How to Choose the Perfect Corporate Travel Planner

Corporate travel once involved delegating bookings to whoever had a spare moment, like an HR manager better versed in personnel than policies. The result: missed opportunities for savings, efficiency, and streamlined travel management.

Today, businesses are rethinking their corporate travel programs, and many are incorporating the specialized skills and industry insights of corporate travel planners. These professionals not only bring order to the complexities of travel but can offer tailored solutions that enhance both the employee experience and the bottom line. Here’s how they make it happen.

What Are Corporate Travel Planners?

Corporate travel planners are specialists who manage business travel arrangements for organizations. They collaborate with travel management companies (TMCs), airlines, hotels, and other service providers to create seamless travel experiences while controlling costs and compliance.

By tailoring travel plans to individual and organizational needs, corporate travel planners help ensure efficiency and satisfaction for business travelers and their employers.

Benefits of Using Corporate Travel Planners

Here’s how effective travel planning can transform your business: 

Cost Savings Through Negotiated Rates

Corporate travel planners leverage partnerships and negotiated rates to save companies money. Businesses benefit from:

• Exclusive discounts on flights, hotels, and car rentals
• Bundled travel services that offer value-added perks like upgrades and additional luggage allowances

Streamlined Travel Processes

Forget handling multiple bookings and expense claims — corporate travel planners manage it all. They consolidate itineraries, streamline travel logistics, and integrate travel bookings with expense reporting tools. Automated expense reporting reduces errors and saves time for travelers and finance teams.

Policy Compliance and Budget Control

Planners help enforce company travel policies by:

• Recommending pre-approved providers
• Setting automated spending limits
• Offering real-time expense tracking for data-driven decision-making

Boosting Traveler Wellness

Corporate travel planners prioritize employee well-being by:

• Including wellness or reward programs, access to fitness facilities, and healthy meal options
• Offering flexible arrangements, such as bleisure travel opportunities that blend business and leisure

Read more: Why Bleisure Travel Is the New Employee Benefits Trend

Key Services Offered by Corporate Travel Planners

• Travel booking and itinerary management: All bookings are consolidated into a single itinerary for convenience.
• Real-time support: Dedicated consultants handle changes, cancellations, or emergencies.
• Expense management integration: Automated tools track and report expenses in real time.
• Expertise in international travel: Support with visas, compliance, and logistics helps them deliver seamless trips while keeping policies and budgets in check.
• Emergency support for travelers: Travel hiccups are inevitable in business travel. Travel managers with access to 24/7 support for cancellations, rebookings, and surprises can reduce employee stress and keep travelers moving.

How to Choose the Right Corporate Travel Planner

Business travel management is seeing a tech-powered upgrade. Today, selecting an ideal corporate travel planner involves integrating cutting-edge technology, personalization, sustainability, and robust data monitoring to elevate the travel experience while aligning with company policies and goals.

When evaluating options, prioritize planners who deliver:

• Tech-driven efficiency: AI tools for seamless expense reporting, mobile apps for real-time updates, visibility into spend, and data analytics for sound decision-making.
• Personalized travel plans: Tailored itineraries that balance company policies with individual traveler preferences.
• Sustainability: Options like eco-friendly transport, carbon footprint tracking, and green accommodations for responsible travel choices.
• Extensive inventory and networks: A wide selection of services for competitive deals, dynamic pricing, and streamlined distribution.

Businesses can stay ahead by choosing a planner that integrates these trends while delivering efficiency and satisfaction.

Ready for a solution that combines all the above? 

Meet Navan: The No. 1 Business Travel and Expense Management App

The future of business travel isn’t just about moving forward; it’s about doing so with purpose.

Navan empowers your travel planner with everything needed to manage business travel effortlessly, from booking and expense tracking to policy compliance and trend insights.