Business Travel Guide
How to Choose The Best Travel Agencies for a Small Business
Selecting the right travel agency for a small business cannot be overstated. Small businesses often have unique travel needs, and finding an agency that can cater to those specific requirements is crucial. When it comes to choosing the best travel agency for a small business, it’s essential to consider factors such as the range of services offered, customer service and support, as well as the value for money provided.
Evaluating these aspects of corporate travel management for small business owners to make informed decisions and ensure that they select an agency that aligns with their specific travel needs and budget. With numerous options available, finding the ideal travel agency for a small business requires careful consideration and thorough research.
What is a Business Travel Agency?
A business travel agency is a specialized service provider that caters to the unique travel needs of companies and organizations. These agencies focus on managing corporate travel arrangements, ensuring smooth and efficient travel experiences for employees who travel for business purposes.
Business travel agencies offer comprehensive travel management services tailored to the specific requirements of corporate clients. They handle various aspects of travel planning, booking, and support.
Choosing the Right Travel Agency for Your Small Business
Here are some tips to help you choose the best travel agency for your small business:
1. Look for experience and expertise
When choosing a travel agency for your small business, it’s important to look for one with experience and expertise in corporate travel.
A good travel agency should have a team of experienced travel agents who are knowledgeable about the travel industry and can provide valuable advice and recommendations.
2. Consider the agency’s size and resources
The size and resources of a travel agency can also be important factors to consider. Larger travel agencies may have more resources and negotiating power, while smaller agencies may offer more personalised service.
It’s important to choose an agency that has the resources and capabilities to meet your specific travel needs.
3. Check for technology and tools
No one can deny the fact that technology and tools can make a big difference in managing business travel.
A travel agency should have a user-friendly online booking system, mobile app, expense management, employee tracking, and other tools to help you manage your travel more efficiently.
4. Look for cost savings opportunities
One of the main benefits of using a travel agency is the potential for cost savings. Look for an agency that has a proven track record of negotiating the best rates for flights, hotels, and other travel expenses.
Some agencies may also offer discounts or incentives for frequent travellers.
5. Check for customer support
Finally, it’s important to choose a travel agency that offers excellent customer support. Look for an agency that provides 24/7 support.
Also, the corporate travel agency should have a dedicated team of travel agents who can assist you with any issues or questions that may arise during your travels.
Services Offered by The Best Travel Agencies
Travel agencies offer a range of services to meet the needs of small businesses. Some of the services offered by the top travel agencies include corporate travel management, tailored travel packages, and support and assistance.
Corporate Travel Management
Corporate travel management is a service offered by travel agencies to help businesses manage their travel expenses. The travel agency works with the company to create a travel policy that meets the needs of the business while keeping costs under control. Some of top 10 corporate management companies now offer all-in-one travel services from booking travel, and accommodation, tracking expenses, and providing reports on travel expenses.
Tailored Travel Packages
Travel agencies such as Clooper can create tailored travel packages that meet the needs of small businesses. These packages can include flights, hotels, car rentals, and other travel-related services. The packages can be customized to meet the needs of the business, whether it is a small business with just a few employees or a larger business with multiple locations.
Support and Assistance
Travel agencies provide support and assistance to small businesses throughout the travel process. This can include assistance with booking travel, providing information on travel destinations, and offering support in case of travel disruptions. The agency can also provide support for visa applications and other travel-related paperwork.
Overall, the best travel agency for small businesses will offer a range of services that meet the needs of the business while keeping costs under control. By working with a travel agency, small businesses can save time and money on their travel expenses and focus on growing their business.
Evaluating Customer Service and Support
When choosing a travel agency for a small business, evaluating the customer service and support provided is crucial. Here are two key factors to consider:
Personalised Customer Care
A travel agency that provides personalised customer care can help make the travel experience smoother and more enjoyable for small businesses.
This includes assigning a dedicated travel agent to the business, who can provide tailored travel solutions and handle any issues that may arise during the trip.
Personalised customer care also means that the travel agent takes the time to understand the business’s unique travel needs and preferences, and provides recommendations accordingly.
24/7 Support Availability
Another important factor to consider is the availability of 24/7 support. This means that the travel agency has a team of experts available around the clock to handle any emergencies or issues that may arise during the trip.
This can include rebooking flights, finding alternative accommodation, or providing travel advice and assistance. Having 24/7 support can give small businesses peace of mind, knowing that they have someone to turn to in case of any unexpected situations.
When evaluating customer service and support, it’s important to look for a travel agency that has a proven track record of providing high-quality service.
Reading reviews and testimonials from other small businesses can help gauge the agency’s level of customer service and support.
Best Travel Agencies for Small Businesses
1. Clooper
Clooper is a platform that offers sustainable and tech-driven corporate accommodation and travel expense management solutions. The platform’s intuitive interface simplifies the reimbursement process and real-time employee tracking, enhancing employee and finance team experiences.
Furthermore, Clooper ensures a seamless booking experience for accommodations, offering a vast array of options tailored to the unique preferences and needs of business travellers.
In addition to its travel services, Clooper is committed to positively impacting the environment and society.
With every booking made on the platform, Clooper contributes to planting a tree and providing a meal to someone in need. This sustainability ethos adds a unique and socially responsible dimension to corporate travel.
Clooper’s key features include a seamless accommodation booking experience, comprehensive expense management tools, and exclusive offers such as complimentary airport lounge access and meal vouchers. The platform also provides personalized service by handling flight bookings manually upon client request.
Rating: Clooper has a Trustpilot rating of 4.4/5 based on 15 reviews.
Click Here: Book a Demo
2. TravelBank
TravelBank is a frontrunner in the corporate travel management arena, renowned for its user-friendly interface and innovative expense management tools that ensure a seamless travel experience. The platform’s emphasis on budget-friendly travel solutions, coupled with advanced analytics, empowers businesses to optimize their travel expenditure while enhancing overall productivity.
some key features include an all-in-one business travel and expenses platform, a curated flight booking platform for employees to book flights at special corporate rates and an expense management system that allows employees to track and input expenses. In contrast, management can review and approve expense reports. Employers can offer 24-hour reimbursements through TravelBank, and the platform can sync data through integrations with general ledgers such as Quickbooks, NetSuite, Bill.com, and Xero.
Rating: TravelBank has a G2 rating of 4.4/5 based on 329 reviews.
3. AMEX GBT
American Express Global Business Travel (AMEX GBT) is a global giant in the corporate travel landscape, with extensive industry experience and worldwide presence, making it a go-to choice for multinational corporations. AMEX GBT excels in offering end-to-end travel solutions, from booking to expense management, all while prioritizing traveller safety and satisfaction.
Some of the key features of AMEX GBT include:
- Re-shop tools: Monitor rate drops and easily rebook tickets to save money.
- Recent events updates: Stay up-to-date about recent events to inform your travel decision-making.
- Reporting tool: Access to total refund amounts and any unused tickets available are visible in the easy-to-use reporting tool.
- Direct communication: Provides you with direct communication during disruptions.
Rating: AMEX GBT has a G2 rating of 4.1/5 based on 8 reviews
4. WeTravel
WeTravel is a platform that supports travel businesses by digitizing and streamlining operations. Through its intuitive platform, WeTravel helps businesses increase sales conversion and revenue, trim administration time, and automate processes. The platform’s capabilities continue after setting up the trip page to market your tours and handling traveller administration. It hosts a network of payment solutions to enable control of how travellers pay for their trips, with instalment and mobile-friendly payment options, and a range of payment options to instantly transfer payments to global suppliers, handle and control employee and internal payments, all executed with the absolute security of bank-grade encryption and trusted financial partners.
Some of the key benefits of using WeTravel include:
- Lower processing fees: Save money on card processing fees by offering online e-check payments, in addition to the most competitive wire transfer rates on the market.
- Best-in-class security: Our bank-grade SSL encryption, rigorous verification for payment processing, and trusted financial partners (Visa, Stripe, AFEX) assure that your funds are secure.
- Instant and free Supplier Transfers: The WeTravel card and instant, worldwide Supplier Transfers feature allow you to pay your supplier(s) instantly – and without a fee.
Rating: 4.8/5 reviews on Getapp.
5. B2B Travel Agency
B2B Travel is a leading online travel consolidator for OTAs, retail agencies and tour operators. They specialize in hotel bookings and apartments, perfect for companies who already have transportation options—such as flights, trains and car rentals—covered.
Some of the core strengths of B2B Travel Agency include:
- Extensive selection: Over 120,000 hotels and apartments worldwide so you can offer an extensive selection to your clients.
- Last-minute availability: Makes accommodating clients—or changing travel plans—easier.
- Intuitive booking platform: Designed by travel agents makes your day-to-day easier and more efficient.
- Real availability and instant booking confirmations: Keep your clients covered on the go.
Comparing Pricing and Value for Money
When it comes to choosing the best travel agency for small businesses, comparing pricing and value for money is crucial. Each agency offers different pricing structures and services, so it’s important to assess the value they provide for the cost carefully.
One agency that stands out in terms of value for money for booking flights is FlightsPro. They offer full-service travel solutions tailored for small businesses, negotiating lower travel rates and providing time-saving services.
Small businesses can focus on their core operations while ensuring cost-effective travel arrangements.
However, Clooper stands out regarding tailored business travel accommodation, while also providing comprehensive travel management services for small businesses.
It’s essential for small businesses to carefully consider their specific travel needs and budget when comparing the pricing and value offered by different travel agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the leading corporate travel agencies suitable for small businesses?
Small businesses have unique travel needs, and partnering with a travel management company that understands those needs is critical. Some of the leading corporate travel agencies suitable for small businesses include Clooper, TravelPerk, and CTI Business Travel.
Which travel management companies in the UK offer the best services for small enterprises?
Several travel management companies in the UK offer top-notch services for small enterprises. These include Clooper, Reed & Mackay, and Gray Dawes Group. These companies have extensive experience in catering to small business travel needs.
How can a small business benefit from partnering with a top travel management company?
A top travel management company can help small businesses optimize their travel budget and provide valuable insights into travel trends and patterns.
What features should I look for in a business travel agent to support my small company?
When choosing a business travel agent to support a small company, it is essential to look for certain features. These include a dedicated account manager, access to negotiated rates and discounts, 24/7 support, flexible booking options, and expense management tools.
Key Takeaways
- Selecting the right travel agency is crucial for meeting the unique travel needs of small businesses.
- Factors such as services offered, customer support, and value for money should be carefully evaluated when choosing a travel agency.
- Thorough research and consideration are essential for small business owners to make informed decisions when selecting a travel agency.
