible. For those travelling frequently, these might amount to a nuisance, and a drain on the scarcest of resources: time. But documentation isn’t the only thing that will drain your precious time. Other things like carrying heavy luggage and queuing to store them can also waste this scarce resource called time. While you may have no control over the effects of Brexit on business travel, you can at least ensure that minor things do not waste your time. Regarding luggage issues, for example, you can opt for luggage storage solutions. For example, if you’re in London, you’ll find options like left luggage Waterloo very helpful if you need to leave heavy luggage behind.
It is unlikely that businesses with operations in Hong Kong or sending employees to the region will be unaware of the current unrest. But some employers may be uncertain about the scale of the risks and what guidance to give to employees. Sebastian Liu, Global Threat Analyst for the Asia Pacific region at Healix International, the global provider of travel risk management and international medical, security and travel assistance services, has identified some of the key issues that firms should consider. “Overall, Hong Kong is assessed by Healix International as a LOW security risk country owing to the relatively low levels of crime, conflict, and militant activity. However, over recent weeks, ongoing unrest in the territory has resulted in significant operational and travel disruption, and has eroded confidence in the territory being a safe and reliable global hub for economic activity. Therefore, Healix currently assesses the risk of unrest to be HIGH in Hong Kong. “The likelihood of protests taking place in the short term is determined to be LIKELY and whilst the majority of the initial demonstrations were concentrated around government buildings in the vicinity of the Legislative Council (LegCo) in Central, more recently the protesters have changed their targeting patterns. Protests are increasingly impacting transport infrastructure, including Hong Kong International Airport [HKG], as well as the Mass Transit Rapid (MTR) network. Protests took place at HKG airport from 9th – 13th August, and resulted in the disruption of hundreds of flights on 12th and 13th August. Clearly this presents a very disruptive issue for businesses. “The risk of foreign nationals being caught up in the protests has also increased as the decentralised nature of them is making it more difficult to project the next protest location; ‘hit and run’ tactics are increasingly being used, with demonstrators avoiding prolonged confrontation with the police and moving from location to location on foot or via the metro. “Whilst the unrest is the current focus on Hong Kong, there is also a HIGH risk of natural disasters in the region, predominantly deriving from typhoons. The rainy season tends to run from April until October annually and the highest risk period for typhoons runs from July to September. Strong intensity typhoons can cause damage and localised flooding, and result in a significant impact to business operations. “The risk to foreign nationals from crime is, however, considered LOW. Non-violent and opportunistic crimes, notably petty criminality in the form of pickpocketing and snatch theft, are the most common. And there is a slightly increased incidence of such crime in areas frequented by foreign nationals, including the Central, Admiralty and Wan Chai districts, particularly around nightlife areas. Areas with high pedestrian traffic, such as the large marketplaces throughout the city and the MTR network, present attractive targets as perpetrators are able to utilise crowds to remain undetected. Other pickpocketing hotspots include tourist attractions, like the Peak Tram and Star Ferry.” Healix advice to travellers visiting Hong Kong Travel to Hong Kong can continue but itineraries should be flexible owing to likely operational disruption in the short-to-medium term. Developments regarding the ongoing unrest should be closely monitored via social media, local news outlets, the Telegram encrypted messaging platform, and local internet forums, like the LiHKG website. Routes should be planned to bypass the vicinity of planned protest locations, and flashpoints for unrest. It is important to not stop, watch, film or take photographs of protests owing to the incidental risk of violence. Civilians, journalists and bystanders have all been targeted or indirectly impacted previously. In the event of encountering a potentially hostile demonstration, move from the area and return to a secure accommodation or office location. Black and white clothing have both been associated with protesters and counter-protesters; it’s advisable to refrain from wearing these colours on protest days. Also, limit carrying any items that may give the impression to the authorities of involvement in protests; this includes masks, hard hats and umbrellas. Refrain from political discussion in public and making statements on social media. If travel is essential through protest locations, the MTR is likely to be a better option as opposed to over-ground transport. However, business people should be aware that MTR services have been disrupted previously and delays may be encountered. Airport Express services may also be impacted on days when protests are due to be held at Hong Kong International Airport [HKG]. Remain aware of surroundings, especially when using the public transportation system or in high congestion areas such as tourist attractions. Abide by all official directives issued by the relevant authorities. Take note of typhoon warnings issued by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) and the type of signal issued. Businesses and facilities are expected to close when a Typhoon Signal 8 or above is issued. Utilise the ‘Watch Country’ function on Healix’s Travel Oracle app to receive notifications on alerts for potential security incidents and disruption. For more information about the security and health risks in Hong Kong visit https://healix.com/sharing-knowledge-and-news/hong-kong-travel-advisory/
Bournemouth Tourism has partnered with independent global creative agency Crowd to deliver a new website for Bournemouth Beach Lodges. The site promotes beachside accommodation on the south coast of England, in the style of the traditional British beach huts, but with modern conveniences for the tourists. The visual and verbal identity The project followed the existing brand guidelines and used photography supplied by the client. The brand-new website highlights the benefits of staying in the luxury beach lodge accommodation with attractive images of the interior and the surrounding areas. A dedicated page was created to display the nearby attractions such as Corfe Castle, the New Forest and various water-sport activities. The visuals reflect what awaits visitors on their beach lodge break and position Bournemouth as a great holiday destination. The colour scheme invokes feelings of a coastal sunrise and the typography is reminiscent of the heyday of the British Seaside in the 1930s, but with a contemporary feel. Subtle animations were used on calls to action that represent the sea rushing up the beach to provide a visual reward for those about the click. “Creating an excellent mobile experience was always key to maximising bookings and search engine rankings. With a reliance on large inspirational images, we needed to ensure that the mobile site was fast and easy to use, whilst retaining the focus on photography which was essential to generating excitement in the visitor,” said Graham Dell, Projects Director at Crowd. The website was developed on WordPress as it allows the client to edit the content of the site. Crowd built a bespoke content editor that provides an easy means to edit existing pages and create new landing pages for paid or social marketing. It provides a good balance between inspirational photography and essential information for the tourists.
