If you are looking for a new travel management company, it can be difficult to know where to start. With so many possibilities, it often seems hard to distinguish between the different options.
Partnering with a TMC that understands your business and all its requirements is paramount. The right company can help to streamline your corporate travel experience and alleviate the financial and administrative burden on your business.
In this blog, we explore the five most important things to consider when picking a travel management company.
1. How much could you save?
For most businesses, the single biggest consideration is cost. Working with a travel management company comes at a price, however, in return, it offers unparalleled access to the travel industry. TMCs work closely with airlines, travel providers and industry contacts to secure tickets and travel deals at rates regular businesses cannot match. Picking a TMC that has the right resources is essential – you do not want to find that you are able to find fares cheaper by yourself online.
Business First Partnership works in collaboration with Internova Group to secure the best fares possible for our clients. We combine the buying power of a world-leading travel agency with first class customer service to offer our clients a market-leading business travel experience. Our team works hard to deliver every possible cost saving meaning our clients save an average of 38% per year.
2. Can solutions be tailored to the needs of your business?
The ability to personalise your itinerary and travel the way you want is essential. One size does not fit all when it comes to corporate travel so you should never find yourself compromising your needs to fit a standard approach. Picking a travel management company that prioritises your specific needs and finds solutions that work for you is key.
At Business First Partnership, we know that each business is unique and has its own specific set of travel requirements. This is why every client is given a dedicated account team that gets to know a client’s needs inside and out and goes the extra mile to meet every request. Thanks to our high staff retention rates, our account managers build long term relationships with our clients, so they never have to explain their travel management policy twice.
3. What kind of tech is on offer?
How easy is it for you to access your travel documents or itinerary? Can you manage your company’s travel expenditure in one place? Are you always up to date with travel alerts? Can you assess and manage the carbon impact of your travel? A good travel management company should be able to meet all of these criteria and more.
Utilising innovative, modern technology is key to streamlining your business travel experience so working with a TMC that prioritises this is a smart move.
Our technology is all designed and managed in- house with the end user in mind. It aligns our core services with unique traveller profiles to deliver a service tailored to the needs of our clients. Our 360 technology includes a comprehensive sustainability platform 360 Green, providing detailed impact reports on your corporate travel programme as well as user-friendly emissions tracking and budgeting. The integrated carbon offsetting widget enables you to select fully-vetted offsetting initiatives that align with your company’s values. CityAnalyser ranks hotels by environmental performance, so you can incorporate environmentally-conscious decision-making at every stage of the travel management process.
4. What in-house expertise do they have?
To get the most out of your TMC you want to be able to rely on their depth of knowledge and expert advice.Picking a TMC that has experience managing all kinds of travel, both domestically and internationally will help you make informed choices to give you peace of mind about your trip.
Our account managers all have more than 10 years of experience in the travel industry and a wealth of first-hand knowledge so they are well placed to recommend everything from the best hotels to where to sit on the aeroplane. Their expertise means that in the event of a change of plans, cancellation or travel disruption, we can get your plans back on track quickly and efficiently.
5. How responsive is your TMC?
The ability to get in touch with your TMC around the clock is imperative. Whether your meeting ran over and you missed your flight, local traffic delays or poor weather derail your plans, your TMC should be accessible at all times to make alternative arrangements for you.
At Business First Partnership we pride ourselves on our Service Level Agreement which guarantees an email response within an hour and calls answered within 30 seconds. Our 24 Hour Team is available when you need them and has unlimited access to your live reservations and is fully compliant with your travel policy.
