MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL
There is pressure on every business, no matter on location or industry, to take actionable steps towards becoming more sustainable. And from Business Enquirer’s conversations with leading firms across the globe, it seems those decisions are making a positive impact on public perception and business bottom line.
Continued pressure from governments across the world has seen a shift in electric vehicle uptake (with a vast majority of fully electric vehicle
registrations attributed fleet), but what can businesses do when it is not efficient or possible to travel by car?
Never underestimate Eurostar for corporate travel
Since the merger of Eurostar International Limited and Thalys, the combined Eurostar Business Team manages a portfolio of around 200 corporate clients, 15 TMC and around 3,000 Eurostar for Business/corporate fares (TCF 1) accounts across the UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany.
The Eurostar for Business and corporate offering is designed to provide a seamless, productive, and cost-effective travel experience for companies and their employees travelling between the UK and continental Europe.
The service has been developed to consider the needs of both businesses and their employees.
“Whilst companies are seeking simplicity, flat rates, and easy booking via online booking tools, the travellers themselves are looking for perks and services to enhance their travel experience. We have developed an offering which satisfies both of these needs,” shared Eurostar’s Chief Commercial Officer, François Le Doze.
François highlights five key features of the Eurostar for Business and corporate services, which includes: Business Premier Class; the Eurostar Frequent Traveller programme; tailored corporate solutions; a corporate account; and its sustainability focus.
Enriching every business travellers experience, and rivalling the service offered in business air travel, Eurostar’s Business Premier Class features dedicated business class seating with more space, power sockets, and complimentary food and drink from Eurostar’s Michelin starred chef, Raymond Blanc OBE.
In addition, Business Premier Class travellers receive access to Eurostar's Business Lounges at stations, as well as the flexibility to change or refund tickets
Those who register for Eurostar’s Frequent Traveller Programme can earn points and rewards for business travel and tiered benefits such as station lounge access and ticket changes.
From a corporate perspective, Eurostar has implemented several measures to improve efficiency and ease of use, including centralised booking and billing for business, customised reporting and analytics, and dedicated account management support.
In addition, Eurostar’s tailored corporate solutions, which include dedicated account managers and travel consultants, supports businesses in making the right booking choice by offering bespoke travel policies and booking tools for large enterprises, discounted fares and flexible ticketing.
Finally, it is crucial for Eurostar’s growth to drive home its sustainability initiatives, which includes the promotion of Eurostar's environmentally-friendly, highspeed rail service, as well as its carbon reporting and offsetting options for corporate customers.
EUROSTAR TRAVEL
Promoting Sustainability in Transport
Eurostar has set ambitious sustainability goals, such as achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 and transitioning to a fully sustainable supply chain.
“Eurostar's environmental impact and sustainability efforts make it a significantly eco-friendlier choice of business travel compared to short-haul flights,” explained François.
“By choosing Eurostar over short-haul flights, businesses can significantly reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to more sustainable transportation. Eurostar's environmental focus aligns with many companies' sustainability commitments, making it an attractive and responsible choice for business travel,” he continued.
For example, implementation of Eurostar's advanced, high-speed, electric trains are energy efficient, using around 10-times less energy per passenger per kilometre than aircraft.
In addition, they have shown to significantly lower carbon emissions per passenger than short-haul flights. In fact, studies have proven Eurostar's emissions are more than 90% lower than flying the same routes. For example, whilst a flight from London to Paris emits 66kg of CO2 per passenger per journey, travelling by Eurostar reduces this by 96% to just 2.4kg per passenger per journey.
“We’re deeply committed to Europe’s green energy transition. All our trains are using an increasing share of renewable energy, and we are committed to reaching 100% of our fleet being powered by renewable energy,” said François. Eurostar achieved that 100% In the Netherlands in 2017, and as of 2023 the figure is 40% in the UK.
Meanwhile, onboard its trains, Eurostar has implemented various initiatives to minimise waste, including reducing single-use plastics, recycling on board, and donating surplus food to local charities. As well as this, it is trialling a new piece of onboard eco-driving technology that could enable its drivers to reduce energy usage by at least 5% on every journey.
Three Reasons Why Business Travellers Love Eurostar
In addition to the clear benefits to businesses choosing corporate travel with Eurostar, there are some key reasons why business travellers love travelling by Eurostar.
The combination of a high-speed, centrally-located service, business class comforts, and productivity-enabling features make Eurostar an appealing option for business travellers between the UK and Paris.
Comfort Meets Productivity
“Eurostar offers several features and services to ensure a productive and comfortable journey for its business passengers,” shared François.
This includes Eurostar’s Business Premier Class which provides spacious seating, power sockets, and a meal service with complimentary drinks, allowing business travellers to work or relax during their journey.
For those looking to work (or catch up on the latest streaming series) Eurostar's trains are equipped with free Wi-Fi, allowing business passengers to stay connected and productive. There are also tables and ample leg-room to set up a mobile office on the go.
Additionally, whilst travellers only need to check in 45 minutes before departure (unlike two or more hours with air travel), those looking to relax prior to boarding have access to dedicated lounges at departure stations, where they can work, enjoy refreshments, and prepare for their journey in a comfortable environment.
“By providing tailored services and amenities, Eurostar ensures that its business passengers can maximise their productivity and comfort during their journeys, allowing them to focus on their professional priorities,” explained François.
Time Saving
Eurostar offers several time-saving benefits compared to flying, especially for business travellers.
“Eurostar's city centre to city centre connections eliminates the need for lengthy airport transfers, saving valuable time,” shared François.
This, coupled with a reduced checkin time, helps travellers to decrease a journeys length by 4 hours each way, positively impacting valuable business time.
“Eurostar's streamlined boarding process and direct routes result in an overall shorter travel time compared to flying, which is crucial for busy schedules,” François added.
With its direct, high-speed services, Eurostar provides efficient and reliable connections between major business hubs, improving connectivity on routes such as Paris to Strasbourg and Brussels to Cologne.
Baggage Benefits
Eurostar offers several logistical benefits for business travellers compared to air travel, particularly when it comes to security and baggage handling.
For example, Eurostar's security process is generally faster and more efficient than airport security. Passengers only need to pass through a single security checkpoint, without the need for removing liquids, laptops, or shoes. This streamlined security experience saves valuable time for business travellers.
In addition, business travellers can avoid the hassle and uncertainty of checked baggage. They are able to bring their luggage on board, eliminating the risk of lost or delayed bags.
“This provides greater peace of mind and allows them to have their belongings readily available throughout the journey,” said François.
Unsurprisingly, Eurostar for Business’ portfolio has grown rapidly over the last 12 months, with continued developments bolstering uptak.
The business’ New Corporate framework will launch on the 10th of September 2024 for travel after the 4th November 2024. This will allow businesses access to a simplified discount structure and functional benefits.
Corporates can access the Eurostar inventory through multiple channels from GDS Air, Offline Voyager tool, GDS Rail through the Railway partners, and they will also be able to register on EurostarforBusiness to allow access to corporate discounts on eurostar.com if applicable.
www.eurostar.com
