8 smart strategies to enhance the business travel experience

How important is traveler satisfaction? Very. In a recent BCD travel buyer survey, traveler satisfaction and well-being was viewed as extremely important (39%) or very important (48%) for a combined 87%.  

Unfortunately, while 67% of business travelers view business travel as essential to their careers, with 51% also enjoying it, the enjoyment is tempered by reduced flexibility, experienced by 91% of travelers over the past year.

Clearly travel managers want travelers to have a good experience. But how can they accomplish that? Here are 8 smart strategies to enhance the business travel experience.  

1. Boost morale through a flexible travel policy.

Business travel can involve budget constraints, complex booking processes, and confusing travel policies. What if your travel program could ease those issues? A good travel policy and the right support dramatically improves the travel experience.  

“Travel is personal,” said Carol Del Giudice, account manager at Christopherson Business Travel. “That is the number one thing to remember when building a policy. The culture of the company needs to be reflected in the policies and knowing the importance of the ‘why’ behind travel helps build a successful trip.”  

Allowing some flexibility leads to productive trips and happier employees. But employees don't always need extra perks—sometimes it is enough to improve the basic experience and help employees stay healthy. Plus, 24/7 traveler support helps reduce stress.  

2. Streamline the booking process.

Booking travel is a pain point for business travelers. Searching websites, comparing prices, and following policies is tedious. A simplified booking process and user-friendly booking tools save time and empower employees to manage bookings quickly.  

At Christopherson Business Travel, we are an SAP Concur Elite Partner and Deem Collective partner, which gives travelers easy self-service options for convenient trip planning. (Learn more about these technologies on our Booking page.)  Along with streamlining the process, booking within the travel program also saves money and prevents travel leakage.

While our online booking tools are fully integrated, we also offer advisor booking, group travel booking, and a dedicated team for VIP travelers.

3. Prioritize traveler safety.

Traveler safety is essential. Provide resources and safe travel policies addressing medical emergencies, natural disasters, and political unrest. Letting your employees know you prioritize their well-being demonstrates duty of care. And 24/7 support and automated alerts ease traveler anxiety.  

At Christopherson, our risk management solutions support your commitment to care for your travelers by providing a powerful dashboard with real-time alerts, location services, traveler safety checks, and more.

Del Giudice explained that Christopherson can help you quickly identify and address needs during a crisis.

“Risk management needs to be established from the beginning. The right people need to have access to all traveler data so that they can be as efficient as possible in the moment.

“There was an incident with one of our clients where a group of travelers attending a conference stepped out to get food from a food truck, and while waiting for food they were hit by another vehicle,” she recalled. “It was imperative that the travel manager could quicky identify which travelers had actually flown in for the event, who was staying at which hotels in the area, and help to create additional support for family members who needed to be with those who ended up hospitalized.”  

4. Enhance the travel experience through personalization.

Business travelers have different preferences. Accommodation choices, transportation, and even dietary needs vary. Consider customized options within corporate travel programs. Offer seat selection and meal options for specific diets.  

When a traveler is on the road, they should be able to obtain their preferences or needs within their travel profile, Del Giudice explained.

“We had a traveler that needed to travel over a religious holiday that required a specific meal. That was accommodated because of the relationship that had been established between the airline, Christopherson, and the travel manager.”  

Small accommodations improve the travel experience by respecting individual needs and increase employee performance. A well-crafted business travel program demonstrates a company’s investment in their workforce. Giving your employees some flexibility helps them save time and have a better experience. This way, you offer employees opportunities to take charge of the details that matter most to them, so you enhance travel within company policies.  

5. Encourage health and wellness while on the road.

Business trips disrupt routines and regular healthy habits, so it’s vital to support road warriors’ health and wellness. Providing gym access, healthy meal stipends, or information on healthy restaurants helps. These small gestures show care. They encourage employees to book better and choose options that benefit their well-being, which leads to more pleasant and effective trips.

Why focus on wellness? Traveling can potentially impact travelers negatively. Travelers lose 6.9 productive working hours due to stress, costing employers $662/trip. Plus, lack of sleep from business trips results in 12% less stress-related recovery time, leading to decreased productivity and increased risk of illness and disease. Read more about traveler wellness in our article.  

6. Gather and implement employee feedback.

Employee feedback is critical for effective policies. Don't just collect feedback. Follow up and use those insights to improve future travel experiences. Christopherson sends customized traveler surveys on behalf of your organization to identify areas for improvement and adapt policies accordingly.

Part of Christopherson’s consulting services is to customize a specific traveler survey.  

“This helps to drill into the details of what's important to the culture of the company, what’s important to the traveler, and how the policy can be updated to work for all involved,” Del Giudice said. “This type of consulting would include a deeper understanding of the results and solution that can come from the data analysis.”  

7. Provide digital tools to smooth travel logistics.

Modern business travel and technology go hand in hand. In addition to integrated online booking tools, the right app can make all the difference. Christopherson recently developed its new Andavo mobile app with dynamic itineraries, easy profile management, and real-time notifications so business travelers can manage their air, car, and hotel arrangements all in one place for a smooth trip.

8. Consider a business travel management company.

Companies with frequent travel can benefit from travel management companies (TMC). TMCs help with travel planning and cost optimization. They offer best management practices, corporate travel programs, and improved support for travel managers.  

At Christopherson, we are focused on offering human connection and exceptional service, while giving you the latest in digital solutions.  

We offer customized solutions for your specific travel program, giving your organization greater leverage than other travel options by handling common travel program pain points. We also enhance business travel experience so employees and travel managers can save time and effort, and employees are willing to travel as needed.
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FAQs about business travel experiences

What is a business travel experience?

Business travel experience is every part of a business trip. From planning and booking to the journey, accommodations, work activities, and expenses. Business travel should offer comfort and convenience within company travel policy.  

How can I improve my travel experience?

Pack light and stay organized. Use technology for bookings and updates. Use travel perks like airport lounge access. Prioritize comfort and self-care. Take time to get business cards and store them in a safe place in case your phone dies. Research other options for upgrades services like business class to see if that is an option your business may cover.  

What are three basic needs of the business traveler?

Business travelers need efficient bookings, comfortable trips, and company support for emergencies. Clear expense policies help prevent confusion and frustration over what is covered.  

Conclusion

Supporting travelers improves employee satisfaction. Fewer travel disruptions mean fewer distractions. This boosts productivity. Improved policies and customized perks save time and enhance business travel experience.  

This allows employees to focus on important work. Providing these small accommodations will add up and can enhance business travel experience significantly over the long haul.

Ready to learn more? Schedule a demo today.
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