Expatriates

With Covid-19 (the catchy new name for the Coronavirus) now spreading out from its original source in China, it’s clear that Coronavirus has started to have some effect within the Relocation industry.

The full effects are unclear at present, without knowing the full spread of the Coronavirus, its impact could range from a small number of assignments being postponed to entire countries being off-limits for a period due to government-imposed travel restrictions.

As of the 26th February 2020, there are 81,109 confirmed cases in 37 Countries according to the WHO, but this is likely a very conservative figure due to the difficulty of securing precise numbers.

Do people relocate at Christmas?

The answer is yes! Although the summer months are typically the most popular time of the year for people to relocate, surprisingly, the Christmas holiday season is also a very popular time of the year to make a move! Many household goods removals companies operate up to and including Christmas Eve to accommodate this. The New Year is always a busy time for people turning over a new leaf and making fresh starts via new jobs - so perhaps this could be something to do with increased demand for the relocation industry over the festive season?

Hospitality issues

Climate change and the environment are global concerns. The hospitality industry has a huge environmental impact with vast amounts of waste generated, energy used, and disposable consumables. Many Corporate Housing and Serviced Apartment providers are aware of their responsibility to the planet, with leading firms expressing that they are willing to do their part in going green.  So what can providers do to decrease the industry’s carbon footprint?

Picture this scenario...

You have identified a knowledge gap in the delivery of a project, and after revisiting your strategy, a candidate in a different region has presented themselves as the perfect fit to fill the space.

Assignment Failure

It is a well-known fact in the global mobility world that the majority of international assignments that fail are due to family issues. This can include your spouse and/or children who are unhappy or struggling to settle into the new country with all the cultural differences and language barriers. Not to mention missing close friends and extended family back at home. There is lots of information available on-line to help trailing spouses, but what about the children?

The USP

Corporate Housing is becoming an increasingly popular choice for temporary accommodation, particularly for the business traveller, with promises of comfortable home from home living at a competitive price.  The USP of Corporate Housing often reflects that some hotels can give off a clinical and transient feeling to exhausted occupants, whereas, corporate housing offers more private and spacious surroundings with greater flexibility during your stay. The main benefits of this are the increased productivity of the business traveller and the subsequent greater return on investment for their employer. 

Categorising Gesture

Gestures! They come in two categories: polite and rude. With global travel and relocation so readily available (and different cultures proudly owning their own gesturing mannerisms) it is well worth travellers and expatriates taking the time to learn what is acceptable in the wild world of gestures!

Moving to a new location is extremely exciting and a fantastic opportunity to learn fresh life skills including how to speak a new language. This may seem a daunting task at first (and many assignees describe feeling nervous regarding language barriers), but do not fear: there are many tools and tricks that will have you chatting with the locals in no time!