Are Business Travel Agents A Necessary Expense?e

Does your company currently use business travel agents for corporate bookings?

Some people might say that paying a fee to a business travel agent or consultant is a waste of money, but what are the benefits?

Listed below you’ll find some of the main reasons why using business travel consultants can be an advantage to your business.

They can find you cheaper deals

Many business travel agents have bulk buying power which means they can pass on savings to you. If you were to try and book similar flights and hotels online yourself, you would probably end up paying a great deal more.

Paying a small fee to a business travel consultant to find you the cheapest corporate travel deals can more than pay for itself.

Save you time

When you’re busy at work, it can be hard to find the time to source the right flights and hotels for your business trip. Even if you want to do it yourself it may not be cost-effective.

For example, if your time is worth £100 per hour to your company, it will be cheaper to pay business travel agents a fee to do all the work for you.

One point of contact

Another reason to use business travel agents is convenience. Imagine you’d booked your flights, car hire, hotels and airport parking online yourself with different companies but then had to change your plans.

Rather than contacting each firm individually, your business travel consultant will be one point of contact who can make the necessary amendments to your plans.

It can also be difficult to keep track of what companies have got back to you to confirm your new travel details and which haven’t while you’re trying to do your day job.

Expertise and recommendations

If you’re travelling to a new destination on business, getting expert recommendations from your business travel consultant will prevent you booking the wrong place to stay.

Location of accommodation can play a vital role in the convenience and success of any business trip, so don’t book your hotel blindly; ask someone who knows.

At a time when many organisations are looking to cut costs, business travel agents and consultants might be in the firing line.

If your travel partner delivers all of the benefits above and more, surely it makes sense to keep paying them a fee as they will save you time and money when looking to book your corporate travel.

The Co-operative Travel Management provides business travel services to UK corporations which includes having their own business travel consultant and business travel agents on hand.