What is a travel management company?
The global business travel industry spending is expected to hit $1.8 trillion by 2027 As this is an impressive growth from just $1.07 trillion in 2022, many businesses are now looking for a travel management company (TMC) to streamline their corporate travel planning and execution.A travel management company is essentially a travel agent or travel agency for corporate travel needs. As technology evolves, we're beginning to see more personalised TMC solutions providing so much more than the ability to only book travel. Business travel programmes need TMCs that are more tech-savvy than ever before.Before delving into the eight reasons why organisations use TMCs, let’s first look at how TMCs work.How do travel management companies work?
Today, the best travel management companies feature online booking tools that help business travellers make their arrangements and handle a range of travel tasks. From expense reporting to risk management, these online corporate management travel solutions can provide extra visibility and gift organisations a wealth of data that can revolutionise a company's corporate travel program.Is a travel management company the same thing as a travel management agency?
They’re basically as similar as queueing up at an airport check-in desk versus completing your check-in online. Both get you on the flight, but the experience you get from each is worlds apart.A travel management agency has a more traditional approach to travel management services. Travel agents and operators, often in their brick-and-mortar offices, assist you by booking your flights and accommodation, creating travel itineraries, and even helping you report travel expenses to your finance team.To work with a travel management agency, you’ll need to book your trip either by email or by calling. You can end up paying additional costs like out-of-hours support on top of the service fees and commissions you’re already charged for.A travel management company (TMC) is usually a tech-first company that provides online solutions catering to modern business management. Think of a TMC as the online check-in option from our analogy. They provide you with the tools you need to cut out the corporate middleman, and give you the freedom to manage your own travel programme on your terms.8 Reasons why organisations use a corporate travel management company
Corporate travel is complicated. From processing travel bookings to expense management, there are many aspects of the travel experience a TMC can simplify. Using the latest business travel services can eliminate many of those common issues encountered by corporate travellers. Plus, by harnessing the latest technology, organisations of all sizes can save both time and money. Let’s explore eight reasons why organisations are using a TMC today.1. They increase efficiency
A modern travel management solution can streamline the booking process for your corporate travellers through automation. Rather than sifting through multiple providers or speaking to various travel management agents, the best TMCs offer powerful online booking tools that collate accommodation, flights, and ground transportation like rail fares and car rental into one easy-to-use dashboard.On top of simplifying the booking process, TMCs can help teams break free of endless spreadsheets. Travel management solutions can assist with reporting, combining invoices, and risk management thanks to thoughtful integrations.2. They provide 24/7 assistance
On top of being time-consuming, booking through some providers can cause additional headaches down the road. Coordinating changes can become a nightmare when you need to reach various customer service teams.Opting for a TMC gives travel managers and travellers one port of call. The most sophisticated systems will also provide travellers and travel managers with multiple channels to get in touch round the clock. Rather than relying on robots, an advanced travel management company will have human agents on hand to solve issues in record time.After all, you don't want to be trapped on hold in times of emergency. Both business travellers, and their managers, need the assurance they can find solutions fast. TravelPerk users can reach our human customer support team with a target 15 second response, 24/7, 365 days a year.It goes without saying, corporate travellers need to be able to access systems and solutions on the fly. Comprehensive travel solutions will offer desktop and mobile apps across the full gamut of operating systems to ensure your employees are never without access to their travel itineraries.3. They offer concierge services to organise the important extras
For any business trip, there will likely be those added travel requirements that typically require travellers to search through several sites and rack up a dizzying number of confirmation emails. With a TMC, extras like airport lounges, car parking, or seat preferences can all be handled through concierge services.This added perk can often provide organisations access to privileged facilities, preferable rates, or reservations they might otherwise be unable to secure.4. They deliver excellent duty of care solutions
Besides specific concierge services, some TMCs like TravelPerk, also offer you a MICE specialist—and we don’t mean someone to look after your pets! MICE stands for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions. It’s a niche but growing sector in corporate travel.With a MICE specialist, you can get the assistance you need to plan incredible, memorable, and productive events. Thinking of doing a tropical off-site, special product launch, or celebrating your company’s anniversary? The personalised and end-to-end solution you’ll get from your MICE specialist is exactly what you need to ensure the smooth operation of your events.With a MICE professional on your side, you can fully relax and enjoy these business events knowing all the little details are being taken care of.5. They deliver excellent duty of care solutions
If recent years have taught us anything, it's that we might need to alter our travel arrangements in an instant. Businesses today are constantly looking to enhance their practices regarding traveller safety.TMCs can help busy travel managers analyse potential travel risks and keep track of their business travellers. Comprehensive management services come with handy real-time notifications for security concerns and updates to travel regulations to ensure everyone is always up to speed.With these systems, risk management has never been more streamlined, gifting teams peace of mind when they travel for work.6. They help businesses reduce travel costs
While there are costs involved with using a travel management service, their benefits can cut down overall travel expenses. A TMC can ensure you always collect points on your loyalty programme memberships, and they can provide access to negotiated rates, saving money on flights, hotel reservations, and transportation.A travel management tool can also provide concierge services to assist with event planning, group travel, and securing perks for executive travellers using contacts and rates that would take years to establish as an individual organisation.On top of offering the best rates, an advanced TMC can offer other cost-saving solutions like VAT recovery, which can help companies save up to an additional 25% on their annual travel spend.7. They offer greater visibility through real-time travel reports
We all know that knowledge is power. But when reports are relegated to spreadsheets, it can be challenging to glean meaningful insights. A TMC can help teams make data-driven decisions thanks to real-time report generation.Whether it's analysing travel trends or managing budgets, sophisticated systems enable travel and finance managers to search by various factors, including destination, department, and even individual travellers. By providing greater visibility, TMCs help organisations reduce their travel spend and track their current itineraries at the click of a button.8. They can integrate corporate travel policies for greater compliance
The final perk to using a TMC is the ability to optimise your corporate travel policies. Rather than languishing in email inboxes or shared drives, users can integrate company travel policies into a travel management solution.Business travellers' search results are automatically compliant, and any itineraries that require further attention are flagged for manual approval.What's the difference between traditional TMCs and TravelPerk?
Utilising travel management software can remove the stress from many aspects of modern business travel. A comprehensive travel management system can harness the efficiency of an online booking tool (OBT) and help streamline other tasks like expensing and keeping travellers safe on the road.With TravelPerk, we aim to provide end-to-end support for our corporate travellers. On top of our online booking solution, our users can avail themselves of automated reporting for expenditure and traveller tracking, a VAT recovery system, and concierge services to help organise events and make group travel plans.Our additional features include FlexiPerk, where travellers can benefit from the industry's most flexible rates with a guaranteed refund of 80% on cancellations up to two hours before departure. Plus, with GreenPerk, organisations can take steps towards sustainability with AI that flags more eco-friendly options for your team's business travel.But the tools don't stop there. We partner with a range of HR, finance, and other innovative applications to make corporate travel less challenging. From timesheet tracking to tackling the effects of jet lag, you can find our full range of thoughtful integrations here.Tired of handling all your corporate travel in-house? If you would like to see how TravelPerk could revolutionise business travel management for your company, please reach out and speak to our team today.
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