9 ways to save money on business travel

The last few years have been a lesson in why meeting face-to-face is crucial for most companies. From client acquisition to managing widely dispersed teams, 86% of surveyed workers claimed they felt travel was essential to succeed in their role.  

Keen to keep their competitive edge, organizations have been quick to get their teams back on the road. The first quarter of 2022 alone saw more corporate travel bookings than half of 2021.

But it’s not easy. Saving money on business travel requires effort from all employees, not just a new top-level approach. From the finance manager looking to reel in yearly costs, to the travel manager bogged down with details and wanting to please coworkers, to the weary traveler who may feel the need to spend more in a pinch—this is a team effort.

We’ve put together a list of clear, useful ways to get your whole team on board.

1. Get access to lower and better flight inventory

One of the absolute best ways to immediately start slashing travel costs is to get better flight inventory.

Businesses that use corporate travel agents or book on websites designed for leisure trips are missing out big time.  

Booking far in advance, booking last minute, using budget-friendly carriers like EasyJet and Norwegian…consumers have tons of tricks up their sleeves for saving money on travel, and when businesses are stuck in old corporate travel solutions, then they lack opportunities for cost savings.

Now, businesses have a trick up their sleeve too: TravelPerk. TravelPerk offers the world’s largest inventory for booking corporate rates in one place by integrating hundreds of the best travel networks.

2. Encourage trip flexibility

Whether the employee is visiting a client or staffing a new office, there may be some flexibility in the dates of the event. When a travel manager, office manager, or executive assistant is booking a new trip for an employee they need to know if there is any wiggle room. And there almost always is. 

When employees request new bookings, whether that be on a standard request form or via email for new bookings, ask for 3 arrivals and departures in order of preference so employees can give options up front

Discovering that wiggle room can mean saving as much as 50% on flights and hotels. Better still, allowing employees to book their own travel via a corporate booking tool will help travelers get more visibility and control, allowing them…