Corporate Travel - Is It Time to Centralize Your Program Again?

Corporate travel has undergone a lot of changes recently, the most crucial being the arrival of quick access to airfare online. As increasing numbers of travelers found value in better control of their schedules using the internet, many organizations loosened their travel policies to permit for travelers to book by themselves online. This perceived advantage to travelers has actually cost businesses a great deal when it comes to lost productivity, insufficient control of unused tickets, and insufficient use of airline programs that will save the business significantly in every regions of travel.

Could we agree that online travel booking, while advantageous in certain ways, is not all we had hoped it might be from your outset? I hear stories from travelers each day about how exactly difficult online booking could be, and just how even while using the internet, travelers simply should not be sure they may be obtaining the best fare. This uncertainty gnaws at travelers and coordinators, and even for good reason. It is not easy to become certain of what you really are getting online since there is no history of success, with no degree of trust involving the organization as well as the travel provider.

Collaboration in between your organization as well as your chosen travel management provider is crucial. This collaboration will reap benefits for the company when it comes to a much better working relationship as well as an anticipation of the current and future needs because they relate with the constantly changing corporate travel environment.

Centralized travel needs to create a comeback in the interest of the company travel program, as well as the sanity of travelers and travel coordinators. Because all distribution channels get access to exactly the same fares and rates, you will find fewer reasons right now to continue a decentralized travel policy. Executive level buy-in is crucial, and you can easily allow travelers to help keep the degree of control they enjoy while still requiring travel booking with the preferred corporate channel. Most physical agencies now offer online booking solutions which can be customized to meet the requirements from the unique corporate travel policy.

The advantages of centralizing travel again are numerous. Listed here is a comprehensive, but definitely not an exhaustive, listing of good reasons to regain control over this important but under-scrutinized budget. It can certainly possess a positive effect on your business and its capability to serve your clients and improve traveler morale.

    Use of airline and hotel discount programs through agency and provider contracts

    Centralized booking allows travelers to become more organized and efficient

    Unused tickets could be tracked and hotel cancellation policies could be managed

    Centralized billing of hotels and car rentals

    More effective booking processes

    Effective customer support for your inevitable changes and problems that develop business travel

    Customized and centralized financial and accounting reports

Many corporations discover that the very best option is a mix of booking options, with many utilizing an online booking portal supplied by their agency partner, together with real live agent help when travelers are pressed for time or get more complex travel itineraries. The true secret for me would be to re-examine the travel program from every angle. There are many airline programs that are offered to businesses than in the past. New opportunities to spend less and streamline processes are available for you personally. United Airlines recently began offering a price reduction from every fare for corporate partners. Which includes cheapest coach class seats, which even many Fortune 500 companies do not possess use of. This is simply an example of under-publicized opportunities for the company which can be had with the old-fashioned agency relationship.