Choosing the right corporate travel agency or travel management firm for your business can be daunting, especially in a scenario when it is your first time that you are opting for one. There are so many corporate travel management firms, so how do you separate the good from the best? Checking out who the corporate travel agent is and what kind of business travel support is available are part of the process of choosing. Read on to find out more about how to pick the perfect agency/TMC for your needs.
- The first aspect is to check the services on offer, their charges and whether it is within your budget. You would need to find out if they cover the entire gamut, from booking fares, arranging transfers, providing alerts and notifications, handling crises if any, last-minute changes and also expenses management. Find out if they also offer enough support via an app or an online platform and give you insights and analytics about your firm’s travel plans.
- You would also need to find out if they have the right infrastructure for providing the promised services. How big and efficient is the corporate travel management firm’s business travel support? How fast is their response time? Does the firm offer you 24×7 support? Do they have the ability to offer and constantly improve the software solutions and tools required for you to book your travel on your own if you so want to? These are all questions that need to be asked. The answers to these questions will give you an inkling into how efficient the agency or company is, and whether they can handle your needs.
- It is very important that you find out about security of data and the measures the company has put in place to ensure that your data is not compromised.
- Find out if the company has good testimonials; ask for references if you would like to check with other clients. It helps to know if the company is experienced and not a greenhorn. This is not to say that new firms aren’t good because there are other parameters to help you decide if a company is good enough even if it is new on the scene.
- If you are a big firm, you would need to have a corporate travel agent located in your own premises because you would have a lot of frequent fliers. Essentially, you would need someone for account management.
- What extra services does the company offer? Are there any deals or packages you can avail of? Negotiate with the firm for some extras or loyalty programs that will bring value for money.
Also, find out if the TMC and your company share the same work ethos and values. It becomes a huge plus if you share the same corporate culture, and the TMC understands your needs.
Once you have checked all these aspects, shortlist a couple of TMCs or corporate travel firms and see which one is the best on all fronts before you hire them.
POLL: Have you ever hired a corporate travel agency or travel management company for your business travel needs? If so, how has your experience been and would you recommend it to others?
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