Let's Get Familiar With: What Is Corporate Travel?

Companies make corporate travel plans to maintain international business connections, to be ready for global competition and to participate in various M.I.C.E organizations. Although when it comes to corporate travel, the first thing that comes to mind is flight and travel planning, it also includes much more. In addition to services such as flight reservations, route planning, accommodation organization, determining the travel schedule, integration of the participants into the plan, there are also things such as cost and budget control and process management that are directly linked to corporate travel. The fastest execution and complete control of all these steps requires innovative applications and collaboration. Working with corporate travel consultants especially makes it easier to control both the process and the costs.

Another important point in terms of corporate travel management is the secure sharing of data on subjects such as identification information, flight routes, and greetings. Corporate customers want to make sure that their travel details and personal information are exactly protected; therefore, they should choose a corporate travel agency to collaborate where they feel safe.

What Is Corporate Travel?

The question of what is corporate travel represents the process from the transportation of employees or managers to the domestic or foreign events that the companies plan to participate in line with their specific strategic targets, to their return to the organization. It covers the planning, management and budgeting of the travel process. From the perspective of the business planner, it is a whole of organizational, financial and administrative steps such as corporate travel flight tickets and hotel reservation, visa application and tracking, car rental and transportation services, budget control, billing and reporting.

Corporate Travel Is Suitable for Whom?

"Corporate travel suitable for which organizations? When it considered, the first thing that comes to mind is multinational companies, industrial organizations producing globally and import-export companies. In addition, medium-sized businesses, dealers or any type of organization with a franchise system who wish to improve their business volume can also make domestic and international corporate travel plans. Higher education institutions targeting collective participation in scientific events abroad such as congresses or symposiums, or public institutions sending official committees also need corporate travel services. Corporate travel participants are not limited to high-level representatives of companies. Except for this category of VIP service, mid-level managers or employees operating in a particular field can also be sent to represent the organization in domestic or abroad for purposes such as business trips, exhibitions, and meetings. Corporate travel plans need to be reviewed in detail, as the travel and accommodation needs of the participant profile that fits such a broad perspective will vary. The selection of the most economical methods suitable for the needs of the organization can be successfully implemented by acting in partnership with corporate travel consultants.

What Are Purposes of Corporate Travel?

The purpose of corporate travel can be directed towards strategic targets such as strengthening the business partnerships of the company, creating new international connections, meeting middle and senior executives and other stakeholders in activities that increase the corporate culture. Corporate travels are sometimes made only to participate in fairs and exhibition organizations to promote new products. From this point of view, corporate travel targets are not far from the companies' purposes to participate in various M.I.C.E events. Various organizations, from team submission to high level participation in annual congresses, necessitate traveling for two to five business days to establish product and brand promotion stands at international fairs. Large-scale companies that organize dealer meetings in order to transfer the corporate culture to the representatives of dealers and agencies must create the daily or accommodation plans of the agencies and officials that will attend these meetings at the most affordable costs. Business trips for new partnerships and feasibility studies also require round trip of company staff to different cities or countries for a certain period of time. In all these organizations, services such as travel transfer and accommodation can be carried out smoothly thanks to a successful corporate travel management.

What Do Corporate Travel Services Cover?

The scope of corporate travel services is quite wide. In addition to services related to direct travel content such as ticket reservations, accommodation organization, tracking of visa procedures, facilitating services such as car rental, airport-hotel transfer are also included in corporate travel plans. It is very important for businesses that the financial services related with the travel organization such as budgeting, cost control, ticketing, billing and reporting should be transparent and controllable. Corporate travel agencies, which can manage these steps quickly, intervene immediately in possible changes; become the primary reason for preference for businesses.

The fact that corporate travel agencies and consultancy firms have extensive partnership networks at domestic and abroad provides an important advantage. Offering cost-effective solutions from diversifying hotel options to price expectations to bulk booking discounts is seen as an added value for the business. Also, one-click execution of all reservation and purchase processes with online applications such as HISgo and monitoring systems offers both businesses and corporate travel agencies the opportunity to use time management effectively. Corporate travel solutions, such as planning travel organizations in detail for the employees of the organization and making possible number and date changes without affecting the budget, are realized through experience and flexibility.