Christophe Peymirat, Uber
Christophe Peymirat is head of Uber for Business, EMEA. Previously, he worked at Expedia Group-owned Egencia, where he climbed the ranks to chief commercial officer.
In a series of interviews with executives participating in the online event in September, PhocusWire finds out what they have learned from the COVID-19 crisis.
Knowing what you know now if you could go back to the start of the coronavirus crisis, what would you do differently?
I would have ensured my home office was set up earlier with the right type of chair and screens!
What have you learned from this time about the way you’ll manage and communicate with your team moving forward?
In times of crisis, my motto is “communicate, communicate, communicate.” You need to be very clear on your rhythm of communication and ensure you also respect team personal time and restraints. Settings are different and in these situations; it's important to be flexible.
What do you miss the most about travel? What have been the surprise benefits of not traveling?
Where there is life there is travel; the conversations you have with people are more meaningful, the engagements are different than those you have in a virtual environment.
In terms of surprise benefits, the saving of time on commute has been a benefit. When we think about travel, the nice parts do not come from the actual travel itself - it's the people you meet and the experiences you have.
What lasting changes will there be to you personally from this time?
Personally: I can say my home office is now very well equipped!
What’s been your one guilty pleasure during lockdown?
It’s been really nice to spend more time with my family during lunchtime - and my kids and I have become quite competitive over lunchtime PlayStation competitions!
Executive Roundtable: Beyond Travel - What Comes Next?
Is the travel industry prepared to transport the next decade of global travelers? Find out how travel companies are responding to new demands during the crisis and beyond.