Imagine you’re all packed and ready for your next big business trip. You grab a cab, head to the airport… but there’s tons of traffic on the road, and when you arrive, you find your flight has been delayed by several hours. In Europe, this is a common scenario, as travel can often be impacted by strike action for different reasons.

Planned strikes happen frequently, and can lead to delays—especially if they involve air traffic controllers, public transport workers, security staff, and other travel workers.

But there’s no need to worry. As long as you think ahead, you can effectively manage the impact of air strikes, rail strikes, and labor shortages on your travel plans.

In some countries, workers are required to give a certain amount of notice before calling a strike, so the good news is, you may know ahead of time when and where a strike is going to take place.

Tools like TravelPerk help business travellers get a handle on what’s happening and where—so you can avoid flight cancellations and delays, and easily manage them if they do happen. 

Read on to learn more about planning for strikes and unexpected circumstances, so you can continue to enjoy all the benefits of business travel and connecting with colleagues in person.  

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Natalie Hammerle

3 ways to prepare for strikes and keep your business trips on track

1. Proactive Planning

If you know when strikes are going to happen, you’ll be able to plan your trips around them.

Find a trusted news source, and follow it regularly so you can keep up to speed on the most recent developments and strike dates (trade union negotiations on working conditions, pay offers, the retirement age, and other strike-related issues are sometimes rescheduled or canceled.)

Some news sources that are updated regularly in different countries include:

• BBC News
• France 24
• Spain in English
• The Local Italy / The Local Sweden / The Local Germany
• The Local Europe (for news on other countries, such as Belgium)
• The Portugal News
• EuroNews
• Reuters

Once you know when strikes are scheduled, work that into your trip plans. Be sure to leave plenty of extra time to get to your destination if you think a strike may interfere with your road, train, or plane travel, especially if you’re headed to a large hub such as Heathrow Airport or Paris Charles de Gaulle. 

2. Leveraging technology

Of course, keeping up with planned strike actions can take a lot of effort. It requires you to continuously check up on the news—and when you find out that a strike is planned, you or your travel manager may have to rebook your existing flights or make other changes to your itinerary. Unexpected delays can catch you unawares and may interfere with your business travel goals.

Fortunately, a good business travel management platform can make this process much easier. A travel management platform is a software solution designed to help with every aspect of business travel booking management, including making bookings, changing and managing travel plans, centralized invoicing, expense management, VAT recovery, and more.

TravelPerk is a business travel management platform used by companies across Europe and around the world. TravelPerk can help you deal with unexpected changes— including air traffic control strikes, industrial action, or walkouts in Europe—with the following features:

• All travelers who book with TravelPerk have access to TravelCare services. This means you will receive instant notifications about disruptions, changes, or travel advisories while on the road. You’ll also be provided with a direct link to contact the customer care team for immediate assistance.
  
• If you choose to contact the customer care team, you’ll benefit from best-in-class travel assistance available 24/7 via phone, chat, or email, with a target response time of 15 seconds. This way, you can be assured that help will be available when you need it.
  
• With FlexiPerk, you won’t have to worry about losing money if plans change at the last minute. You can book any flight, hotel, car, or train, and cancel up to two hours before your departure with just one click. You’ll get a guaranteed 80% of your money back, no questions asked, and enjoy a 40% average savings over traditional flexible fares.  
  

3. Travel insurance: know your rights

A final step in planning for strikes in Europe is to look into travel insurance. Travel insurance may cover you for essential services, such as healthcare, but it can also sometimes cover you for travel disruptions—such as lost luggage, flight cancellations, or delays.

Did you know that in some regions, you may be entitled to compensation if your flight is canceled or delayed?

In Europe, European Union Regulation 261/2004 protects your rights as an airline passenger. If you fly from an EU country, or if you fly from a non-European country to an EU country with a European airline, you may be entitled to food, drink, hotel stays, or compensation if:

• your flight was delayed by more than three hours
• your flight was canceled right before departure
• you missed your connecting flight
• you were denied boarding for your flight
  

In the US, airlines are generally not required to compensate passengers if flights are delayed or canceled, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. However, if passengers are removed from an oversold flight, compensation is required. Airlines are also required to give updates about flight delays no later than 30 minutes after the airline becomes aware of the change. 

In some cases, you may be entitled to a refund for air travel if your flight is “significantly delayed”, or if your flight is canceled and you choose to cancel your trip as a result (even for non-refundable tickets). These rules apply to domestic and international flights departing to, from, or in the United States. 

In Canada, airlines have certain obligations towards passengers in the event of a delay or cancellation. According to the Canadian Transportation Agency, if a flight is delayed or canceled for a reason within the airline’s control (such as a staffing issue, or a decision to consolidate flights due to low demand), the airline is required to provide assistance, offer alternate travel arrangements or a refund, and pay compensation. They also have to communicate key information in plain language, provide status updates every 30 minutes, offer food and drink, and arrange overnight accommodation.

Don't let strikes derail your next trip

If you discover that strikes will be going ahead at a time when you have business travel planned, there’s no need to panic. With careful planning, you can avoid getting stranded at the airport or needing to cancel your trip.

Software tools can help you avoid unwanted outcomes and help you easily keep on top of unexpected changes, with minimal effort on your end. A business travel management tool will offer you the peace of mind of knowing you’re in good hands, with the support you need to manage strikes and trip changes.

If you do need to cancel your trip, you’ll be able to do so easily—and even recover most of the money spent—with a program like TravelPerk’s FlexiPerk.

To try out TravelPerk and get to know our FlexiPerk feature, schedule a free demo today. 

The post Strikes in Europe: Your guide to travel disruptions and how to plan ahead appeared first on TravelPerk.

If you’re reading this, well, congratulations are in order! Your business is evolving and you’re thinking about expansion.

Perhaps you’re considering new markets, looking to increase your leverage in the domestic market, or you might be going global to explore an entirely new customer base. This is an exciting time, but it can also be challenging as you try to juggle old and new customers, foreign markets and local markets, and a rapidly changing workforce.

Whatever your growth strategy (don’t worry if you’re not quite at that stage yet), we’ve put together some top tips from those already doing it that can benefit all companies in a growth stage—whether you’re a large or small business

Here, you’ll find our top tips to consider for companies navigating both national and international expansion. Rather than strict business development advice, we’re going to be looking at the human aspect, and how taking care of your staff and fostering your company culture can support your business's global expansion strategy and help you secure success.

Let’s get to growing!

Look after your staff, both old and new

To win over the marketplace, you must first win in the workplace. Content employees are the cogs and wheels that make a successful business run. After all, happy workers are at least 13% more productive.

Expanding a business isn’t just a logistical challenge; it's a transformative process that can really impact the people within the organization. To ensure a seamless transition, it’s essential to prioritize your staff and their wellbeing. Here are a few key ways to do this:

Focus on tailored training and skill development

Invest in training programs for your existing staff, empowering them with the skills needed to navigate the challenges that will come with your expansion strategy. A proactive approach not only boosts your workforce's capabilities but also instills confidence and loyalty among staff.

From Asia to Europe, and everywhere in between, entering new markets can be a daunting prospect. There are cultural differences and technology preferences to consider.

Jed Hackling, Co-Founder at Ambl, explains why this is so important for his growing team, and how he approaches staff training for the UK market.

“It’s so important to actively help your employees prepare for any new challenges they might face. I’d suggest you use your market research to help inform the training you’ll need to implement. For example, skills and styles employees will need to sell in a UK market in comparison to an American market will look very different.”

Jed Hackling, Co-Founder at Ambl

Build a skilled workforce in new locations with inclusive onboarding

Ensure you have a strong talent pool of skilled professionals in your new locations, or at least with knowledge of those markets if you’re a fully remote company.

This might involve recruiting locally or (temporarily) relocating existing employees. In either case, a seamless integration process is key for productive onboarding: without clear communication and onboarding processes that you can rinse and repeat, building an international business and its teams is a huge time investment.

Bear in mind that new employees may not have English as their first language. Ray Slater Berry, founder at DSLX, shares his experience in building international content teams.

“We’re often working with talent using English as a second language. It means our communications should be as inclusive and conscious of new cultures, languages, and experiences.

We try to provide onboarding workflows that deliver information in multiple formats to make learning more accessible. We also ensure that a large part of our onboarding is asynchronous so that our teams aren’t tied to timezones.” 

Ray Slater Berry, founder at DSLX

Establish feedback mechanisms to ensure you’re growing the right way

Before you start hiring and relocating, it’s a good idea to establish a continuous feedback mechanism. This will help you gauge the sentiments of your workforce and respond to any collective concerns.

Gathering insights from different stakeholders within the company can help foster a culture of openness and inclusivity, which will be crucial to maintaining a sense of cohesion, especially when you’re moving into international markets.

A study by PwC found that 60% of employees would like feedback on a daily or weekly basis—by boosting team cohesion and improving communication, consistent feedback ensures that employees are on the same page and working towards the same goals.

Bring all teams together, however you can

Expanding your business can lead to a sense of disconnection among teams. You might have teams located across the world, from France to Mexico to India, but there are ways of building a company-wide sense of togetherness. Here are our top tips for boosting team spirit.

Organize offsites and team-building activities

Now is the time to bring your teams together if you can. Organizing offsites and team-building activities can really strengthen relationships and build a sense of camaraderie. These events provide a platform for team members to interact in a more relaxed and informal setting, fostering better collaboration when they’re back in virtual offices.

Tackling global markets requires teamwork, as does improving distributor logistics, exporting new products, and all things expansion—so make sure you’re starting from a solid internal base with teams feeling connected to each other.

Share knowledge across locations

From Canada to China, teams in different countries can all learn something from each other— that’s a bonus of doing global business. It can be helpful to send high-performing individuals to other locations—this not only encourages knowledge sharing but also reinforces a sense of value and recognition among employees.

Cross-collaboration can be a powerful tool for innovation and increased productivity, especially if you’re based in different places: employees who feel connected to each other are five times as likely to report increased productivity, so giving teams the tools and resources to stay connected and share knowledge is crucial in this growth stage.

Emphasize the importance of in-person interaction

Where possible, encourage in-person interactions. Craig Hunter, Co-Founder and CEO at Dwelling tells us more.

“Face-to-face communication helps us build trust and boosts relationships in ways that virtual meetings simply can’t achieve. 

Offsites and team-building events are great out-of-office activities, but it’s also important to hold in-person meetings when possible. In today’s hyper-online world, offline meetings are exceptionally useful, especially for feedback loops. You can learn a lot from what someone says as well as their body language when they say it.”

Craig Hunter, Co-Founder and CEO at Dwelling

An expansion strategy requires hours of communication, negotiation, and problem-solving—real-life conversation can drastically speed up a sticky process.

Invest in the right tools for your business and budget

The success of an expanding business can depend on many factors: stable partnerships with providers, solid supply chains, steady home markets, the list goes on. But, there is one factor totally within a company’s control: the tools it uses. Whether it's financial management, productivity solutions, or cutting-edge AI technology, the right tools can make or break your expansion efforts.

Achieve seamless operations with suitable finance tools

Expanding businesses often involves making complex financial transactions. Investing in advanced finance tools streamlines these processes, ensuring accuracy and, crucially, compliance. Finding the best finance tools for expanding companies can help you make informed choices, optimize changes, and keep things tailored to your specific business needs.

Harness the power of AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a game-changer for expanding businesses. From automating routine tasks to providing data-driven insights, AI can significantly boost productivity and streamline admin-heavy tasks.

Business expansion relies heavily on operational efficiency, and human error can cause significant setbacks. AI can collect important data, identify relevant insights, and help you make informed decisions about the health of your company.

You can boost your productivity almost immediately by automating your workflow—leave the legwork to the algorithms and save your employees precious time!

Manage your business travel effectively and keep expansion sky-bound

Expanding a business often means more travel, whether it's for sales, office setup, or networking. Effectively managing business travel is no longer a nice-to-have, but a must-have

Build the right business travel management for you

Introduce the concept of a business travel tool to streamline processes with your HR or travel team. With all the admin that goes into business expansion, it’s time to cut the unnecessary work and ensure you’ve got software on your side.

There are many solutions out there, like TravelPerk, which has been instrumental for companies in expansion mode. TravelPerk offers a centralized platform for booking, provides better control over expenses, real-time travel data, and seamless integrations with leading expense partners you’re probably already familiar with.

Start your international business expansion today—it’s all in the preparation!

It’s never too early to start preparing for expansion. Having the right tools and support in place from the get-go can be the ‘make or break’ factor. Particularly for those companies looking at global expansion into international markets, sorting your corporate travel is a must.

Whether it’s looking for flexible airfares or centralizing expenses, TravelPerk is here to help companies looking to gain control over their business travel management.

The post 4 Key things to consider before expanding your business appeared first on TravelPerk.

Traveling on a shoestring budget? We know the feeling. But with the help of budget travel companies, you can turn your dreams of journeying to iconic destinations like Italy, Canada, and Japan into a reality, especially for first-time travelers who need valuable travel tips to make the most of their adventure at the best price.

Our list of the five best low-cost travel companies is packed with info on the types of budget-friendly experiences they offer, helping you choose the perfect adventure that matches your preferences without breaking the bank.

Get ready to create lasting memories; these companies are committed to making your next trip affordable and personalized to suit you. Let’s go!

Best online travel agency for business travel

1. TravelPerk: the one agency for all your business travel needs

TravelPerk is a modern solution for modern corporate travel. Its easy-to-use online booking tool is a refreshing change from the clunky UI often associated with business travel. TravelPerk enables you to make flexible bookings for employees, and even offers the option to offset your carbon footprint.

As well as access to a huge inventory of flights—including low-cost carriers and accommodation—TravelPerk also has direct contracts with over 30,000 properties worldwide, enabling clients to access lower rates and keep business spending low.

TravelPerk also offers the most comprehensive and unique set of corporate travel features, including FlexiPerk, an add-on that allows users to cancel any aspect of their travel plans up to two hours before departure—saving businesses an average of 40% when compared to traditional flexible fares. Plus, across all of TravelPerk’s paid plans, businesses only pay the monthly fee if they travel that month.

This platform is more than just an OTA, it’s a comprehensive corporate travel management tool that helps your team book, manage, and report on business travel. TravelPerk ensures employees are traveling stress-free on the cheapest flights available, at no sacrifice to experience.

Main offerings and features:

• Extensive inventory of travel services
• Flexible booking with FlexiPerk
• Safety alerts with TravelCare
• Integrated travel policy & approval flows
• Centralized invoicing
• Easy & real-time expense reports
• Carbon offsetting with GreenPerk
• 24/7 customer support with a 15s target
• Integration with 3rd party tools, such as expense management or HR software like Expensify and BambooHR

TravelPerk gives employees access to the information and the security they need to travel with peace of mind. It gives organizations and travel managers access to the best corporate travel rates that you won’t find on the market.

The best budget travel agencies in the USA for leisure travel

2. Trafalgar

Trafalgar is one of the largest online tour companies, offering 303 different guided tours across 72 countries and six continents, including India, Vietnam, and Thailand.

The company is known for providing guided vacations with experienced and knowledgeable Travel Directors who lead groups of travelers throughout their journeys, offering insights into the local culture, history, and attractions along the way.

The prices you see on the website include hotels, breakfast and some evening meals, porterage and restaurant gratuities, hotel tips, charges, local taxes, and the cost of sightseeing and activities. Bear in mind that this is not an all-inclusive price, and doesn’t include airfare, travel insurance, or any optional travel experiences you might want to add to your itinerary.

Main offerings and features:

• Savings and offers for groups of 9 travelers or more
• Live chat customer support
• Custom group tours for groups of 10 travelers or more
• Savings of up to 15% on last-minute deals
• “MyTrafalgar” portal enables travelers to personalize upcoming trips
• Solo traveler options

3. Costsaver

Costsaver is one of the most popular budget tour companies, offering travelers the opportunity to explore a variety of destinations at affordable prices without compromising on the quality of their travel experiences.

With 550 diverse travel experiences to choose from, the company ensures that essentials are taken care of, enabling travelers to customize the remaining aspects of their journey to incorporate as much free time and additional activities as they wish.

Each tour includes a knowledgeable Travel Director, quality hotels, some meals and sightseeing activities, and airport transfers within select destinations.

Main offerings and features:

• Savings for groups of 9 travelers or more
• Couple travel packages
• Live chat customer support
• Loyalty program discounts of 5%
• Custom tours for groups of 10 travelers or more

4. Intrepid Travel

Established in 1989, Intrepid Travel is a group adventure travel company that offers over 1000 escorted adventure tours in more than 100 countries, with an average of 10 travelers per tour.

With its headquarters located in Melbourne, Australia, Intrepid Travel creates intricate itineraries to maximize the time travelers spend engaging in immersive, local activities with the communities they visit. As a certified B Corporation, the company is dedicated to responsible travel, adhering to the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance.

Intrepid Travel caters to diverse preferences and budgets by offering a range of travel tour "styles" – Premium, Comfort, Original, and Basix. Local tour guides native to each destination oversee the management of all tours.

Main offerings and features:

• 18-29s tours
• Active adventures (hiking, biking, kayaking, etc)
• Adventure cruising
• Family tours
• Wildlife and polar tours
• Women’s expeditions (all-female tours)
• Urban Adventures day tours

5. Exoticca

Exoticca is an online tour operator whose travel experts create travel packages for a range of different vacation types. Exoticca's itineraries are carefully crafted to include a mix of cultural experiences, sightseeing, and leisure time to provide a comprehensive travel experience.

Aiming to provide affordable tours to popular destinations within Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, Exoticca offers several travel deals. These include flash deals, group travel deals, and “refer-a-friend” discounts.

Main offerings and features:

• Over 300 itineraries within more than 60 countries
• Focus on small group tours
• Several travel styles, including interest, season, and type of group travel
• Itineraries include local experiences and day trips
• Traveler app for direct access to a 24/7 customer support team
• Multilingual customer support

Wrapping up: Which budget travel company is best for you?

The travel industry is awash with sites like Expedia and Travelocity that can help you create vacation packages—but these companies and their expert travel agents are your ticket to a personalized, low-cost adventure.

Whether it’s an American getaway to New York, an island visit to Hawaii, or a trip to the gardens of England, any low-cost travel agency on this list can help you plan your dream destination with all the perks.However, if you’re looking for a corporate travel solution you can trust, TravelPerk has you covered. With exclusive negotiated rates and VAT reclaims, you’ll save money from start to finish. To learn more about how TravelPerk can help you save on business spend, get in touch with the team today.

The post The 5 best budget travel companies in the US appeared first on TravelPerk.

The idea of travelling the world on a budget might seem contradictory—but not when you choose the best low-cost holiday companies to help you snag cheap flights, give you the best travel advice, and help make every penny count.

Whichever popular destinations you’ve got your eye on—from Turkey or Greece to Japan or the Maldives—low-cost agencies and travel companies can find you the best holiday deals without burning a hole in your pocket.

To help you plan your next trip on a thrifty budget—and escape rainy England—check out our list of the five best low-cost travel companies in the UK which is packed with info on the affordable experiences and destinations you can enjoy.

Best online travel agency for business travel

1. TravelPerk: the one agency for all your business travel needs

TravelPerk is a modern solution for modern corporate travel. Its easy-to-use online booking tool is a refreshing change from the clunky UI often associated with business travel. TravelPerk enables you to make flexible bookings for employees, and even offers the option to offset your carbon footprint.

As well as access to a huge inventory of flights—including low-cost carriers and accommodation—TravelPerk also has direct contracts with over 30,000 properties worldwide, enabling clients to access lower rates and keep business spending low.

TravelPerk also offers the most comprehensive and unique set of corporate travel features, including FlexiPerk, an add-on that allows users to cancel any aspect of their travel plans up to two hours before departure—saving businesses an average of 40% when compared to traditional flexible fares. Plus, across all of TravelPerk’s paid plans, businesses only pay the monthly fee if they travel that month.

This platform is more than just an OTA, it’s a comprehensive corporate travel management tool that helps your team book, manage, and report on business travel. TravelPerk ensures employees are traveling stress-free on the cheapest flights available, at no sacrifice to experience.

Main offerings and features:

• Extensive inventory of travel services
• Flexible booking with FlexiPerk
• Safety alerts with TravelCare
• VAT recovery
• Integrated travel policy & approval flows
• Centralized invoicing
• Easy & real-time expense reports
• Carbon offsetting with GreenPerk
• 24/7 customer support with a 15s target
• Integration with 3rd party tools, such as expense management or HR software like Expensify and BambooHR

TravelPerk gives employees access to the information and the security they need to travel with peace of mind. It gives organizations and travel managers access to the best corporate travel rates that you won’t find on the market.

The best budget travel agencies in the United Kingdom for leisure travel

2. TUI

TUI is a leisure, travel and tourism company that specialises in package holidays, cruises, flights, and hotel bookings. As well as offering several last-minute and destination deals, the company flies from over 20 UK airports—including five of the major London airports—ensuring convenient access for travellers across the country.

Australia, Egypt, Mexico, oh my! TUI offers affordable holidays all over the globe, including beach holidays, city breaks, and mountain retreats, and even holidays in Africa to indulge in one-of-a-kind safari trips.

Travellers can choose from over 5,000 combinations for multi-destination trips or opt for shorter getaways in Europe. Whether it's exploring exotic destinations like the Caribbean, Dubai, or Thailand, TUI stands out as an excellent choice for stress-free, all-inclusive holidays.

Finally, the ATOL scheme financially protects all flight-inclusive holidays featured on TUI, and travellers will receive an ATOL certificate upon payment.

Main offerings and features:

• Personalised tours and multi-destination trips for customised getaways
• Flexible payment options and some 0% deposit options
• 24/7 customer support
• Holiday budget calculator to help travellers budget their spending money
• TUI mobile app helps travellers book and manage your trip

3. Jet2 Holidays

Jet2 Holidays is a tour operator and part of the Jet2.com airline based in the UK. The company specialises in providing package holidays, including flights, accommodations, and transfers, and offers a range of holiday options, from beach vacations to city breaks and family-friendly getaways.

As well as destination holidays to European countries such as Spain and Italy, they also offer “active” holidays which include golfing, cycling, camping, and theme park trips. Plus, Jet2 Holidays acts as a one-stop shop for all holiday essentials, offering travellers the choice to purchase travel insurance, car rentals, airport lounges, and even pre-ordered champagne to help them make the most of their travel experiences.

Main offerings and features:

• Single-parent holidays, LGBTQ+ trips, and solo getaways
• Free child places—children can fly, stay, and play for free with certain packages
• Low deposits help travellers spread the cost of the trip
• Travellers can search for holidays by TripAdvisor rating for independent reviews
• All infants under two travel for free

4. Low Cost Vibes

Low Cost Vibes is a low-cost travel agency that offers budget-friendly vacations to countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. The company’s holiday packages include flights, hotel accommodation, airport parking facilities, and travel insurance.

As well as partnering with a broad range of popular low-cost airlines, Low Cost Vibes also works with more than 170,000 hotels to deliver the best prices and travel deals to suit travellers on a budget.

Main offerings and features:

• Dedicated travel agents
• All flight offers are covered by ATOL protection
• 24-hour customer support
• Choice of holiday types, including LGBT, villa, self-catering, and family holidays
• Specialised skiing packages

5. Sunshine

Sunshine is a low-cost, online travel agent that provides a search interface between travellers and various third-party suppliers. In other words, much like Skyscanner and Booking.com, it’s a search engine that helps you find the best deals according to your search parameters.

It’s important to note that online travel agencies such as Sunshine aren’t responsible for any purchases you make from hotel or flight providers. However, any flight-inclusive package holiday booked via Sunshine is fully ATOL protected.

From couples and singles holidays to short breaks and winter escapes, Sunshine offers an easy booking process and a great inventory of low-cost, wallet-friendly choices for all types of travellers to discover.

Main offerings and features:

• All-inclusive holidays
• Hotel deposits from as little as £1
• Last-minute holidays
• “Flextras”, a flexible booking policy that ensures no charges for changes or cancellations
• Price promise ensures a refund of the difference if you find a cheaper deal elsewhere

Wrapping up: Which budget travel company is best for you?

Every company on this list knows how to deliver low-cost, tailor-made travel plans. Craving a biking adventure in Canada, the bright lights of New York City, or the vibrant cultural tapestry of India? These companies offer the flexibility you need in departure dates and airfare choices to make it all happen.

Plus, for first-time or solo travellers, the fact that these companies’ travel experts can provide the best destination knowledge, sightseeing info, and travel tips is a game changer. However, if you need a corporate travel solution with excellent service, TravelPerk is the answer. You'll enjoy exclusive negotiated rates and VAT reclaims, ensuring savings throughout the entire process. Contact the team today to discover how TravelPerk can help you cut down on business travel expenses.

The post The 5 best budget travel companies in the UK appeared first on TravelPerk.

As a travel manager, you have access to swathes of employee travel data. Each time an employee travels for business, a huge amount of data is created—from how much the trip cost and how it was booked, to which vendors were used, and how closely the trip complies with your corporate travel policy.

All of this data provides you with the insight you need to track key performance indicators (KPIs) for travel management. Usually, organizations will decide which KPIs for travel management to focus on by ensuring that they align with their travel budgets, overall business travel goals, and travel industry benchmarks.

It’s your job to not only establish and monitor the right travel management KPIs for your organization but also to leverage the results and turn them into actionable insights to help optimize your travel management program. 

So, which KPIs for travel management are most important to measure? Below, we’ll cover nine travel management KPIs that are crucial for most organizations.

What types of KPIs for travel management should you be measuring?

Many organizations view measuring travel KPIs primarily as a way to reduce costs or optimize the way they use their travel budget. However, although cost savings are important, there are also other important factors to consider. 

Here are four broad types of corporate travel metrics that all organizations should measure: 

Financial metrics

These metrics are related to how organizations can save money and protect their bottom line. For example, this category covers KPIs that measure policy compliance, overspend outside of booking tools, total spend, and cost savings. Cancellation costs and average spend per vertical (flight costs, hotel costs, etc.) would also fall under this category. 

Quality metrics

Quality metrics cover KPIs that relate to employee satisfaction. For example, KPIs of this type measure traveler satisfaction, traveler engagement with approved booking platforms, and SLA agreement satisfaction by vendors. 

Business metrics

Finally, business metrics cover return on investment (ROI) and productivity KPIs. For example, organizations can measure trip success rate, productivity rate, and the impact on travel within departments to gauge how successful their travel program is.

Sustainability metrics

Measuring sustainability metrics is crucial for companies to meet their corporate social responsibility goals. Many regions are frequently releasing new environmental legislation, such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in the European Union, and organizations should be tracking sustainability KPIs to stay compliant.

Some examples of sustainability metrics are the amount of CO2 being produced by business travel, how much of this CO2 is offset, which transport types are being used (train travel, air travel, etc.), and whether there are opportunities to make travel more eco-friendly.

9 Top KPIs for travel management 

Now that we’ve covered the most important travel management KPI categories, below, we’ll go through nine KPIs that your organization should measure to evaluate the effectiveness of its corporate business travel policy. 

1. Booking tool adoption

If your company has invested in a booking tool or a full-service travel management platform, you likely did so with the intention of streamlining processes, ensuring compliance, and, importantly, making savings on corporate travel.

Even though you’re on board with the travel booking solution, how many of your traveling employees are using other booking channels to make travel arrangements? Measuring the percentage of employees who have fully adopted the tool as their primary method of making travel arrangements will help you evaluate how effective the online booking tool is, and the level of ROI you’re getting out of it.

Plus, your booking tool will only show employees approved suppliers that have been included in your corporate travel policy, and are likely to provide you with corporate discounts. To gain better booking visibility, divide the booked and ticketed spend by your total travel spend to discover how well your organization has adopted your booking tool.

2. Use of approved methods of payment

Much like your booking tool, it’s important to get a handle on how compliant your employees are with the forms of payment they’re using.

For example, organizations that provide their employees with a company credit card to cover business travel expenses need to know the levels of non-compliance with their payment policy. A travel and expense policy is meant to help organizations keep occupational fraud at bay, streamline the reimbursement process, and comply with tax office regulations. Plus, having approved payment methods makes it easier to monitor travel spend and identify areas for optimization.

You can measure how well your employees are adhering to your payment policy by dividing your travel-related spend on a company credit card by your total travel spend.

3. Percentage of bookings made within policy

Does your company have a corporate travel policy in place? Travel policies are key for staying on top of spending, increasing booking efficiency, and keeping travelers safe.

It’s crucial to understand how many people are booking within policy over time. You’ll also want to know the reasons for any policy violations: are managers taking too long to approve business trips, causing them to go up in price? Is the policy too strict? Or are travelers booking their trips too last-minute? By observing trends in the data, you’ll be able to uncover potential flaws in your company’s travel management program.

4. Savings from corporate travel discounts

Securing corporate travel discounts is a great way for organizations to keep costs low. While many companies spend time individually negotiating discounts with different vendors, there is a better and easier way to do this. Travel management platforms like TravelPerk often have their own deals with vendors, and offer exclusive discounts on travel services (like airline ticket prices, hotel rooms, and car rentals) to all their customers, so they can take advantage of corporate discounts without having to negotiate their own rates. 

To measure the percentage your company has saved by securing corporate rates and discounts through your travel management platform, take the average market rate and subtract the discounted rate, then divide by the average market rate and multiply by 100.

5. Traveler satisfaction

Knowing how happy your traveling employees are is key to business success. If they aren’t happy with their travel experiences, their unhappiness is likely associated with your corporate travel program and policy. As with other areas of business, when employees are unhappy, retention rates are likely to plummet.

Requiring travelers to take regular satisfaction surveys about their travel experiences will give you insight into how well your travel policies are working. Ask them about their transportation, lodging, expense, and booking experiences to identify areas for improvement. 

6. Percentage of changes, rebookings, and cancellations

Where possible, you want to avoid making any changes to bookings since they usually incur steep charges and additional spend.

Take a look at the percentage of rebookings, changes, and cancellations during a specific period. This will give you an idea of whether there are certain times of the month or year when changes to bookings occur, whether they can be attributed to specific departments, and what reasons were given for the changes. From there, you can consider how best to reduce the total amount of changes made to original bookings. 

7. Percentage of advance bookings

Booking ahead saves organizations money, and generally offers more flexibility and choice with travel arrangements. In general, your employees should be booking travel as far in advance as possible.

Of course, scenarios that call for last-minute bookings can always arise. But, if you take a look at how many days in advance travel arrangements are made on average, you’ll get a picture of whether you need to adjust your travel booking processes and/or policies.

8. Number of travel incident reports

You have a legal obligation to keep your employees safe when they travel. This is known as duty of care. To fulfill your duty of care obligations, you’ll need to have travel risk management policies in place that address risks like political unrest, illness, regional security concerns, and entry requirements.

Take a good look at the total number of incident reports over a specific timeframe to gauge just how safe your employees are when they travel. Plus, be proactive about any extra measures you can put in place to ensure their safety during any future business trip.

9. Carbon footprint

Finally, to meet your sustainability goals, you’ll need a way of measuring your organization’s carbon footprint. This involves understanding how much CO2 is being released into the atmosphere during business travel.

Once you have visibility over your carbon footprint, you can identify opportunities for more sustainable travel. For example, travelers could take trains instead of flying whenever possible, and could also opt for public transportation over private taxis once they’ve arrived at their destination. TravelPerk’s GreenPerk program allows businesses to automatically calculate the carbon footprint of their business travel program, and reach net zero emissions by investing in carbon offsets. 

The post Measure these 9 top KPIs for travel management success appeared first on TravelPerk.

Many companies have seen disruptions to their operations in 2023, including business travel. Travelers have had to think on their feet, change plans quickly, and deal with rising prices. But how much of an impact has this had on professionals around the world? Have various regions been affected differently, and how are travelers dealing with the chaos?

We conducted an online survey of 4000 business travelers from a range of ages and industries, across four countries: the UK, the US, Spain, and Germany.

Below, we’ve gathered a few key findings from our business travel survey to bring you new insights on the current state of employee travel.

Key takeaways from TravelPerk’s Business Travel Chaos survey

• 79% of global business travelers have experienced a travel disruption in 2023
• UK business travelers report that they’ve been the most impacted by transportation strikes (28%), while weather-related disruptions like natural disasters and floods have mostly affected American travelers (33%). US travelers are also the most affected by visa issues compared to Europeans, with 17% being affected by denied entry or delayed visa processing.
• In all countries surveyed, 40% of all business travelers reported being impacted by delays, and 1 in 4 business travelers have faced cancellations in 2023
• An average of 40% of travelers say they’re checking for travel updates more frequently because of the delays, while 35% say they now prefer to book options with flexible cancellation policies
• When things go wrong, 33% of global travelers would prefer to speak to a human customer service representative

According to travelers, the top benefits of business travel are exploring new places (44%) and developing new skills (43%)

Travelers are struggling to find options within their budget

When asked what they find the most challenging about booking a business trip, the highest percentage of travelers (34%) said they struggled to find travel options that weren’t too expensive or were within their budget. An additional 30% said it was difficult to find travel options to suit their schedule.

With inflation impacting business travel prices, it’s no surprise that an increasing number of professionals are concerned about costs. Fortunately, airfares and hotel rates began to stabilize in the second quarter (Q2) of 2023, according to our data.

40% of travelers have been affected by delays of more than one hour in 2023, while almost a quarter have been affected by cancellations

Travel delays have been a serious problem in 2023. For example, airports in the US are experiencing record-high numbers of passengers and flights with no increase in capacity to accommodate them, according to the US PIRG (Public Interest Research Group). Flight delays were also an issue in Europe, with 106.7 million air travelers affected in the summer months alone, according to Aviation Direct.

These travel trends were borne out in our data, which showed that 40% of travelers across all countries experienced delays of more than an hour in 2023. Moreover, 24% of travelers dealt with cancellations as well. These were particularly an issue in the UK, where 30% of travelers were affected by cancellations.

Travelers are checking for updates more frequently and booking options with flexible cancellation policies

Travel disruptions are changing the way people travel for work, as professionals do their best to avoid being derailed by changes to their trip. 39% of all travelers surveyed report that they are checking for travel updates more frequently, while 35% are now booking options with flexible cancellation policies, and 34% are allowing more travel time to get to their destination.

In the US, travelers were particularly likely to allow more travel time to get to their destination, with 43% reporting that they would do this. This makes sense, considering the high number of travel delays affecting the US – 84% of US travelers experienced some form of travel disruption in 2023.

In Spain, the largest percentage of travelers said they were checking for travel updates more frequently (41%), while the largest percentage of travelers in Germany (37%) said they were booking options with flexible cancellation policies.

Most travelers prefer to talk to a human customer service representative

Across all four countries surveyed, travelers agree: The human touch is a key concern for them when booking business travel. When emergencies happen and travelers need to cancel or change their booking, they’d prefer to have a real-life person to talk to.

33% of respondents said talking to a human customer service representative by phone was their preferred option for making modifications. They said they’d rather do this than make changes online, via SMS, using a chatbot, or by speaking with someone at the airport.

Travelers are concerned about their health and work arrangements

Across all countries surveyed, business travelers found it difficult to catch up with in-person meetings, virtual meetings, and emails after a business trip. Overall, 35% said they found this to be a problem, while an even higher percentage in the US (39%) thought this was a problem.

Travelers were also concerned about jet lag and physical fatigue, with 20% across all countries saying they were concerned with this. As health and well-being become an increasing focus in the workplace, this is no surprise—one in three US workers report being highly concerned with their workplace well-being in general, according to a survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

Compiling, submitting, and getting expenses approved for a trip can also present a challenge. 19% of travelers had an issue with this across all countries.

Business travelers find it challenging to keep up with work and be away from loved ones

36% of travelers reported that it was difficult to be away from loved ones while on a trip, while 27% said it was hard to keep up-to-date on ongoing projects or work. 29% also said that being able to make changes to their trip when needed was a significant challenge for them.

These numbers were fairly similar across the four countries surveyed. US travelers were mostly concerned with keeping up with projects and work (33%), while in Spain, Germany, and the UK, being away from loved ones was considered the greatest difficulty.

What business travelers can do to mitigate travel disruptions

With all this chaos going on, it’s understandable that professionals might feel concerned about their upcoming business travel plans. Fortunately, there’s a lot that can be done to manage travel disruptions and limit their damage.

Here are some tips travelers can follow to prepare for their upcoming trips:

Build in buffer time

Considering the recent travel delays, it’s a good idea to build in extra buffer time for your business trips. This might mean:

• Leaving more time to get to the airport or train station in case of a delay
• Planning to stay an extra night in your destination to make the pace of travel more relaxed
• Planning layovers that are long enough to transfer comfortably from one mode of transportation to the next

Pack smart

24% of US business travelers were impacted by lost or delayed luggage in 2023, so it’s important to be prepared for unexpected circumstances. If your luggage is delayed or if you get stuck somewhere overnight, you’ll need to have the right supplies with you. This will prevent you from feeling stressed out if you have important meetings to attend once you arrive at your destination.

Be sure to carry essential items in your hand luggage, including:

• Medications
• Identity and travel documents
• A change of clothes
• Toiletries (shampoo, soap, razors, etc.)
• Phone chargers
• Laptop and charger, in case you need to get work done on the go

Know your rights

Did you know that you might be entitled to compensation if your flight or train is delayed? Different countries have different laws about delays and cancellations. Familiarize yourself with these before you travel, so you’ll know how to get your money back if something goes wrong with your travel plans.

For example, the EU’s air passenger rules state that passengers are entitled to reimbursement, rerouting, or return, as well as assistance at the airport, if their flight gets canceled. If the passenger is informed of the cancellation less than 14 days prior to the scheduled departure time, they also have the right to compensation.

If a flight is delayed, EU passengers also have the right to reimbursement, assistance, and a return flight. In addition, passengers are entitled to compensation if the flight arrives at the final destination with a delay of more than three hours.

EU rail passengers have the right to a rerouting or refund under certain circumstances, in case of cancellation or delays.

US air passengers are entitled to a refund in the case of cancellations or delays, according to the US Department of Transportation. The US does not have laws on rail travel compensation.

How TravelPerk helps travelers overcome the challenges of travel disruptions

TravelPerk offers a best-in-class business travel software solution to help travelers easily book, manage, and save money on business trips. With TravelPerk, business travelers can find hotel, flight, and rail bookings at the best rates, submit expense reports, manage corporate travel policies, recover VAT, offset their carbon footprint to meet sustainability goals, and more.

Saving you money

One of the main travel challenges reported by business travelers is compiling, submitting, and getting expenses approved for a trip. This challenge affected 19% of travelers across all countries. TravelPerk can help with this—the platform manages expenses and invoices in one place, while also integrating with the world’s leading expense platforms. Users can set up expense management automations and speed up the process for everyone on the team.

As global business travel prices and airfares rise, many travelers are concerned about budget. With 34% of travelers struggling to find options within budget, and another 30% finding it challenging to book options that suit their schedule, it’s clear that saving money is a top priority. TravelPerk’s extensive inventory of accommodation and travel services can help users find the best option to suit their needs. And TravelPerk offers corporate travel clients the best negotiated rates, allowing them to maximize savings when booking.

Keeping you informed

Since 39% of TravelPerk survey respondents check for information more frequently as a result of travel disruptions, these individuals may benefit from using TravelCare . TravelCare users (business travelers and admins) will get notifications of any disruptions or changes to their travel plans via the app. They will also have immediate access to the customer care team if they need assistance. This will help travel managers meet their duty of care and health and safety obligations.

In addition, when making bookings on the TravelPerk platform, travelers will have access to clear, verified, real-time risk and regulation information—so they can book with confidence.

Help when you need it

The highest percentage of travelers (33%) prefer speaking to a human customer service representative by phone. They’ll love TravelPerk’s seven-star rated customer care service , which is available 24/7.

Travel delays and changes create a greater need for flexible cancellation policies. With 35% of travelers actively looking for flexible offerings, TravelPerk’s FlexiPerk solution is the perfect fit. Using FlexiPerk, travelers can cancel a booking up to two hours before departure and get 80% of the cost back as credit on the TravelPerk platform. This results in an average 40% saving compared to traditional flexible fares.

Overall, 2023 has been a year of major changes, including some disruptions in travel. These have left travelers concerned and looking for different solutions to ensure their trips go as planned. The good news is, with advanced planning and the right tools, there’s no need to worry—travelers can take precautions to ensure they have a great trip, with the right resources to manage the situation if things go wrong. Hopefully, travel industry providers will see a resolution of these issues for next year and beyond.

Methodology
OnePoll conducted an online survey on behalf of TravelPerk from 27 October to 07 November 2023, with 4000 employed adults from the UK, US, Germany and Spain who travel for work. Respondents came from organizations within sectors such as accountancy, banking & finance, retail, and healthcare.

The post Key takeaways from TravelPerk’s Business Travel Chaos survey appeared first on TravelPerk.

Whether you're planning a last-minute vacation or heading off on an unplanned business trip, securing travel options that won’t break the bank can be a daunting task. Let’s face it, last-minute flights aren’t usually the cheapest airfares. Sometimes, spontaneous trips are necessary, so it’s good to know what your options are to save money on your speedy travel plans.

In this article, we're going to guide you through the process of booking a last-minute trip without breaking the bank, catering to the needs of both leisure and business travelers.

Leisure travel: mastering the art of last-minute travel deals

Any last-minute travel booking can be stressful, whether it’s for business or leisure. Each comes with its own challenges, so we’ve decided to look at each individually—this way you’ll know exactly what you’re dealing with, and common pitfalls (and solutions) to look out for.

You might be heading off on a snap holiday, or you might have an under-the-wire family event. Whatever the case, here are the main challenges you might face as a leisure traveler.

The challenges of last-minute leisure travel

Limited availability

You might have a specific destination in mind, say Chicago or San Diego, but if you’re booking a last-minute journey, you might find that there’s very little availability on booking websites like Expedia. It helps to let go of any specific requirements and be open to different arrangements.

Practical reasons

Some holidays require planning in advance, whether that’s sorting car hire, planning ski rental, or booking specific attractions. Some top destinations might require booking ahead for activities and tours, particularly during peak season, so booking at the last minute can often mean you risk losing out on the best attractions.

It’s worth considering the time of year (for example, New York at Christmas or Thanksgiving) and see if you can avoid those holiday periods. Booking far in advance also means you can enjoy the wait—for many people, half the joy of a holiday is in counting down and looking forward to it.

Special occasions

If you have specific travel dates in mind, for example, if you’re celebrating an occasion like a honeymoon or an anniversary, booking at the last minute can lead to disappointment. Coinciding with a special day isn’t very conducive to the book-and-go approach, as you may find yourself with limited options.

Our top tips for last-minute holiday bargains

Booking a holiday at the eleventh hour while looking for cheap flights and well-priced vacation rentals isn't easy. But it most definitely can be done— in fact, there are even certain perks!

Here are our hacks to securing the best deals for your next spontaneous getaway, without doing too much damage to your credit card.

Check accommodation and travel simultaneously

A common pitfall in last-minute travel planning is overlooking the total cost of the journey, especially if you’re planning a round trip. It's not uncommon for flights to seem well priced, only for you to discover that accommodation is wildly expensive, or vice versa. To strike the right balance, it’s worth exploring platforms that offer vacation packages for both travel and accommodation.

Leverage loyalty and credit card deals

Frequent leisure travelers can capitalize on their loyalty program points and credit card rewards to significantly reduce travel expenses. Airlines, hotel chains, and credit card companies often provide exclusive offers, discounts, and perks that can make a significant dent in the overall cost of your journey. For the best offers around, join newsletters or download their apps.

Embrace flexibility in your plans

Flexibility is your best friend when it comes to securing last-minute deals. If you can adapt your departure dates, you'll be well on your way to finding better vacation deals. Take advantage of flexible date search features on booking platforms to uncover the best offers, from last-minute hotel deals to car rental cancellations. Are you planning a road trip around Europe? Or are you set on a beach holiday in California?Or maybe Cancun?Wherever you have in mind, we’d recommend keeping your options open as far as possible.

Consider staying away from the center

In addition to flexible travel dates, it’s worth being flexible about your location. During your quest for affordable last-minute travel, consider hotels, hostels or Airbnbs located slightly away from the city center and trending tourist hotspots. These options are usually much more budget-friendly, and you know what they say: less-traveled paths can lead to hidden gems.

Explore alternative airports

If your last-minute plans allow for flexibility in your arrival airport, consider exploring smaller airports—or even airports in neighboring cities. These may offer more availability and more attractive pricing options. Just be sure to factor in transportation costs and convenience when making your choice! Now you know the best tips to book last-minute leisure travel without breaking the bank, let’s move on to business travel

Business travel: making each trip count

Corporate travel is subject to change. Deals and meetings often move around faster than you can keep up, and demand rapid, efficient, and cost-effective solutions.

You might be dealing with crisis management, meeting client demands, or working around employee schedules: there are multiple reasons why business travel might be a last-minute ordeal. Knowing how to secure the best travel deals each time is essential.

Before we get onto our top tips, here are the main drawbacks of last-minute business travel.

Challenges of last-minute corporate travel

High costs

Last-minute flights and accommodation usually come with a hefty price tag, but particularly for corporate travelers. You might need to book a corporate venue, for example for a board meeting, and often you’ll be faced not only with limited availability but also much higher prices than usual.

Time-consuming search process

Scouring multiple booking websites for the best options is a time-consuming task. Business travelers often have limited time to plan and book their trips, so efficiency is a top priority. Employee time spent combing through various booking sites isn’t time well spent.

Limited availability

Last-minute options can be scarce, especially during peak travel seasons or when attending important events. Business trips usually come with more fixed times, meaning you have less flexibility when booking. Securing the right flights and accommodations can be challenging.

Policy compliance

Last-minute travel often falls outside of corporate travel policies due to its higher costs. Finding cost-effective options that align with company guidelines can be tricky. Employee duty of care is also something to bear in mind—it’s harder to implement when plans have been made at the eleventh hour.

Our top tips for last-minute corporate travel options

Navigating spontaneous business trips isn’t always a simple task, but with strategic planning and access to the right resources, it is possible to book efficiently. Here are our tried-and-tested hacks for keeping those costs low.

Utilize an all-in-one business travel platform

One of the most effective ways to streamline the process of last-minute business travel is by using an all-in-one business travel platform like TravelPerk.

You can easily compare prices and availability while staying within your company's travel policy guidelines. The convenience of booking all your travel essentials in one go allows employees to take control of their itineraries, reduce costs, and minimize the hassle associated with last-minute bookings.

Take advantage of exclusive negotiated rates

If last-minute travel is a frequent occurrence in your company, negotiating your own rates with individual providers can be a major drain on employee time.

Instead, you can leverage the exclusive negotiated rates available through business travel platforms like TravelPerk. These platforms continuously collaborate with various suppliers and have access to rates that often surpass those you can find independently through leisure travel websites. Allow them to handle the negotiations while you enjoy the cost savings.

Book flexible options

Given the often unpredictable nature of business travel, it's important to be as adaptable as possible and well-prepared for any changes. With TravelPerk you can access bonus extras like FlexiPerk to provide flexibility in your travel plans and guarantee money back in case of last-minute changes.

Don’t waste a second—prepare a game plan for your next last-minute trip

The bottom line is that you’re always better off when looking for a last-minute trip outside peak times, but this isn’t always possible, especially when traveling for business reasons. Part of the trouble is spending time trawling the internet for the best options—but you don’t have to.

Instead of wasting precious employee time on multiple websites searching for deals, you can book everything you need in one place, including flights, hotels, car rentals, apartments, and even train tickets. With all-in-one platforms such as TravelPerk, you can access an industry-leading inventory that provides you with a wide array of options at your fingertips.

Travel can’t always be planned months in advance, we get that, so if you’ve got to book a last-minute trip, do it right.

The post How to book last-minute travel without breaking the bank appeared first on TravelPerk.

You’ll get it all in New Zealand—from the geothermal marvels in Rotorua, the breathtaking fjords of Fiordland, and the adventure playground of Queenstown. Whether you’re visiting for leisure or business, the country will offer you exactly what you need. 

To enjoy what New Zealand has to offer, you’ll need the best travel agencies by your side. Luckily, we've done all the heavy lifting to bring you the definitive list of the five best online travel agencies in this island country of the South Pacific Ocean.

Our evaluation includes factors like user reviews, booking convenience, and local expertise, ensuring your trip is not just hassle-free but a genuine immersion into the heart of New Zealand. Pack your bags and get ready to enjoy a Kiwi adventure as epic as a haka dance!

Best online travel agency for business travel

1. TravelPerk: the one agency for all your business travel needs

TravelPerk is a modern solution for modern corporate travel. Its easy-to-use online booking tool is a refreshing change from the clunky UI often associated with business travel. TravelPerk enables you to make flexible bookings for employees, and even offers the option to offset your carbon footprint. 

This platform is more than just an OTA, it’s a comprehensive corporate travel management tool that helps your team book, manage, and report on business travel. TravelPerk ensures employees are traveling stress-free on the cheapest flights available, at no sacrifice to experience.

Main offerings and features: 

• Extensive inventory of travel services
• Safety alerts with TravelCare
• Integrated travel policy & approval flows
• Centralized invoicing
• Easy & real-time expense reports
• Carbon offsetting with GreenPerk
• 24/7 customer support with a 15s target
• Integration with 3rd party tools, such as expense management or HR software like Expensify and BambooHR

TravelPerk gives employees access to the information and the security they need to travel with peace of mind. It gives organizations and travel managers access to the best corporate travel rates that you won’t find on the market.

Best online travel agencies for leisure travel

2. House of Travel: best for last-minute cruise deals

House of Travel has a team of 300 dedicated consultants who live and breathe the art of exploration. Whether your wanderlust leads you to the vibrant city of Wellington, Marlborough—New Zealand’s wine country, or to popular Australian cities like Sydney and Melbourne, or somewhere further afield (maybe Europe?), they've got you covered.

Search through thousands of tours worldwide to find a great trip tailor-made for you. Besides, House of Travel tour guides offer insights into accommodations, activities, and inspiring articles for every dreamy getaway on your bucket list. Get it all today with great offers for family holidays, cruises, flights, and guided tours.

Main features and offerings:

• Free video consultant service so you can better plan your holiday with the tour operators
• Treat your children to unforgettable Pacific, North and South Islands, and other destination cruises during school holidays
• Easy access to information through their mobile app

3. Hello World: great deals on flights and cruises to various destinations worldwide

Hello World is a trusted travel specialist in New Zealand. They offer unique experiences such as holidays in the Bay of Islands and cruises in the South Pacific, or explore Christchurch in the South Island. 

Their travel destinations span Australia, Fiji, the Pacific Islands, Asia, the UK & Europe, the USA, Canada, and South America. One of the best things about Hello World is that you can travel now and pay later with various finance options. They also accept American Express membership rewards points to pay for your trip.

Main features and Offerings:

• Partnership with Flybuys to let you earn Flybuys points on your travel booking
• Accredited travel planners and advisors guide on travel planning
• Travel Insurance: Secure comprehensive Allianz and Cover-More Travel Insurance coverage for a worry-free journey
• Flexible payment options

4. Haka Tours: enjoy New Zealand's finest group tours tailored to your preferences

Haka Tours offers an extraordinary opportunity to explore New Zealand's captivating landscapes with thrilling adventures. They provide an all-inclusive package with a range of tours tailor-made to your unique sense of adventure. This package covers accommodation, transportation, a knowledgeable Kiwi tour guide, breakfast, and essential inclusions—everything to ensure a stress-free trip.

Haka Tours set itself apart from the rest with its unwavering commitment to preserving Aotearoa (the Māori-language name for New Zealand), ensuring you leave only a positive environmental impact when on your New Zealand tours.

Main features and offerings:

• Small group tours for an intimate travel experience with a maximum of 16 people
• Swap or tour cancellation at no cost up to 60 days before your journey begins
• 100% Kiwi: Benefit from the local expertise of New Zealand travel guides. They promise a purpose-led Kiwi experience, ensuring you truly connect with the land and culture

5. Flight Centre: a dedicated travel agent with comprehensive travel services

Flight Centre have made travelers' dreams come true for over four decades. Operating in various countries, including New Zealand, Flight Centre provides a comprehensive one-stop shop for all your travel needs, making your journey seamless and stress-free.

Flight Centre also collaborates with leading car hire companies such as Hertz, Avis, Europcar, and more, ensuring you can access convenient transportation options. Explore freedom, fun, and flexibility by embarking on a North Island road trip with a rental car to enjoy a self-drive through Auckland, Bay of Islands, Napier & Wellington.

Main features and offerings

• Comprehensive travel services, including flight bookings, accommodations, holidays, cruises, tours, and insurance
• Presence in multiple countries as they’re part of the Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG)
• With more than 450 stores and 3,500+ Travel Experts worldwide, Flight Centre tour company provides personalized guidance and support

Enjoy New Zealand with the best travel agencies by your side

Travel to the heart of Aotearoa with the best travel companies and enjoy how its extraordinary landscapes paint nature's finest hues. If you’re after an adrenaline rush of Queenstown's bungee jumps or looking for the serenity of Milford Sound fjords, these travel agencies in New Zealand are your gateway to extraordinary adventure.If your travels take you on a business venture to New Zealand, TravelPerk is your go-to agency for corporate needs. With their tailored services and dedication to making your business trips seamless, you can focus on what truly matters—closing deals.

The post The 5 best online travel agencies in New Zealand appeared first on TravelPerk.

The Philippines offers a plethora of unique experiences for both corporate and leisure travelers. From whale diving in Cebu to the teeming and colorful beauty of the Masskara festival, there’s no shortage of adventure in this stunning archipelago.

The Capital Manilla, is also one of Asia’s major seaports, making it a destination for professionals all over the world. Ready to explore the 7,000 islands that make up the Philippines? We’ve compiled a list of the best online travel agencies to help.

Let's dive deeper into the five best online travel agencies the Philippines has to offer!

Best online travel agency for business travel

1. TravelPerk: the one agency for all your business travel needs

TravelPerk is a modern solution for modern corporate travel. Its easy-to-use online booking tool is a refreshing change from the clunky UI often associated with business travel. TravelPerk enables you to make flexible bookings for employees, and even offers the option to offset your carbon footprint.

This platform is more than just an OTA, it’s a comprehensive corporate travel management tool that helps your team book, manage, and report on business travel. TravelPerk ensures employees are traveling stress-free on the cheapest flights available, at no sacrifice to experience.

Main offerings and features:

• Extensive inventory of travel services
• Safety alerts with TravelCare
• Integrated travel policy & approval flows
• Centralized invoicing
• Easy & real-time expense reports
• Carbon offsetting with GreenPerk
• 24/7 customer support with a 15s target
• Integration with 3rd party tools, such as expense management or HR software like Expensify and BambooHR

TravelPerk gives employees access to the information and the security they need to travel with peace of mind. It gives organizations and travel managers access to the best corporate travel rates that you won’t find on the market.

Best online travel agencies for tourist travel

2. Marsman Drysdale: wide variety of Philippines island exploration tours

Marsman Drysdale is committed to giving you a comprehensive Philippines experience. That includes discovering the natural beauty of the 7000 islands that make up the archipelago.

This Philippines travel agency covers getaways to the most common yet ideal tourist island destinations, including Luzon, Bohol, Cebu City, Boracay, and, of course, Manila.

Main offerings and features:

• Reservations and ticketing for international and domestic air travel
• Hotel, car, rail, cruise, and travel reservations
• Visa, passport, and travel documents assistance
• Local and foreign tour packages including public and private tours

3. Baron Travel: travel specialist staff at your service

Baron Travel has 55 years of experience in organizing all things Philippine travel. They offer a wide array of tourist services for both business and leisure travelers eager to experience the Philippines' picture-perfect beauty. They're a full-service company offering everything from tour packages to tailor-made adventure travel.

Baron Travel agents are also known for their excellent service, offering an online booking platform that makes traveling easy and hassle-free. To ensure a smooth, enjoyable experience, they've created a network of Filipino hotels and destinations.

Main offerings and features:

• A wide variety of Philippine tours across the 7,000 different islands available
• International tours to famous destinations throughout Europe and Asia
• Ocean cruises each with unique destinations and catering
• Destination management and booking for smooth and convenient traveling

4. Rajah Travel Corporation: for unique tours, travel experiences, and destinations

Rajah Travel Corporation focuses on developing and promoting a wide array of unique travel experiences. With 45 years of experience in the industry, this tour company offers international travel options, including destinations throughout Australia, the Americas, and Asia.

Rajah Travel is forward-facing, adopting travel industry trends, including cruises, flights, hotels, and specialized tour operators. They're also closely connected to a network of other hospitality companies and brands to ensure you have all you need.

Main offerings and features:

• Online booking tool for hotels and transportation
• Corporate travel management services for a personalized experience
• Tourist travel management including booking, group, and independent traveling for convenient leisure
• Documentation services including Visa management
• New travel insurance policy creation and existing travel insurance policy amendments
• A wide variety of group tours, flights, and cruises to both international and domestic locations

5. Van Sol Travel & Tours: for a wide variety of international tour packages and destinations

Located in Manila, Van Sol offers international tours throughout the world. From Japan to Europe, the USA, and beyond, Van Sol has a wide reach as a travel company.

They also offer a wide array of domestic Filipino tourist packages to famous destinations like Quezon and Makati. They're full-scale, meaning they cover every aspect of the travel process, giving you a one-stop tailored solution.

While they're focused on organizing your transportation, tours, and insurance, you can focus on enjoying all the beauty travel has to offer.

Main offerings and features:

• Various tour packages including international and domestic tour options
• Hotel and venue bookings ahead of time with a wide variety of options
• Passport services and documentation management
• Transportation services including organization and booking for flights, cruises, and cars.

Visit the Philippines with the best travel agency by your side

Whether you're heading straight for Manila or plan to explore El Nido or beyond, the right travel agency makes it all convenient and sets your mind at ease.

For your corporate travel needs, TravelPerk is your go-to option in the Philippines. They offer multiple ways to ensure you have the smoothest trip. You can use TravelCare as a convenient way to check for the latest information on your destination, including any travel restrictions, effectively keeping you safe and informed.

TravelPerk’s FlexiPerk lets you book and cancel flights, trains, and cars with 100% flexibility whenever you need quick and easy transportation.

Get your bags ready because the Philippines is waiting for you!

The post The 5 best online travel agencies in the Philippines appeared first on TravelPerk.

Malaysia is a place where modern progression meets natural beauty. With some of the largest skyscrapers on the planet and one of the world’s oldest rainforests, it’s easy to see why this country was once nicknamed the “peninsula of Gold.” From the bustling energy of Kuala Lumpur to the picturesque beaches of Penang, Malaysia offers a unique experience for both corporate and leisure travel.

Here, we’ve rounded up the five best online travel agencies to help you explore both the natural and man-made wonders of this southeastern melting pot of cultures.

Best online travel agency for business travel

1. TravelPerk: the one agency for all your business travel needs

TravelPerk is a modern solution for modern corporate travel. Its easy-to-use online booking tool is a refreshing change from the clunky UI often associated with business travel. TravelPerk enables you to make flexible bookings for employees, and even offers the option to offset your carbon footprint.

This platform is more than just an OTA, it’s a comprehensive corporate travel management tool that helps your team book, manage, and report on business travel. TravelPerk ensures employees are traveling stress-free on the cheapest flights available, at no sacrifice to experience.

Main offerings and features:

• Extensive inventory of travel services
• Safety alerts with TravelCare
• Integrated travel policy & approval flows
• Centralized invoicing
• Easy & real-time expense reports
• Carbon offsetting with GreenPerk
• 24/7 customer support with a 15s target
• Integration with 3rd party tools, such as expense management or HR software like Expensify and BambooHR

TravelPerk gives employees access to the information and the security they need to travel with peace of mind. It gives organizations and travel managers access to the best corporate travel rates that you won’t find on the market.

Best online travel agencies for tourist travel

2. Parlo Tours: for unique tour packages throughout Asia

Parlo Tours is all about adventure. That’s why they’ve handpicked and curated a list of 10 alluring destinations, each with a unique appeal for any explorer. They also offer a choice of different tour packages, with international travel experiences throughout Asia, including Indonesia, Korea, and Singapore.

Their staff is highly experienced, and Parlo Tours prides itself on offering a personalized touch to every getaway. To top it all off, they cover most of the additional work that comes with planning any trip, like car renting and airport transfer.

Main offerings and features:

• Group and private tours for both domestic and curated international destinations
• Hotel bookings, flight bookings, and venue bookings for tours and events
• Corporate travel management options such as transport and accommodation
• Visa application, handling, and travel insurance management for orderly travel documentation
• Inbound and outbound car rental, airport transfer, and transportation management

3. Star Travel: for a wide range of themed tour options

These travel agents can take you through Malaysia and all over the world just as well. With excellent service, countless options, and a full-scale travel organization, Star Tours focuses on making leisure travel as relaxing as possible.

Especially notable are the themed Malaysia tour packages for every taste, including nature, island, city, theme park, and staycation options. Feel free to choose from their main options, including Sabah, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Selangor.

Main offerings and features:

• International travel and tour packages to unique destinations
• Malaysian travel packages including city, nature, and other themed options
• Polar expeditions offering a combination of adventure, comfort, and education

4. Holiday Tours: for personalized and full-scale luxury tourist packages

Providing personalized service, a network of expert partners, and extraordinary experiences make up the main objectives of the luxury travel brand Holiday Tours. It’s easy to see why. They offer a variety of international tours, including destinations like Australia, Thailand, and Japan.

This travel agency also offers an in-depth look at all their options on their website. Holiday Tours take care of everything, so you’ll know exactly where you’re staying, what to expect, as well as FAQS you may have about the trip.

Main offerings and features:

• International travel tours including group and private options
• A wide range of all-inclusive resorts, hotels, and venue booking options and a personalized experience
• Guided holidays, tours, and cruises provided by a team of industry professionals

5. D Asia Tours: for honeymoon trips to popular destinations

D Asia Tours provides the local knowledge and expertise needed for an authentic Malaysian experience. This grand tour operator focuses on domestic destinations like Langkawi, Penang Island, and the Batu caves in Kuala Lumpur.

However, D Asia Tours also offers specifically themed tour options, such as company trips and honeymoon packages, alongside international destinations, including Europe, China, and India. They’ve been in the travel industry for over 30 years and have over 1000 packages.

Main offerings and features:

• Malaysian guided tours, including some of Malaysia’s biggest attractions.
• International tours to a wide variety of destinations across the globe
• Pilgrimage tours for embarking on a spiritual journey and discovering sacred sites across Asia
• Especially designed Muslim tours—including sightseeing in religious locations
• Honeymoon destinations for newlyweds and those needing a romantic getaway
• Company trips and corporate travel management including booking and transportation

Choose the right travel agency to make the most of your Malaysia trip

Malaysia can be an excellent backdrop to any trip. With culturally rich cities like Malacca and the breathtaking islands of Borneo, the experience is bound to be unforgettable. Additionally, it is just a stone's throw away from other important Asian places—think a honeymoon in Bali or a business meeting in Tokyo.

However, if you’re planning a corporate event, it’s best to leave your travel plans with the best travel company. That’s exactly where TravelPerk can help. It’s the best choice for flawless organization, flexible booking, and offering a personalized experience. With TravelCare, you can receive updated information on travel restrictions, ensuring you have a safe and smooth trip.

Travel to Malaysia with peace of mind using our comprehensive corporate travel tool featuring 24/7 customer support and an inventory of personalized travel services.

The post The 5 best online travel agencies in Malaysia appeared first on TravelPerk.

Domestic and international business travel can open many doors to developing new corporate partnerships and expanding your network.

While virtual meetings and webinars have become commonplace since the pandemic, in-person business meetings allow you to make stronger connections and build trust more easily with colleagues and clients. 

Traveling to another culture can also offer employees different perspectives and the chance to return to the office with innovative ideas or previously elusive solutions. 

However, we all know business trips can be challenging! Before you even embark on your journey, there are pitfalls and large amounts of planning to overcome. We have all fallen foul of overwhelming weeks trying to prepare a stand-out presentation while panic-packing those last-minute items.

Whether you're heading to Europe or Utah, we'll give you the lowdown on how to best ensure your business travel is as productive and stress-free as possible. Let's dive in!

Research reduces risk!

Before you set off, it's important to research your destination to avoid as many surprises as possible! Remember to look up the weather forecast to pack appropriately and prevent mistakes like planning a spectacular outdoor event during the rainy season!

Brush up on local customs

If you're going overseas, ensure you understand the local culture so you can follow the appropriate customs. While a handshake is a common American greeting, business etiquette varies between countries. 

For example, in Japan, a subtle bow is a respected greeting, and handshaking happens less frequently, so ensure you follow your Japanese host's lead to get meetings off to a good start. It can also be helpful to learn some simple phrases in your host country's native language if it's different from your own.

Be prepared

It's always worth allowing some extra time to navigate a new city, especially if you're using public transport. Double-check meeting times and locations, and ensure you're aware of any planned transport disruptions like train strikes or road closures so you're not rushing to that important meeting! Another tip is to save your client's phone number before corporate meetings. If you face delays, you can contact them quickly without searching through emails or documents first. 

Business trips are often jam-packed! To avoid wasting time, set a clear agenda for the trip and meetings in advance so you and the other participants can focus on your organization's top priorities. Finally, when prepping to impress, study the names and roles of everyone you will meet so you direct questions to the most relevant person.

Pack only the essentials

Generally speaking, packing lighter is better, particularly for business travel. You'll save time not waiting for checked luggage to make its way off the plane, and you won't have to drag heavy bags to that last meeting before dashing to the airport! However, efficient packing does take some preparation.

Generally, it's best to choose clothes that can be layered if the weather is changeable while you're away. If you're attending a corporate event, check whether there are any dress codes to avoid any embarrassment! 

Check whether your company cards will work overseas and if the charges and exchange rates align with your company's travel policy. If you need an alternative, look into prepaid travel cards, which can be loaded to cover your travel spend before departure and topped up if necessary using a mobile app.

Finally, double-check what voltage and plug type is used in your destination and pack enough adapters to keep all your gadgets powered up! A travel adapter with USB ports can be worth sourcing so you can charge all your devices at the same time.

Navigating airports and ground transportation

Some airports are the size of small cities, and it can be easy to get lost! When creating an itinerary, factor this into your travel time and allow for lengthy immigration queues! 

Serving over 5 million passengers a month, you'll need 3-4 hours to comfortably transfer through Singapore's expansive Changi Airport. 

When you reach your destination, taking public transport rather than relying on private cars or taxis might be more convenient. Download local maps and public transport apps before you arrive so they're available offline if you don't have data or access to Wi-Fi. As a backup, install a local rideshare app to nip from A to B if your bus lets you down.

Assess your accommodation options

Several factors can come into play when deciding on the best accommodation for your business trip. Where your meetings are taking place will influence which area you need to be located or have reliable transport links to.

If you're traveling individually, hotel rooms are likely your best option. In contrast, Airbnb can be more affordable and practical for group travel. However, this is always true! In certain cities, booking an Airbnb is often cheaper than a hotel, regardless of party size.  If you want to know more about how Airbnb rates for business trips, check out our comprehensive guide on using Airbnb for corporate travel.

New York is just one example of a destination where Airbnb is often more cost effective than a traditional hotel stay.

With so many options and things to consider, it can be simpler to let a full-service travel agency or travel management company (TMC) take care of arrangements for you. TravelPerk is a corporate TMC with an extensive accommodation inventory and access to industry-leading corporate rates. Plus, users can access a range of corporate travel solutions and 24/7 customer support. 

Stay productive with SaaS

Being able to access your work systems remotely can help you stay productive and manage your time effectively while on the move. A wide range of SaaS tools are available, from Trello and Asana to organize to-do lists, Slack and Microsoft Teams to keep connected, and Google Drive and Dropbox to ensure easy access to documents.

Plan for peace of mind

Travel insurance is an important aspect of your company's duty of care for business trips. Policies can include coverage for lost luggage, cancellations, and healthcare emergencies, so check which inclusions you have in your travel policy for reassurance on the road. 

For further peace of mind, TravelPerk's travel risk management solution, TravelCare, can keep you informed and supported before and during business trips. Users receive real-time notifications about any health and safety risks relevant to their destination, and a dedicated customer care team is available 24/7 for assistance.

Save time to explore

When your meetings are over, ensure you factor in some downtime while you're away. Remember to give yourself time to relax, not only for your well-being but also to soak up your destination for inspiration.

34% of surveyed workers believe their most creative ideas have come while traveling for work, a stat that jumps to 53% for employees aged 16-24 (TravelPerk).

Eating healthily, keeping hydrated, and frequent rest can also help you feel energized and ready to tackle next quarter's challenges on your return!

The post Traveling for meetings: what you need to know appeared first on TravelPerk.

Managing business travel operations without travel management software is like driving around an unfamiliar city without GPS -- you’ll eventually reach your destination, but you can expect the journey to be longer, more stressful, and more expensive.

Travel management software is a must-have for companies where employees are often on the road for work. ATPI, a global travel company that’s been operational in the industry for over 20 years, is a popular corporate travel management tool -- but it’s not the best option for every business.

Here, we explore the five best ATPI competitors and alternatives, including features, benefits, and pricing to help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs.

1. TravelPerk

TravelPerk is an end-to-end travel management company (TMC) with an all-in-one digital platform for businesses and corporate travellers.

The modern platform is built with traveller self-management at its core and enables users to manage the business travel booking process from beginning to end from its centralised platform. From travel management reporting and trip approvals to policy compliance and traveller safety features, TravelPerk provides a best-in-class experience for business travellers and finance managers.

As well as access to the world’s largest travel inventory for flights and accommodation, TravelPerk offers the most comprehensive and unique set of corporate travel features. These include a VAT recovery solution, a carbon offsetting program, and FlexiPerk, an add-on that allows users to cancel their travel plans up to two hours before departure with a guaranteed refund of 80%.

TravelPerk noteworthy features

• An intuitive, user-friendly online booking platform—all traveller data, preferences, and loyalty points can be stored to use whenever needed.
• Integrated travel policy and approval flows to streamline the booking process.
• A simplified travel expense process with real-time expense reports.
• 24/7 business travel assistance with a target 15-second response rate.
• TravelCare, a complete and modern travel safety and alerts system that provides business travelers with peace of mind.
• Centralized and single invoicing for all business travel, removing the need to send invoice requests and reminders.
• A huge catalog of integrations with third-party software.

On top of the comprehensive features listed above, TravelPerk also offers a meetings and events management solution and enables users to book alternative transportation options, such as trains and rental cars from within the TravelPerk platform.

How customers rate TravelPerk

• G2 rating: 4.6/5 (as of October 2023)
• Capterra rating: 4.8/5 (as of October 2023)

TravelPerk pricing

Since TravelPerk is suitable for businesses of all sizes, there are four pricing plans to choose from, starting with a free tier. All plans have access to the world’s largest travel inventory and customer care support team, and customers can add an unlimited amount of travelers or administrators to the platform.

Across all of TravelPerk’s paid plans, businesses only pay the monthly fee if they travel that month. Here’s an overview of TravelPerk’s pricing tiers:

• Starter: This plan is free to use, meaning there is no monthly subscription fee. Plus, the first 5 bookings each month are completely free too, with a 5% booking fee thereafter. Users have access to consolidated invoicing, unlimited cost centers, one policy and approval workflow, and travel restrictions information and alerts.
• Premium: Priced at $99/month with a 3% booking fee, this plan offers concierge services for special requests, savings of up to 25% with VAT-ready invoices, and secure traveller sign-in and automated user setup.
• Pro: This plan costs $299/month with a 3% booking fee and provides unlimited policy and approval workflows, unlimited budgets by cost center, custom reports and insights, and access to corporate rates.
• Enterprise: This tier is designed for enterprise businesses that want to customisze their requirements. To find out more about this plan, get in touch with an expert.

Languages supported by TravelPerk

TravelPerk supports the following languages: English, Spanish, German, Italian, and French.

ATPI vs TravelPerk

Since ATPI does not have any user reviews across the most well-known third-party review sites, it’s difficult to compare the solution with TravelPerk from a user perspective.
TravelPerk’s customers on the other hand rave about the platform’s comprehensive features and user experience. Speaking of their experience, one reviewer said, “Easy and intuitive interface, with a good range of choices & parameters to find the flight & accommodation which perfectly suits your business travel needs. Onboarding is really easy as you understand everything needed in a second. The approval from my manager was swift without any trouble.”

While ATPI specialises in providing travel services to specific industries (ATPI Marine & Energy, for example), TravelPerk comes out on top when it comes to a direct feature comparison.

TravelPerk offers a larger travel inventory, a better customer support function, and more integrations with a number of third-party apps for a seamless user experience (ATPI does not provide a significant third-party integration library -- only the Direct ATPI module integrates with Microsoft Teams).

2. Clarity

Clarity is a global business travel platform that offers booking, reporting, and traveller-tracking solutions for companies in the infrastructure, energy, academic, retail, sports, and public sectors.
The platform aims to improve the cost-effectiveness of business travel programs, policy compliance rates, and resource optimisation.

Clarity noteworthy features

• A large travel inventory that incorporates over one million hotels and 80 airlines.
• AirHelp, a solution that helps users claim compensation for delayed or canceled flights.
• 24/7 traveller alerts to keep your employees informed and safe while on the road.

How customers rate Clarity

• G2 rating: Clarity is not listed on G2.
• Capterra rating: Clarity is not listed on Capterra.

Clarity pricing

Clarity doesn't share pricing information on their website -- you’ll need to contact them to obtain a quote.

Languages supported by Clarity

Clarity only supports the English language.

ATPI vs Clarity

Neither ATPI nor Clarity has a presence on the most popular user review sites. However, one user on another review platform spoke of their experience with Clarity, saying, “I've had issues all three times I've used it. The website is painfully slow, buggy, and non-intuitive and the customer service is tedious. The first time I used it they failed to send me my tickets (I was emailed a dead link) and only received them days before travel after multiple mostly futile emails where I was emailed back by a different person every time.”

While ATPI does offer carbon offsetting solutions and corporate event management packages, Clarity caters to a wider range of industries and a more modern platform for streamlined business travel.

3. Agiito

Based in the United Kingdom, Agiito is a travel, meetings, and events management company that places traveller safety, duty of care, and well-being at the heart of businesses’ travel programs. To ensure the safety of travellers, Agiito offers 24/7 customer support and robust risk management processes.

Agiito noteworthy features

• An inventory that includes 260 of the world's leading airlines and over 300,000 properties.
• For air travel, the company provides a dedicated support team for group travel requirements.
• For rail travel, Agiito provides a user-friendly online booking tool.

How customers rate Agiito

• G2 rating: Agiito is not listed on G2.
• Capterra rating: Agiito is not listed on Capterra.

Agiito pricing

Agiito doesn't share pricing information on their website -- you’ll need to contact them to obtain a quote.

Languages supported by Agiito

Agiito only supports the English language.

ATPI vs Agiito

Agiito does not have a presence on the most popular user review sites. In fact, we couldn’t find any legitimate customer reviews for Agiito across the web.

In terms of features, ATPI provides more robust functionality for global business travel programs, including an online booking tool for all types of travel, a travel dashboard, and global buying power to access reduced fares. While ATPI might be a better fit for larger businesses and corporations, Agiito, with its limited travel options, might be more suited to smaller businesses without such extensive travel requirements.

4. CTM Travel

CTM Travel is a corporate travel management platform that offers business travel and management services. The company specialises in corporate travel and events and leisure trips, and helps businesses manage their wholesale travel spend.

As well as online booking tools and travel reporting features, CTM Travel also helps businesses work towards their sustainability goals.

CTM Travel noteworthy features

• A user-friendly online booking tool that includes built-in approval processes for quicker travel management.
• An airfare forecasting tool for more informed planning decisions and cost savings.
• CTM consolidates travel information from various sources, including APIs to offer customers travel content via the most budget-friendly channels.

How customers rate CTM Travel

• G2 rating: 1.8/5 (Note that this rating is based on only one user review, as of October 2023)
• Capterra rating: CTM Travel is not listed on Capterra.

CTM Travel pricing

CTM Travel doesn't share pricing information on their website -- you’ll need to contact them to obtain a quote.

Languages supported by CTM Travel

CTM Travel only supports the English language.

ATPI vs CTM Travel

CTM Travel does not have much of a presence on the most popular user review sites. The only user review to be found -- titled “Better off on your own” -- spoke of the problems they’ve experienced with CTM Travel: “Over the last year, they have taken a turn for the worse. Our rep is always MIA and doesn't respond or help. Might be lucky to get help after several follow-up emails. After they had to do backend maintenance for 3 days, our OBT was never restored and they didn't do much or were that concerned. WE had to find a workaround solution but still was not a full site. 6 months later and still no help or solution.”

Compared to ATPI, CTM Travel seems to provide a sleeker interface and more user-friendly features, with fewer independent solutions and modules. Whereas ATPI is geared toward specific industries, CTM Travel caters to all sectors.

Both solutions offer sustainability and offsetting features (ATPI Halo is a carbon offsetting program designed to reduce emissions), while neither provides a huge library of third-party integrations.

5. FCM Travel

FCM Travel is a comprehensive online travel management solution, encompassing travel account management, expense tracking, and safety and risk management.

The company also delivers specialised travel consulting and in-depth reporting services, as well as destination and event management support.

FCM Travel noteworthy features

• A customisable travel approval system tailored to individual company travel policies.
• A traveller safety function with round-the-clock access to a range of travel risk management tools.
• A simplified approval process through the consolidation of travel approvals from various booking tools and devices into a unified dashboard.

How customers rate FCM Travel

• G2 rating: 5/5 (Note that this rating is based on only one user review, as of October 2023)
• Capterra rating: FCM Travel is not listed on Capterra.

FCM Travel pricing

FCM Travel doesn't share pricing information on their website -- you’ll need to contact them to obtain a quote.

Languages supported by FCM Travel

FCM Travel only supports the English language.

ATPI vs FCM Travel

The only user review we could find for FCM travel across the most popular review sites was a 5* review from four years ago. The review also only mentions the booking and expense management process and gives no insight into the platform as a whole.

However, in a direct feature comparison, FCM Travel has the edge over ATPI, with AI-powered features including alerts, reporting analysis, and booking tips based on preferred carriers. Additionally, FCM Travel aims to “deliver an ESG-centric travel programme”, focused on an environmental, social, and governance strategy.

Wrapping up: Which ATPI alternative is best for your business?

Whether you’re looking to replace ATPI as your business travel platform or are just starting your search for the best TMCs, the good news is that there are plenty of ATPI alternatives that cater to the entire travel industry -- the trick is finding the right provider for your specific needs.

However, bear in mind that managing your company’s entire business travel program is no small feat, and requires an all-in-one travel management solution that helps you automate processes, provides employee self-service features, keeps travellers safe, and delivers valuable insights.

TravelPerk’s platform outperforms ATPI in terms of features, ease of use, itinerary management, integrations, and reporting capabilities -- as well as an extensive inventory for flights and accommodation. To find out how you can optimise business travel spending and maximisze ROI, get in touch with us today.

The post The top 5 ATPI alternatives to consider in 2023 appeared first on TravelPerk.