The pandemic brought on a big crisis in the travel industry. People were quarantined and unable to leave their countries and, at one point, even their homes. This was devastating for every part of the travel industry. Especially hard hit were smaller companies that were not partnering with a travel management company.
However, that time has passed. Now that the restrictions are almost gone, travel is bouncing back…and fast.
According to USTravel’s report on the situation, in December 2021, travel spending nearly reached the pre-pandemic numbers. Business people all around the world continue to travel abroad, using transportation, accommodation, and other services necessary throughout their journey. Companies are thrilled with the removal of restrictions. They can do business that includes travel once again, but many are still struggling with managing it all.
If you own a business or need to manage the travels of employees, you already know how complicated this can be. It’s not just about booking accommodations and flights. It’s also about renting vehicles, planning the trip itineraries, and making sure that it’s all in the budget and carefully documented. Thankfully, there’s one thing that makes this much easier. A travel management company is basically an agency for business travel needs. In this article, you’ll learn why this is a great choice for you.
5 Reasons Why You Need a Business Travel Management Company
According to TravelPerk’s guide to business travel companies, there are four main reasons why getting professional help instead of using standard online booking tools is a much better option. As one of the most popular travel management businesses, TravelPerk lists the following reasons: experience, organization, expertise, and of course – connections.
That sounds quite realistic. Someone who does this all the time is much more efficient in booking and organizing trips. They know exactly where to look, and have the right connections to get you the best results possible. Not to mention, Travel Perk has the world’s largest inventory for your business trips.
Now let’s take a closer look at the reasons why you need a travel company for your business:
1. Lower Travel Costs
Every now and then, a travel company will help you get a lower price for accommodation, transportation, or the total trip.
This can sound strange since, after all, TMC companies charge some kind of fee for the services they provide. However, since they know where to look and have discounts because of their connections, they can get amazing deals for you, especially if you travel regularly.
You’ll also save a fortune on VAT reimbursement, group bookings, corporate accommodation, events, etc.
2. Experts Working for You
Unless you are booking trips on a daily basis, you aren’t as much of an expert in this as the people in a travel management company.
These people know the travel world inside out. They know all the tricks about spending money, booking hotels, picking the right routes, etc.
The insight and advice you’ll get from experts will be indispensable to you. This can steer your employees away from unnecessary costs and give you access to partnership perks.
3. Non-Stop Support
A good travel management company is always available to its users. In case something happens with the flight, the booking at the hotel or your employees need urgent assistance, someone will be right there to assist them.
If you don’t use a travel expert, you’ll need to deal with this internally, often when you’re too busy and sometimes in the middle of the night.
Imagine getting a phone call from an employee that cannot find their reservation in a hotel, or at a restaurant where you’ve scheduled an important meeting for them. The need becomes self-evident.
4. Deep Knowledge of Travel Policies
People are often entitled to some reimbursement when issues occur, but since they don’t know the policies, they end up spending more instead of getting their money back.
Do you know what your rights are if a flight is delayed for an entire day? Do you know that, when you book through some sites online, hotels have to find you another accommodation if they fail to accommodate you?
This is something that travel agents know very well and can help you tremendously. They’ll tell you about all the travel policies and rules and assist you in enforcing them.
5. Accurate and Fast Reporting
Reporting is one of the best features of travel management companies.
If you use a company to book and organize all travels within your business, you needn’t worry about noting things down, staying within the budget, or gathering the documentation when the time comes. Your travel manager puts everything together in a single place.
The company will provide you with an accurate report about all of the spending and details.
Finally, travel management companies use technology to send you reminders, alerts, and warnings. This gives you great peace of mind…and helps you avoid costly mistakes.
