Michelle Roger: Save your money and cut out those flights of fancy

THE demise of XL Airways, Segura et al is, apparently, merely the precursor to the collapse of an estimated 30 airlines over the coming months, victims of the growing global economic downturn.

I felt so sorry for the thousands of airline passengers stranded at airports across the world, but at least they had a holiday. My heart truly went out to those who have waited and saved up for months, years in some cases, for family holidays, romantic beachfront weddings, even trips to fulfil a dying wish; all lost as a result of corporate failure, their hopes and dreams crushed overnight.

But did you spare a moment's thought for the poor business-class traveller caught up in the turmoil? No, I didn't either. Until now their main concern has been a choice of Châteauneuf-du-Pape or Veuve Clicquot, rather than red or sparkling, but times are changing.

High oil prices have affected the cost of business travel, and organisations are under constant pressure from shareholders or the public to reduce expenditure.

Heightened security at airports can cause delays and cancellations, resulting in more lost productive time and even more fatigue than usual for the business traveller. Indeed, there is increasing publicity about the effects of air travel on global warming. According to the European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO), cutting 20.4% of business travel in EU-25 countries and replacing it with videoconferencing or other non-travel solutions could save 22.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The corporate travel market is clearly beginning to feel the fallout.

So I giggled a little, well, quite a lot actually, when I caught sight of a press release from PC peripherals company Logitech, offering some savvy advice for the beleaguered business traveller.

Now, for those of you used to turning left when you enter a plane, the following should make some sense. You are all aware, I'm sure, that for business travel it's important to be able to pack lightly, stylishly and efficiently. A streamlined travel bag will, apparently, speak volumes about your professionalism.

Oh, and it will also help ensure you are well prepared for any eventuality (clearly parachute, tent and a cardboard box for your desk belongings aren't considered necessary – yet). Essentials advised for a "successful business trip" for businesswomen included a Filofax, designer pen (eg Mont Blanc Meisterstuck) a notebook computer plus Logitech peripherals, high heels (eg Prada) and a designer belt. I noted there was no mention of clothing, not even underwear.

For the businessman, shoes (Kurt Geiger) and a shirt (Savile Row Co) should be packed alongside a razor, notebook computer and peripherals as before, but no boxers or trousers are mentioned. I loved the tips on taking what you need to ensure a "successful and productive business trip", which failed to mention anything remotely business-focused, but instead offered advice on the best type of luggage, packing essentials (push tissue paper into the toes of your shoes to help keep their shape!) and a suggestion to downsize your toiletries (ladies, please remember this advice has been written by a man and men clearly don't understand your need to pack every toiletry in your bathroom cabinet, so feel free to ignore this particular tip).

The tongue-in-cheek advice (at least, I think it was tongue-in-cheek) was all designer labels and must-have techie devices. It was light-hearted relief from the heavy economic news of the week.

But if, like me, you have a keen eye on your business costs and are more acquainted with veering right and battling to find space in the overhead locker for your luggage before strapping yourself into a tiny space beside one of the great unwashed then my advice is simple: don't do it. In my experience, most meetings are held to discuss problems that would never arise if we held fewer meetings.

It all boils down to a very simple equation. Time + travel opportunity > > or < £££s in the kitty. Is the business opportunity worth the money spent on travel and time away from your business? If so, splash the cash and go for it.

But if the sums don't quite add up, there are alternatives. The meeting's business objectives could be easily achieved by a simple telephone call or via video conferencing or telepresence instead.

The fate of business travel, like that of some of our smaller airlines, is clearly hanging by a skyhook. While the corporate travel market is experiencing a squeeze, the video conferencing market is in its infancy. The UK market for equipment and services is expected to grow from £202m in 2006 to £294m in 2011; the global market reached $1.63bn last year and is forecast to more than double to $4.2bn by 2012.

But while video-conferencing will obviously reduce travel costs and save days and hours away from your desk it will cost thousands of pounds to install, which is not always an option for the majority of SMEs.

Ultimately, we all know the real process of making decisions, gathering support, developing opinions, happens either before the meeting or after. A meeting moves at the speed of the slowest mind in the room, and remembering the time + cost equation used earlier, I would ask one more question: do you actually need to have the meeting in the first place?