Career Advancement Tips for Corporate Travel Managers

Travel managers with experience under their belts know the drill. They’ve seen what works and what doesn’t, learned the terminology, and have become familiar with the industry.

So what now? If you’ve developed a love and fascination with the complex world of travel management, here are the next steps for climbing the ladder to even greater travel management success.

Get Certified

It’ll require some time and effort, but industry-recognized certifications can validate your expertise and commitment. These include:

• Certified Travel Manager (CTM): Validates advanced skills in policy development, risk management, and cost control.
• Certified Corporate Travel Consultant (CCTC): Focuses on building in-depth knowledge of travel policies, supplier negotiations, and expense management.
• Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE): Emphasizes strategic thinking and business acumen for seasoned professionals seeking leadership roles.
• Other certifications: ASTA and The Travel Institute offer options that focus on areas like travel operations and customer service.

Get Involved

Don’t sit on the sidelines. The more information you absorb and the more people you know, the more you’ll be seen as an expert, which can help advance you into the next chapter of your career. Here’s how to engage.

• Become a member: Organizations like ITM or GBTA are a font of industry knowledge. They offer many free events, as well as training sessions and seminars, and provide great opportunities for networking.
• Follow news outlets: Keep up on the latest industry news by regularly reading publications like Skift, Business Travel News, and Phocuswire.
• Attend key events: Make your presence known at the industry’s biggest conferences, such as ITB, GBTA, Business Travel Show Europe, and Business Travel Show America.

Future-Proof Your Career

It’s easy to become comfortable with the tried and true, especially when legacy travel management solutions remain stuck in a decades-old status quo. But strong change management skills are not only important — they’ve become essential in today’s fast-moving landscape.

The good news is that embracing modern solutions and technologies — such as AI, advanced data analytics, and next-gen travel management software — can have an outsized effect on your travel program and your career. You can also help inspire cross-functional teams, such as your colleagues in finance, HR, operations, and procurement. Some pro tips:

• Embrace continuous learning. Jump on any and every opportunity to learn about how the new technologies are changing the industry, from training sessions to webinars and certifications. To get started, read more about AI travel agents, key data points to track, and how to find the best AI-powered corporate travel platforms.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration. Meet regularly with colleagues in IT and procurement, who can provide insights into what they’re seeing on the technology front and how those developments align with broader business objectives.
• Cultivate a change mindset. Be proactive! Look at evolving technology as an opportunity for better travel experiences and a more efficient travel program.

By investing in these change management skills and remaining open to technological innovation, experienced travel managers can help raise their profiles and lead their organizations toward a more efficient and future-proofed travel program.

How Navan Can Help

The multifaceted role of a corporate travel manager demands a blend of technical prowess, strategic thinking, and exceptional interpersonal skills. It’s a lot.

The good news is that you’re not alone in this fight. Any opportunity to streamline processes, automate logistics, and analyze data can help shift your focus from basic logistics to thinking strategically about big-picture goals.

Navan can be a powerful ally, thanks to features like:

• Auto-enforced policy at a granular level
• AI-driven booking and support
• No expense reports
• Multi-source inventory, including NDC
• Real-time data analysis
• End-to-end T&E functionality

Additionally, joining Navan’s customer advisory board can introduce you to other travel managers, which will allow you to collaborate, brainstorm, get sneak peeks into what Navan is working on, and provide valuable feedback to help Navan with prioritization.

In short, Navan makes your job easier, saves you time, and can save the company money. It can be your secret weapon in creating a top-flight, cost-effective corporate travel program that could be a win for your company — and a career-booster for you.

Read more in our series, The Travel Manager's Journey:

• How to Launch a Career as a Corporate Travel Manager
• Success Tips and Best Practices for Travel Managers

See what Navan can do. Book a demo now!