United Kingdom


 

Simple steps to business travel savings

There are lots of ways to save money on your business travel but sometimes it’s a shift in your employees’ perception that will have the greatest impact on your bottom line...

 

Book early and accept reduced flexibility

 

To achieve the biggest savings on business travel you should encourage your employees to:

  • Book as far in advance as possible

  • Buy restricted air and rail tickets

  • Stick to preferred airline/hotel deals

  • Book through the right channel, whether that is your travel management company (TMC), an online booking tool (OBT), or an offline team

  • Follow the company guidelines on the class of travel and category of hotel travellers can book

 

Did you know... CWT research shows the price of an average air ticket rises by 2% each day in the two weeks prior to travel.

 

Downgrade your class of travel

 

In this current economic climate, it has become more acceptable in business communities to say you are flying economy class or staying in a budget hotel. And the savings from doing so are not to be taken lightly; the average saving through a change in class of travel could be around 35%.

 

Save on hotels

 

Hotel policy is another area that is ripe for control and could help you to drive significant savings.

  • Up to 60% of hotel bookings are made with non-preferred hotels – ensure that you have the coverage, ie accommodation where people want to go so travellers are more likely to comply with your travel policy.

     

  • There is generally a 20% variance in rate between categories – deluxe, first, standard and budget – so by downgrading the travel policy, travel mangers could make significant savings.

     

Have a hotel programme and mandate it to maintain buying power - if you have 2,000 room nights and don’t deliver you could run into problems when it comes to negotiating for next year.
Get your online booking tool (OBT) to manage your policy for you.

 

To discuss how you can save money on your business travel call today on: +44 (0)20 3353 0340 or email us uksalessupport@carlsonwagonlit.co.uk