What travel agents need to know about corporate travel today

This is a traveler-centric era and the evolution of a new era of personalized travel. It is leading to the research and development of a new host of so-called intelligent services. The command and control view of travel has changed a lot from the past, and the focus has shifted more towards travel and the productivity of each trip. It has become essential to keep travelers getting the greatest return on their investment from each trip.
A new generation of young employees and managers who have grown up living in the digital age are joining the ranks of travelers. It has become essential for employees going on corporate travel to recognize the need for greater flexibility, acknowledging that they also consider a percentage of their travel to be leisure time. Corporate travel is a lucrative tourism sector as globalization progresses and more companies are sending their employees abroad to network with offshore prospects/customers/suppliers. Before we talk about how tourism companies can better serve business travelers, let’s first look at why professional corporate agents are preferred over traditional agents.

Why do companies use corporate travel agencies?

The most basic question from a travel agency’s point of view is why you should use a corporate travel agency when there are many regular travel agencies. Here comes the importance of a corporate travel agency with an online system that allows business travelers to access their entire itinerary.

The following information is at your CTA’s fingertips:

Full business itinerary details
Up-to-date tracking details of your flight (including any delays or schedule changes)
Transparent details of additional costs such as baggage fees or cabin fees
Travel alerts in the destination area (if any)
Complete and up-to-date information on required visa procurement policies and identification
Currency requirements and exchange rates
What do corporate customers expect from corporate travel agencies?

negotiated freight

Corporate agencies tend to partner with hotels, car rentals, flights, and more, giving you access to affordable rates only available to frequent business travelers. Discounted prices aren’t the only advantage, as we also offer flight upgrades, room upgrades and VIP check-in lines as needed.

In-depth information on the travel industry

Corporate travel agencies have more travel resources and most importantly faster access than other leisure travel agencies. Additional information will help make your business trip convenient and comfortable.

change itinerary

If you need to reschedule or cancel your ticket, chances are high fees will be charged by the airline or online service provider. Most time itinerary changes can be made at no or minimal extra cost when booking through a corporate travel agent.

Actionable emergency contact

As a business traveler, it’s important to contact the right person when a problem arises. Corporate travel agencies have the experience and expertise to relieve stress for both travelers and companies.

What to consider as business travel increases?

The Business Travel Barometer reported that corporate travel is witnessing accelerated growth. However, if not managed properly, it can no longer be an advantage to a business, but rather a burden. There are several factors that businesses and CTAs should consider to make the most of travel time.