Corporate Travel FAQs | Christopherson Business Travel

Corporate travel management

General

Customer care

Travel management software

Travel program management

Travel experience

Additional services

Why do companies need corporate travel management?

Companies need corporate travel management because it’s through such a partnership that they gain access to an experienced team of corporate travel experts who provide the solutions and support needed to build and maintain a strong travel program. Corporate travel management companies also provide value through their vendor relationships, negotiations, and discount programs. Additionally, it’s essential to have access to the integrated, industry-leading technologies that corporate travel management provides. These technologies streamline processes and ultimately save money.

What should I look for in a corporate travel management company?

A TMC must provide a technology toolbox that automates booking and reporting processes to ensure data accuracy and streamline travel program management, saving you both time and money. This automation allows your account manager to provide more consultative and advisory services, ensuring that your travel program keeps pace with the changes in your organization and the travel industry. Experienced, personable travel advisors and in-house technical support teams are also essential to traveler satisfaction.

What is the value of a corporate travel management company?

The value of a corporate travel management company is in the partnership. When utilizing a TMC, organizations can better manage spend, travel policy compliance, risk, and more. They also have access to integrated technologies for streamlined processes, data and reporting tools, and expertise in vendor negotiations. Through the TMC partnership, organizations can customize their travel programs to align with their culture and objectives.

What does a corporate travel management company do?

A corporate travel management company (TMC) is a travel agency that provides extensive business travel support to organizations of all sizes. Through integrated technology, consultative expertise, and centralized data and reporting, TMCs support corporate travel managers in a way that allows them to simplify their work, manage travel risks, reduce travel spend, and serve their travelers. Here are five things a corporate travel management company does for their clients.

Why have a managed travel program?

A managed travel program provides guidelines and tools for travel policy development, implementation, and oversight to help organizations manage risk and fulfill traveler duty of care requirements. Additional benefits include cost-savings strategies, streamlined processes for booking travel, data compilation and reporting tools, and dedicated traveler support.

What is a corporate discount and how can I get one for my company?

When you partner with a travel management company, you are able to benefit from their buying power and discount programs as well as having them negotiate on your behalf based on your organization’s travel volume. You may also qualify for vendor-specific discounts or incentive programs.

How do you manage corporate travel?

Managing corporate travel in today’s ever-changing travel landscape can be challenging. Organizations can mitigate the difficulties of managing corporate travel by implementing traveler-friendly travel policies, providing easy booking options, and working with a travel management company to gain access to the tools and expertise that come from such a partnership.

How can a company reduce travel expenses?

Partnering with a travel management company (TMC) gives you access to money-saving airfare tracking and hotel rate monitoring, as well as real-time data and reporting tools that will make the most of your travel budget. Your TMC can also help negotiate specific rates with your preferred vendors and provide affiliate partnerships that offer other reduced rates and added benefits for your travelers. Here are additional ways to reduce corporate travel spend.

What is a travel management system?

A travel management system provides corporate travel managers with the ability to holistically manage their entire corporate travel program with convenience and efficiency. Such a system provides tools to approve bookings, manage risk, track unused tickets, integrate travel policies, analyze business travel data and reporting, and more. It also provides access to corporate travel agents and/or online booking tools for making travel reservations.

What is the difference between a corporate travel agency and a travel management company?

The main difference between a travel agency and a travel management company is the level of service you can count on. While a travel agency can provide booking assistance and itineraries, a travel management company acts as a partner that provides solutions for the entirety of an organization’s corporate travel program. Some of these solutions include vendor negotiations, integrated technologies, risk management tools, special rates, data and reporting, and more. Here are some additional benefits of a corporate travel management company.

I have a small business, is Christopherson right for me?

Absolutely. Our platform, partnership, benefits, and resources are set up to accommodate organizations of every size.

How do I prove the value of Christopherson Travel to my company?

Christopherson’s Value Scorecard identifies and quantifies both the savings and value you achieve through partnering with us. This tool allows you to quickly evaluate both hard and soft dollar benefits and provide that data back to your company’s decision makers.

How do I sign up for services?

Our Business Development Team is ready to connect with you to learn more about your organization and how our solutions can be customized to fit your needs.

Can I plan my personal travel through Christopherson Travel?

Absolutely. Your business travel advisor can typically help you book personal travel. You can also reach out to our other divisions for assistance in booking leisure vacations, corporate events or incentive trips, or humanitarian travel.

Can I use my corporate discount for personal travel?

Using your organization’s corporate discount for personal travel may be possible based on how the contract is set up. Travelers can verify this allowance by contacting their company’s travel program manager. Christopherson’s TMC discount programs are also extended to clients for personal travel.

What are the benefits of travel management software?

Booking and tracking travel creates myriad data. Travel management software needs to gather, align, and connect these data in one place, report on it in real time, and make it visible to you for analysis and immediate action. Being able to see your data story empowers your conversations, informs your travel policy decisions, supports your negotiations, and shows you how you are benefitting from your TMC partnership. Travel management software also directly provides or integrates with online bookings tools for convenient traveler access.

What are the common features of travel management software?

The main feature of travel management software is that it is a single platform that puts everything–your tools and analytics–in one place. It should also integrate with other industry-leading tools as well as the internal resources your travel program needs.

What is travel management software?

Travel management software is essential technology for corporate travel managers. It provides the digital tools needed to manage risk, unused tickets, travel policy, booking approvals, and travel spend. It should integrate seamlessly with other industry-leading apps and also provide easy, convenient online booking tools for travelers.

What should my corporate travel policy include?

A successful corporate travel policy is clear, provides choices, and respects the goals and budget of the company. Your corporate travel policy should include guidelines for booking flights, hotels, and ground transportation. It should also outline rules for spending, including meals, entertainment, upgrades, and other items. Policies should also include security measures for individuals and work materials as well as any travel approval processes for travel and travel reimbursement.

What is a corporate travel policy?

A corporate travel policy is a list of guidelines and procedures that tells employees how to plan, book, and travel for their business trips. Policies should be written simply and clearly so everyone can understand the organization’s expectations and requirements. Policies are periodically reviewed and updated to match a business’s growing or changing needs.

How much can I save with a corporate travel program?

Each company’s savings will look different because every program, spend, and goal is different. That said, Christopherson helps you visualize spend through multiple reporting options which can be compared against industry benchmarks. We also help you save by providing vendor negotiation expertise, industry partnerships, discount programs, and more. Some partners have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in the first year alone. And clients who had never before had a managed travel program saved an average of 15% after partnering with Christopherson.

What makes Christopherson different from other corporate travel programs?

The integration and alignment of our service and technology is what quickly differentiate Christopherson from the rest. Our experienced account managers are consultative, easy to work with, and maintain clear, consistent communication to adjust management plans when needed. Our integrated travel management software makes it easy for travelers to book travel, while also helping corporate travel managers reduce travel costs, mitigate risk, and more. Through our tools and our team, we are your committed corporate travel partner, making business travel a smoother process from start to finish.

How does Christopherson help company travel programs?

Christopherson tailors its corporate travel management to the needs of its clients’ individual travel programs. We begin by analyzing their current program’s travel patterns, vendor relationships, and travel policies. Then, we create a formal Travel Management Plan. Our clients particularly benefit from the cost savings we provide, thanks to our technology, reporting, and dedicated travel support team. Once a plan has been established, we meet with clients regularly to keep travel goals on track and adjust the program as needed to ensure alignment with the business’s changing needs.

What is a corporate travel program?

A corporate travel program is an organization’s plan for how it will implement, manage, conduct, and communicate their business travel. It includes a streamlined and integrated way to book and manage employee travel. Sometimes, they are called corporate travel programs, company travel programs, business travel programs and include corporate travel policies. Some organizations have corporate travel programs with rigid regulations, while other businesses’ programs are more flexible depending on the needs of the employee and business. Some of the best-managed corporate travel programs are outsourced to third-party travel experts, freeing up internal teams to manage the business operations at hand.

How can an organization improve its travel policy compliance?

Improving travel policy compliance is often linked to mandating those policies. Other ways to improve compliance include gaining employee input, communicating the policy, improving traveler services, integrating the policy with booking tools, partnering with a TMC, and actually enforcing the policy.

What should be included in a corporate travel policy?

What you include in a travel policy depends on your objectives, level of control, and company culture.

What is the purpose of a corporate travel policy?

A corporate travel policy helps employees understand expectations when they are traveling for work. A corporate travel policy should address the following: – What is the goal of the corporate travel policy? – Who does it apply to? – Who is responsible for enforcing it? – When can employees use their own discretion before or during business trips? – What are the consequences for failing to abide by the policy?

What is a corporate travel policy?

A corporate travel policy outlines operational parameters for your travelers and aligns the day-to-day process of booking travel and traveling with your HR requirements, established budget, and corporate goals. The policy helps organizations manage risk by keeping travelers safe, encourages or mandates use of preferred vendors, and establishes logical cost constraints for airfare, hotels, and rental cars.

What is a business trip itinerary?

A business trip itinerary is a document (digital or printed) that provides details on flight, hotel, and car reservations. It may include links for online check-in, a detailed breakdown of rates, anticipated costs, company travel policies, and/or company specific instructions.

What is important when booking a hotel for a business trip?

When booking a hotel for a business trip, you should consider the following things: (1) Safety of the location; (2) Convenience of location (distance from airport, distance to your meeting location, etc.); (3) The hotel’s services (on-site restaurants, meeting space, business center, room service, parking, etc.); (4) Your organization’s preferred programs and/or policies; (5) Your reward membership for any complimentary benefits.

How can you keep your employees safe while traveling?

Every organization with a travel program must consider their duty of care toward business travelers and identify their risk management plans. Corporate travel managers should build a travel program that emphasizes traveler safety and has the integrated technology needed to locate travelers around the world in real-time in the event of an emergency. Such technology should also employ communication tools to be able to verify safety and push notifications and information travelers need. Organizations might also consider partnering with an international health and security service firm if needed.

Why is en-route support essential for business travelers?

There is a wide array of possible interruptions that can occur when traveling for business. Organizations need to prioritize traveler well-being, identify their risk management plans, and partner with a travel management company that can provide both the 24/7 support and global resources to alleviate the frustrations that come from those trip interruptions.

How can you prepare for a business trip abroad?

Traveling abroad for work involves much more than an up-to-date passport. It is never too soon to prepare for a business trip abroad. However, working with a travel professional who has international expertise can ease the challenges of planning a successful trip. In addition to booking air travel and accommodations, they will be able to provide: -Information on documentation requirements based on the traveler’s passport origin and destination -Medical or vaccinations requirements -Recommendations for activities or cultural experiences -Helpful tips to adapt to cultural differences while traveling -Travel arrangements to and from hotels, airports, meetings, and corporate events -A knowledgeable point of contact for corporate travelers when questions arise Christopherson Business Travel excels in efficient business travel. From cost savings to overall program improvement, our advisors and travel management software make international travel more productive and rewarding for your business.

What are the procedures for booking business travel?

Every organization should identify and communicate their procedures for booking business travel. When doing so, be sure to consider the importance of integrating your travel policy with booking options and incorporating your pre-trip authorization and/or travel approval processes. It is also valuable to consider the entirety of the trip and outline any customizations and/or reporting needs you may require.

How can you improve your business travel experience?

There are many ways to improve the business travel experience, but it begins with companies supporting the needs of their travelers from booking to homecoming. By providing easy booking options, integrating travel policies, and educating on risk management protocols, companies can ensure their travelers have access to the tools and information they need at every step of their trip. Here are additional ways to ensure the well-being of your business travelers and improve the business travel experience.

What are the types of business travel?

There are many types and reasons for business including relationship management, client engagement, trade shows, conferences, mergers and acquisitions, company events and retreats, education, infrastructure installation or maintenance, internal meetings, and more.

Why is business travel important?

Virtual meetings are no substitute for in-person interaction. When you meet face to face and shake someone’s hand, you’re able to form a relationship. And when you form a relationship, you’re better able to accomplish your business goals. Business travel also allows companies to achieve a level of continuity across locations and teams.

How long is a humanitarian trip?

One of the most commonly-asked questions regarding humanitarian travel is, “How long is a humanitarian trip?” The answer is that each trip varies in length. Your organization can choose how long you want your trips to be, whether that be for a few days or a few weeks. The length of the trip will depend on what area you’re traveling to, where you plan to stay, and the type of humanitarian work you’d like to accomplish. Luckily, there are many to choose from, so you’re likely to find one that fits your plans. Christopherson’s humanitarian travel agency, CV Humanitarian Travel, can book your humanitarian airfares in qualified markets to provide savings.

What is humanitarian travel?

Humanitarian travel is the act of traveling to another country or region to promote human welfare. Humanitarian work can match the mission and values of a host of different organizations, including religious groups or corporations. Examples of humanitarian work are helping people access fresh water, build a school, or receive medical care. Everyone can participate in humanitarian travel, and travelers can give aid on a small or large scale. Humanitarian travel is volunteer-based and allows travelers to have a meaningful and positive impact on the world. Christopherson’s humanitarian travel agency, CV Humanitarian Travel, books humanitarian flights for many different types of organizations from corporations, churches, medical groups, and more. Our team books humanitarian fares on flights to reduce the overall cost while your team can focus on the humanitarian trip logistics.

How do you plan a corporate travel incentive trip?

Travel is an excellent way to increase sales and incentivize, reward, and motivate employees. To plan a corporate travel incentive trip for your employees, start by doing the following:

Begin planning early. Clearly define goals for the trip and allow enough time for employees to meet the trip guidelines.
Plan a trip your employees will love and are excited to experience–one they don’t want to miss out on!
Create memorable experiences that they wouldn’t or couldn’t do on their own. The trip should provide them bragging rights with other employees.
Enable a performance-tracking system.
Encourage employees to succeed and meet target goals.
Hire Andavo Meetings & Incentives to manage your corporate incentive trip.

Corporate travel incentive programs are a valuable benefit for your employees, and planning one doesn’t need to add stress or extra work to your plate. Christopherson Business Travel’s meetings division, Andavo Meetings & Incentives, are corporate trip planner experts and can manage all the details to make your corporate incentive trip rewarding, fun, and memorable. They have the event industry expertise, knowledge, and vendor relationships that bring your vision to life.

How do you plan a successful corporate event?

A well-planned corporate event can help your organization build lasting relationships and drive sales. You’ll also strengthen bonds between employees, clients, and partners. Here are seven steps to planning a successful corporate event:

Set an objective and specific goals for the event.
Narrow down what kind of event it will be and when you would ideally like to host your event. For example, consider dates, length of program, meetings, group activities, evening functions, and team building.
Determine a budget, your desired destination or two, guest list, and theme.
Organize a team and delegate responsibilities. Consider partnering with a corporate event planner.
Promote your event internally or externally depending on the attendee group.
Execute a successful event.
Determine your Return on Event after the program based on actual spend, anticipated budget, and attendee feedback.

And the most important tip of all? Don’t forget that Christopherson’s meetings division, Andavo Meetings & Incentives, are the experts in corporate meetings and incentive travel.

How do I plan a humanitarian trip?

To plan a humanitarian trip, you need to determine the type of trip you’re planning, i.e. medical, faith-based, corporate service, etc. You then need to identify the location, scope of your travel plans, dates, and number of travelers. Once you have this information, contact CV Humanitarian Travel to begin your booking process.

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