Corporate travel can be complex and there are many reasons why using a travel management company (TMC) can bring multiple benefits to a corporate travel programme. These include cost-savings, flexibility with bookings, better traveller experiences and enhanced travel policy compliance.
That’s just the start. Here are eight reasons why you should use a TMC.
1. Finds the best value for your travel budgets
Do you still hear ‘we can find it cheaper on other sites’ from your business travellers? While direct booking platforms may appear cheaper, businesses still face transaction fees that are often hidden and hard to track, plus are difficult to change without charge.
This not only impacts budgets but also reduces productivity, particularly when employees spend time managing their travel. Thanks to a TMC’s expertise and technology, processes are streamlined, ultimately offering better value and cost control. Businesses can also tap into exclusive hotel and airline discounts thanks to TMCs’ supplier partnerships. With rate-checking tools locking in the lowest fares and NDC content delivering more options and savings, companies get more value from every trip.
2. Provides expert consultants and smart tech
Partnering with a TMC provides your business with access to expert consultants and an advanced platform designed to deliver cost-efficiency and streamline travel management.
Expert travel consultants deliver proactive, premium support for smoother, stress-free journeys. Corporate travel programmes can then be tailored to your business’ needs, driving smarter solutions and greater efficiency.
3. Enhances traveller duty of care
Traveller safety is a priority, particularly in today’s evolving geopolitical landscape. TMCs provide expertise and technology to keep travellers safe. Combining advanced technology – including 24/7 traveller tracking and incident management units – with personalised service, a TMC strengthens duty of care. This ensures travellers feel confident, disruptions are minimised where possible, plus it supports long-term business resilience.
4. Helps boost compliance to travel policy
A clear, well-structured travel policy does more than manage budgets and track cost-savings, it also supports sustainability goals and helps keep travellers safe on their business trips.
When employees understand what’s in the policy, they’re more likely to make smart, compliant travel choices. A TMC can help fine-tune your travel policy, offering practical tips to boost compliance and reduce programme leakage.
5. Guides on sustainable travel to help businesses meet their own targets
As organisations push toward Net Zero, many are turning to their TMCs for guidance. Not only to help with reducing their carbon footprint, but to partner with those who share their sustainability values. With regulations constantly evolving – with legislation and reporting already changing this year – staying compliant is essential. A TMC can give you access to real-time CO2 emissions data across air, rail, car hire and hotels, empowering businesses to make smarter, more sustainable travel decisions.
6. Understands the specific travel needs of your business’ sector
By tailoring services to the unique travel demands of your company’s sector, whether it’s legal, media or Energy & Marine, a TMC can provide access to specialised fares. These sector-specific options often offer greater flexibility for itinerary changes and rescheduled flights compared to standard airfares.
7. Adds strategic value to a travel programme
A TMC can offer a centralised global travel platform from which anyone managing a travel programme can book, manage and review trips with ease. Online and mobile tools, complete with built-in policy and approval automation, simplify the process further still. By providing advanced reporting, businesses can access real-time insights, helping with tracking spend, boosting cost efficiency, resulting in optimised travel programmes.
Furthermore, a TMC can provide expertise in managing meetings and events. Combined spending on corporate travel and meetings and events can deliver benefits from having spend visibility in one report to better negotiated rates with suppliers.
8. Offers expert knowledge on industry trends and regulations
Whether its insights into what corporate travel air fares will look like this year, regular updates on visa and travel regulations or updating your business on travel disruption, a TMC keeps your travel programme aligned with fast-changing global events and industry trends.
Get in touch
Mail hello@reedmackay.com to discuss all of your corporate travel and event management needs.
