As you will be aware from the coverage in the national news, the travel industry is currently dealing with unprecedented demands for its services, dealing with flight delays, cancellations and long queues at check in and security. The travel market has reported that they are running on 50% less staff compared with pre pandemic levels, and this is having a knock on effect to end users. Delays, nationally, are expected to be with us until after the summer holidays.
The lack of staff in the travel industry has had an effect on our Travel Management Company Clarity, sometimes resulting in long wait times particularly if you contact them by email or phone (i.e. their offline service). The University is working with Clarity to ensure that they are prioritising travellers who are experiencing flight cancellations and those who are stranded and/or may need to be brought home owing to the cancellations. Safety of travelling staff remains the priority of both the University and Clarity.
What can we do to help?
In addition to booking flights, hotel rooms and rail travel, Clarity’s online Go2Book system is now available to book Eurostar and other European rail online. This booking method is not only cheaper but quicker too, as you won’t have to wait for a member of the Clarity team to confirm your travel bookings.
Therefore, we are encouraging staff to book their travel using the Clarity online system Go2Book, to avoid waiting times, wherever possible.
Rail companies that can now also be booked direct using Go2Book are:
- Renfe – Spain
- Eurostar
- SBB – Switzerland
- SNCF – France
- SNCB – Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria, Czech
- Thalys – France and Belgium
- NS – Netherlands
- DB – Germany
- NTV – Italy
Clarity can still assist with offline bookings, but ask for your understanding whilst they prioritise the most urgent bookings and request that you book as far ahead in advance as you can.
Training
Training on Teams is available for anyone who would like to use the Go2Book system. The next training is available on the 22 and 27 June, please use this link to register Go2Book Training sessions 2022 (office.com)
Travel sustainably
Go2Book now provides the facility to see how much CO2 is generated using your chosen travel method and helps you choose the most sustainable option. This will help and support the University’s Sustainability Strategic Plan.
