Despite Thursday’s foiled terrorist attack, local businesses say they will keep on traveling, both domestically and internationally, trusting the airport security system to keep them safe.
“We have to work and get things done,” said Paul de la Plante, spokesman for Molson Coors Brewing Co., which has breweries in the United States, Canada and England. “People are still going to travel.”
The United Kingdom, where planes were targeted by would-be terrorists, is home to the parent companies of several major Denver-area firms, such as rubber-parts manufacturer Gates Corp. and minerals company Rio Tinto Group.
The U.K. is Colorado’s ninth-largest export market, with $17.6 million worth of goods sent there so far this year.
“None of this changes the opportunities to do business in other parts of the world,” said Jim Reis, president of Denver’s World Trade Center. “There will be people hesitant to get on a plane until this gets straightened out, but we have and will continue to have a lot of commerce in the United Kingdom.”
Even so, business travelers may bear the brunt of the latest security measures. Because their trips are shorter and require more speed, they usually carry their luggage – including items such as shampoo and toothpaste – through security.
“Now, with the (ban) on toothpaste and shampoo, you are going to have to check your bag,” said Tom Miller, a sales manager from Santa Cruz, Calif., as he passed through Denver International Airport on Thursday.
Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition, said he expects the thwarted terrorist attack will lead to major long-term changes to airport screening and security – which will likely have negative ramifications for business travelers.
Possible changes could require travelers to check their laptops, cellphones and overnight bags on all commercial flights, he said.
“A watershed event just occurred in the U.K. that is going to have a lot of implications,” he said. “If you’re a business traveler, you’re not going to check your laptop with sensitive corporate and client data for it to be stolen, lost or damaged.”
Just such technology helped keep many travelers up to date Thursday.
“We’ve been sending out e-mails all day as things change, trying to keep everyone informed,” said Bonni Simon, president of Pennsylvania- based GTI Carlson Wagonlit Travel, which works with more than 300 U.S. companies. “Technology is definitely changing things. People are waiting to hear from us; they expect it now.”
Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, many U.S. companies installed centralized travel-management and employee-tracking systems, said Mitchell.
“As soon as we heard the news this morning, the first thing we did was check who we had traveling overseas and let their companies know what was going on,” said Simon.
The latest upheaval comes as business travel was improving locally. A total of 2.5 million businesspeople traveled to Denver in 2005, up 25 percent over 2004, and finally rebounding to pre-9/11 levels, according to the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Business travelers are a lucrative segment of the market because they are typically the biggest spenders. In Denver last year, business travelers spent $820 million, an average of $97 per person per day.
On Thursday, the convention bureau downplayed worries that terrorism and security concerns would lead to a decline in business travel to the metro area.
“I can’t imagine it will have any long-term impact,” spokesman Rich Grant said.
Denver Post staff writer Ameera Butt contributed to this report.
Staff writer Julie Dunn can be reached at 303-820-1592 or jdunn@denverpost.com.
Staff writer Steve Raabe can be reached at 303-820-1948 or sraabe@denverpost.com.
