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Membership News
First Class Options: Selecting a Corporate Travel Management Firm
By Carole B. Swartz
Corporations large and small have a slew of options to choose from when deciding how to manage their travel plans. As the travel industry continues to endure constant challenges and changes, business travelers need a travel management firm that can anticipate the requests of their clients and offer tools that will lead to cost savings. More importantly, busy corporate travelers need a firm that can provide exceptional service while saving them time and money.
While every travel agency provides customer service, it is important to consider several service factors including agent experience, destination knowledge, and technology when selecting a travel management firm that will provide “first class” treatment.
In this often volatile industry, it is telling to look at a travel firm’s employee turnover rate and agent experience. Business travelers benefit from building relationships with well-seasoned travel experts who are familiar with their travel needs. Part of the reason we have been so successful at Great International Travel is because we employ highly-experienced travel professionals, each with a minimum of 12 years in the corporate travel industry. With virtually no staff turnover, our travelers benefit from longstanding relationships with their agents.
Travel agents’ individual travel knowledge is also an important component. When clients inquire about specific locations and recommendations, it helps to have agents who have traveled the globe. Our agents are experienced travelers, and every continent has been explored. As a result, clients receive the best in travel management services from our first-hand destination knowledge.
Travel management technology is yet another service element. While many clients prefer to make travel arrangements over the phone, there are also several online booking tools available. These tools, which are growing in popularity, provide various options for clients and cover the continuum from unmanaged to closely-managed corporate travel programs. They also enable travelers to conveniently control their own travel plans while saving money. Programmed with negotiated corporate rates for air travel, car rentals, and hotels, these tools simplify the booking and tracking process. We offer our clients three online booking tools: ResX, GetThere and, most recently, Portaga. As one of the few travel management firms in New England providing this wide array of online booking options, we are able to offer the best technology tools for each of our corporate clients.
For “first class” customer service, look for a travel management firm that offers experienced agents, extensive destination knowledge and technology tools to save both time and money.
Carole Swartz is CEO and president of Great International Travel (GIT), a Boston-based full-service travel management company specializing in corporate travel solutions. As one of New England's largest travel management firms, GIT has over 25 years of experience delivering exceptional travel services to clients. For more information visit www.greatintltravel.com
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