| With countries just starting to get over the economic | | | | rates with airlines and hotels many of whom are very |
| downturn that affected the world in 2009, companies | | | | ready to provide this if it will mean the organisation |
| that have survived are always on the look out for | | | | patronising their services. |
| ways to cut costs. Business travel is one of the areas | | | | 4. Have a company travel policy. Lack of a company |
| that take up a large amount of company spending. It is | | | | policy on travel can lead to unnecessary travel abroad, |
| true that travel is necessary for businesses whether it | | | | including excessive spending on air travel and hotel |
| is within the country or abroad. However there are | | | | accommodation. A company should have strict policies |
| ways to reduce on the costs of business travel and | | | | on when travel can be undertaken and by whom and |
| thus save your company money. | | | | staff members should be made aware of these |
| 1. Use of technology. With modern technology now | | | | policies. Also there should be accountability for any |
| available like web conference and video calling, it may | | | | business travel done including reason for travel, class |
| no longer be necessary to travel thousands of miles | | | | of travel, hotels stayed in and number of days spent |
| and spend thousands of dollars in order to attend a | | | | on business travel. |
| conference or be in the same geographically location | | | | 5. If your company uses a travel management |
| with the person or people you are doing business with. | | | | company to handle its travel and hotel bookings, it is |
| 2. Use of one credit card to buy company travel. One | | | | important that they are aware of your company's |
| major benefit of doing this is that the company will | | | | travel policy and its desire to minimise on travel costs. |
| accumulate frequent flyer miles from different airlines | | | | You should use a travel management company that is |
| and even from hotels which will eventually translate | | | | willing to work with you in minimising these costs. If |
| into various awards, like upgrades on the class of | | | | possible compare the rates of several travel |
| travel by an airline, free air tickets, free hotel | | | | management companies to determine if you are |
| accommodation and even airport transfers which may | | | | getting the best rates available in the market. This |
| be a saving for the company. | | | | comparison should be done on a regular basis. Also |
| 3. Negotiate with airlines and hotels for special rates. It | | | | from time to time, you should ask your travel |
| is surprising how many companies do not do this and | | | | management company to issue you with reports of all |
| yet the amount of money saved in business travel can | | | | the travel done by your company to help you monitor |
| be enormous if a company negotiated preferential | | | | and know how much you are spending on travel. |