Working from home can be an excellent way to discover new destinations and cultures as well as to establish a network and seal sales. It can be expensive and difficult to manage. Businesses of all sizes have a difficult time balancing the cost-effectiveness of their operations, employee comfort, and policies with compliance.
Travel arrangements are made by a variety of parties, including travel managers and agents, online booking systems, and employees who travel for business. Each party has a role and responsibilities.
A travel manager typically oversees the entire corporate travel program as well as relationships with travel companies, like airlines and hotels. They can negotiate contract rates and discounts that aren’t offered to individuals. They can also make use of an international distribution system (GDS) to search for flight and hotel options for employees, saving their time and effort by not having to contact every supplier individually.
For major meetings and events the travel team can find venues to ensure that they are suitable for the the expected audience and logistics of the meeting. They can also make reservations for hotels, restaurants, and convention centres to host the event.
Many companies have a dedicated team of software developers or tech experts who create and manage the company’s booking system for travel and other apps that keep track of expenses, convert currencies or provide navigation. These are useful for employees on the go and help them stay on top of their expense reporting, as well as keep them informed of important changes and updates in the workplace.