The 2024 Guide to Corporate Travel Management

Did you know that the global business travel market is projected to hit a staggering US$1.7 trillion by 2027, growing steadily at a rate of 5.1% over the next three years? In the UK alone, it’s worth around US$854 billion. It's a massive industry that underpins the operations of countless companies worldwide. 

Yet, despite its importance, corporate travel management often feels like a never-ending administrative headache. Managing it can be overwhelming and time-consuming, from booking flights and arranging accommodations to tracking expenses and ensuring employee safety. 

However, it doesn't have to be this way.

Business travel has the potential to be a strategic tool for growth, fostering collaboration, and boosting morale among employees. So, what's causing the disconnect? And, more importantly, how can you bridge this gap? 

In this post, we'll delve into the biggest pain points of corporate travel management and offer practical solutions and insightful tips to address them effectively. 

By exploring streamlined processes, leveraging the right business travel solutions, and prioritising both efficiency and employee experience, we'll show you how to transform your travel programme from a chaotic scramble into a well-oiled engine of success. 

What is corporate travel management? 

Corporate travel management involves overseeing and organising employees' travel and entertainment expenses to ensure adherence to your company's policies. It includes business travel planning, such as organising itineraries, buying tickets, and checking expense reports. 

Larger companies often have dedicated departments for this, whereas smaller businesses might rely on their human resources and accounting teams. Some companies choose to outsource these responsibilities to specialised travel management companies. 

What are the core elements of corporate travel management? 

The core elements of corporate travel management revolve around processes and policies designed to streamline and oversee all aspects of business travel. These elements ensure that travel is cost-effective, efficient, and aligned with the company's objectives and policies. 

Let's take a closer look at these key components: 

• Policy development and compliance: Establish clear, comprehensive travel policies that define allowable expenses, preferred suppliers, booking procedures, and compliance measures. These policies help set expectations and guide employee behaviour during business travel. 
• Travel approval process: Implement a system for approving travel requests to ensure trips are necessary, budgeted, and aligned with business goals. This process often involves multiple levels of approval, depending on the purpose of the travel and cost. 
• Booking and reservation management: Centralise or streamline the booking of flights, hotels, car rentals, and other travel services. This can involve in-house resources, corporate travel agencies, or specialised travel management software to secure the best rates and ensure policy compliance. 
• Expense management and reimbursement: Create a system for tracking, submitting, and reimbursing travel expenses. Use expense report software to simplify the submission process, ensure accuracy, and maintain records for auditing purposes. 
• Risk management and duty of care: Ensure the safety and security of travelling employees by assessing travel risks, providing travellers with information and support, and having plans for emergencies. Monitor global events and implement safety protocols. 
• Data analysis and reporting: Collect and analyse travel data to monitor spending, identify trends, and uncover opportunities for cost savings. Reporting helps companies understand travel patterns, negotiate better rates with suppliers, and improve travel policies. 
• Supplier negotiations and relationships: Establish and maintain relationships with preferred travel service providers, such as airlines, hotels, car rental companies, and travel agencies, to secure competitive rates, special discounts, and favourable terms. 
• Technology integration: Utilise corporate travel technology for booking, expense reporting, policy compliance, and traveller safety. These technology solutions can automate many aspects of travel management, improving efficiency, and user experience. 
• Traveller support and communication: Support employees before, during, and after their trips, including travel adviseries, 24/7 emergency assistance, and feedback mechanisms to improve the travel programme.  

What are the benefits of a corporate travel policy? 

A well-defined corporate travel policy is essential for managing business travel effectively. It ensures travel expense management, compliance, efficiency, employee travel management, and satisfaction, ultimately contributing to a successful travel programme.  

Here are some benefits of having a corporate travel policy: 

For Businesses:

• Cost control: Establishes clear spending limits and preferred suppliers, leading to cost savings and budget predictability. 
• Compliance: Ensures adherence to internal policies and external regulations, mitigating legal risks. 
• Efficiency: Streamlines travel booking and expense management processes, saving time and resources. 
• Ensure duty of care and traveller safety: Promotes employee safety and well-being through travel guidelines and emergency protocols. 
• Traveller satisfaction: Provides clear expectations and support, fostering a positive travel experience for employees.    

For Employees:

• Clarity and guidance: Understands company expectations and procedures for travel arrangements and expenses. 
• Budget awareness: Makes informed decisions about travel choices within allocated budgets. 
• Peace of mind: Feels supported and secure, knowing they comply with company policies and have access to resources in case of issues.
• Efficiency: Benefits from streamlined booking processes and clear expense reporting procedures.

How to develop a corporate travel policy 

When developing a corporate travel policy, follow these tips and best practices: 

• Be specific: Provide concrete guidelines for booking flights, hotels, meals, and entertainment expenses. 
• Streamline approval and reimbursement: Implement a transparent process for travel approval and expense report submission. 
• Be equal and fair: Maintain consistent guidelines to foster equity and trust across all levels. 
• Remember employee engagement: Promote awareness through training sessions and encourage feedback during revisions. 
• Ensure safety: Include safety protocols and emergency contact information in the policy. 
• Focus on sustainability: Encourage eco-friendly travel options. 
• Embrace technology: Integrate travel booking and expense management software for a seamless experience.   

Regularly review and update the policy to reflect changing needs and industry trends. 

6 common challenges in corporate travel management 

Corporate travel presents ongoing challenges for many businesses, from handling numerous requests to controlling expenses. Even with processes seemingly managed, the time and effort invested in what should be straightforward tasks can be substantial. 

It's common to encounter the following issues: 

1. Handling numerous requests: Typically, someone is tasked with overseeing travel arrangements. It could be a dedicated travel manager or administrative team. The challenge arises with the volume of requests from various departments in the company, often communicated through different channels like email, Slack, or in-person visits, creating a disorganised and time-consuming workflow. 
2. Tracking approvals: Ensuring travel is approved by the appropriate personnel adds layers to the process. Travel management systems can streamline approvals by electronically notifying and collecting consent from managers, simplifying the process. 
3. Controlling costs: Travel is essential for business growth, so managing expenses becomes crucial. Often, companies overspend by not accessing lower-cost options, opting for business-class accommodations, and bookings through travel agents. Exploring more cost-effective avenues, like discount websites, can help manage budgets more efficiently. 
4. Empowering employees to book travel: Allowing employees to book their travel can reduce administrative burdens and increase satisfaction by giving them choices and control over their itineraries. 
5. Flexibility: Balancing control with freedom is key. Offering a broad range of travel options without strict restrictions can save money and keep employees happy by providing more choices. 
6. Minimising errors: Travel bookings and expense reporting mistakes can be time-consuming and costly. Ensuring clear approval trails, keeping meticulous records, and using collaborative tools can help reduce these errors and the logistical nightmare they cause. 

Overcome corporate travel management challenges with technology 

Corporate travel presents ongoing challenges for many businesses, from handling numerous requests to controlling costs and minimising errors. However, technology solutions can help overcome these challenges by streamlining travel arrangements, managing expenses, saving time, and reducing errors.  

Corporate travel management software helps businesses streamline their travel processes. It can:

• Streamline travel arrangements: Corporate travel management software can help employees book, manage, and track trips without contacting specialists. 
• Manage travel expenses: It allows businesses to manage travel-related expenses while following corporate travel policies. 
• Save time: Offers a centralised platform that allows employees to make reservations, track itineraries, and submit expenses more quickly. 
• Reduce errors: A centralised platform can help reduce the chances of manual errors and ensure a more efficient workflow. 
• Consolidate suppliers: It can help consolidate travel invoices and suppliers in one place. 
• Plan, track, and analyse trips: Corporate travel management solutions can help automate corporate travel policies and help businesses plan, track, and analyse business trips. 
• Provide travel inventory, policy, and reporting: It provides robust travel inventory, policy, and reporting. 

How to reduce corporate travel costs

Reducing business travel costs may seem challenging, especially with corporate travel expenses expected to rise.  

In addition to having a formal corporate travel programme and leveraging corporate travel management software, follow these tips to reduce corporate travel costs further: 

• Review your travel policy to ensure it covers key cost areas like approvals, bookings, and expenses. Clear guidelines help travellers make cost-effective choices. 
• Implement a pre-trip approval process and avoid cancellation fees. Online tools allow monitoring of bookings. 
• Encourage flight flexibility—be open to varied dates, airlines, and economy class. Use alerts for deals and AI tools to rebook at lower fares automatically. 
• Set hotel budget thresholds or star ratings. Leverage peer reviews to find good-value hotels. Negotiate discounts for frequent stays. Use price optimisation tools to rebook at lower rates automatically. 
• Consider allowing "bleisure" (business + leisure) trips, which offer flexibility and can reduce costs through extended stays. 
• Consolidate trips to the same region to maximise efficiency and reduce emissions. Batching trips lower costs through shared flights and ground transportation. 
• Understand additional ancillary fees, like Wi-Fi, parking, etc. Bundled packages help forecast and control these expenses. 
• Boost productivity with apps that sync schedules and provide real-time updates. Smoother travel means employees work more and organise less. 
• Partner with a travel management company to access preferential rates, on-site deals, and consolidated expense/trip data for cost control. 
• Incentivise employees to choose cost-saving options by rewarding them for good decisions. Also, utilise business reward programmes for free points on bookings. 

Streamline your business travel 

Managing corporate travel is vital for business success. By adopting clear policies, using technology wisely, and following best practices, you can overcome challenges, control expenses, and ensure smooth travels for your team.

Take action now to enhance your corporate travel programme. Whether refining existing policies or starting fresh, focusing on efficiency and employee satisfaction can result in better outcomes.

With the right approach, your travel programme can boost growth and collaboration. So, start implementing these tips today and watch your corporate travel programme take flight.

For more information about trends in corporate travel, check out our 2024 Travel Managers Report: Europe Edition.