Business Travel Agencies Fees: Are You Getting What You Pay For?
When customers choose between business travel agencies, fees are a significant consideration. Contract negotiations can be delayed over a dollar here or two dollars there. Despite most travel management companies moving to a more consolidated pricing model with fewer line items, organizations are still getting hung up on the cost of transaction business travel service fees. But transactions and ticket issuing are just the beginning.
A travel management company can offer much more value to your organization, especially if you’ve chosen a company that has demonstrated they understand your goals and objectives. Here are three aspects of corporate travel management that validate service fees.
What Service Fees Give You
1) Business Travel Agencies Provide Control
Corporate travel, as a spending category, has changed over the last decade. It has gone from its department, with dedicated and experienced travel managers at the helm, to being under procurement, sourcing, or even HR. Ownership of the business travel process has been overwhelming for these internal departments, and many don’t know where to start when it’s time to change or improve. This is where a corporate travel management company is invaluable.
The right TMC will dissect the current program and make recommendations that influence and change traveler behavior. Even better, the best TMCs provide innovative technology and tools to further optimize and automate policy compliance. This is the foundation of any well-run business travel program.
2) Business Travel Agencies Provide Safety
When disaster strikes, do you know where your travelers are? Can you communicate with them quickly and easily? Can you put a price tag on the lives of your employees? In an emergency, minutes count, and it’s vital to have the correct information and tools at your disposal to ensure the safety of all your travelers and employees.
A travel management company will first work within your company culture to increase compliance. When travelers book within the policy, your travel management company can quickly identify which people are affected and provide location information. A travel management company can also provide technology to make communication quicker and more effective.
3) Business Travel Agencies Provide Savings
When evaluating the cost of a travel management company, it’s important to remember that over 98.5% of your travel spend lies “below the surface” in ticket costs, meals, parking, ancillary items, and much more. Business travel service fees make up only a tiny fraction of the total, and the hard-dollar savings that a travel management company can offer will far exceed this amount.
Savings are realized through various channels that will vary depending on your TMC’s expertise and proprietary technology. For example, Adelman Travel has automated the process of obtaining the lowest airfare and hotel rates, even after ticketing. This ensures guaranteed savings month after month.
Don’t Just Focus on the Price Tag: Business Travel Agencies Offer Value Beyond Travel Service Fees
In corporate travel, getting fixated on business travel service fees is easy. However, focusing solely on the cost can mean missing out on significant value to your corporate travel program. Savvy businesses understand that partnering with the right business travel agency offers more than just booking flights and hotels.
From enhanced control and traveler safety measures to substantial cost savings through strategic negotiation, where we leverage our industry relationships to get you the best deals, premium business travel agencies are indispensable partners.
Ready to experience the full spectrum of benefits a dedicated travel management company can provide? Rest assured, the transition is seamless, and we are here to guide you every step of the way.
Contact us today to discuss how we can streamline your business travel program and maximize your return on investment.