Planning business travels is maybe a really laborious and difficult task. Still having the right travel plans is a requisite for every successful business or company. Here the corporate travel planners come in.
What do they do?
We can say that they are travel agencies but exclusively for business purposes. The basic job of these planners is to design and plan business-related trips that suit travel-policies of respective companies. Their goal is to plan trips for company personnel under the given budget and according to the desire of the company. It’s also their job to consider and maintain safety standards.
Furthermore, these planners are very much familiar with the travel industry. They are aware of recent trends and know what actually companies want. They have links with other travel agencies and transport providers which help them to erect best deals for you. This insight is what makes a planner better than others.
Why do we even need them?
If you are a fast-growing business and traveling to different locations is a basic need of your company then having an experienced corporate travel planner can save you in many ways. For example, to manage a business trip in short time with all the facilities is hard. So, having a travel planner can timely manage an international business trip for you.
Companies throughout the world save millions of dollars annually just by hiring the right planner. Only a planner who has knowledge of the travel market can make the best deal which is also cost-efficient.
There are plenty of planners out there in the market but undoubtedly only the right ones can book the best deals for you. But the question is how to find the best one? What aspects or features should we consider before selecting a travel planner? We have narrowed down some tips to find the right travel planner.
- Have an insight into the travel market
Only an experienced planner who’s connected with the industry knows the range of pricing of travel all around the market. This knowledge can help you find the travel package you require. If your planner has an insight into the travel market then he should be aware of vendors, transport agencies, accommodation possibilities and different services related to it.
- Updates your travel policy
A good travel planner not only reviews your company’s travel policy but also suggests the necessary changes required in it. So, you should select the one who updates your travel policy regularly.
- Avails best travel opportunities
In the market, the price of travel varies a lot. Sometimes even at hourly rate. It is a part of the skill-set of a good travel agent to know when to wait for a reservation or when to hastily reserve a trip. This skill is only gained from experience in the field. So, we should prefer the ones who have years of experience in the industry.
- One who respects privacy policy
An agent has access to some sensitive details related to your company. That sensitive information can prove to be very harmful to the company itself if fallen in the wrong hands. It can be used by other rivals to downgrade your business and nurture their own. To find a trustworthy planner who respects privacy and protects your private data is also necessary.
- One who’s in direct contact with travel agencies and hotels
Instead of referring to you to another party a good travel planner will contact hotels directly to deal with matters of your accommodation. He will contact airlines directly to book reservations or to get information if there is an emergency such as flight delaying. This can save you from many travel-related disasters.
- Puts your interests first
There are some travel planners out here who compel their decisions on your company and sometimes even lie if they have to. But a reliable planner is the one who puts you and your company’s interest first instead of benefitting himself. It’s up to you to ensure that the planner has a clear record.
- Can deal with emergencies efficiently
In case of emergencies such as bad weather, state-level emergencies or sudden change of plans, a good business travel planner will not lose his calm but instead he will work out the best possible way to deal with the situation. And change your reservations to nearest best possible time.
- Doesn’t lose sight of his objective
No matter what the circumstances a good corporate travel planner will not lose sight of his goal and he will put everything in his power to fulfill the travel related objective for your company.
No matter what time it is, a good planner will always be there when you need him the most. Other third-party travel agencies may not care if you miss a flight or there’s an emergency during the trip but your personal travel planner sure will.
- Has the ability to handle multiple projects together
Booking a reservation is not enough. A travel planner should have the ability to handle multiple projects at the same time. For example, to book reservation according to the requirement along with selecting the best hotels in specific locations require serious multi-tasking abilities. Without multi-tasking skills a planner can’t perform well enough.
- Knows how to build a relationship with other agencies?
Networking and relationship building are also very handy skills for travel agents. Select a travel planner who knows how to not only build good relationships with other agencies but also to maintain it. It can prove very good for your company. He will keep track of records and will use it in productive manner in future.
Conclusion
These above-mentioned tips were put together for you to know what features you have to look for in a reliable corporate travel planner. A good one will respect your company’s privacy and security policy and will have a connection with agencies, other companies, and third-party planners. Just take these aspects into consideration and you will be able to find one of the best ones in the market.
