We all know the enthusiasm of making ambitious New Year’s resolutions each January - get fit! Save money! Spend less screen time! But while our personal goals often fall by the wayside, setting professional resolutions can be genuinely transformative – for you and your people. That's why Bonnie Smith, GM Corporate Traveller, recommends starting the year by relooking your corporate travel management game.
“Just as the world evolves, so should our strategies and approaches to travel management. By setting aside time to relook your travel programme, you ensure its alignment with your organisation's goals, cost-effectiveness, and the well-being of your travellers,” she adds
So, if 2023 felt like a blur of reacted tasks rather than proactive wins, here’s your chance to grab the reins. Here are five bold yet attainable New Year’s resolutions for those who work in business travel, according to Smith.
1st New Year’s Resolution:
I will be all about my people
Budgets? Sure, they're important. Traveller happiness? Absolutely crucial. It's not just about being responsible; it's a smart move. By making traveller safety and comfort a top priority, you're creating a happier work environment and making your own life easier. When travellers feel safe and content during their journeys, you'll have fewer disruptions, questions, or complaints coming your way.
Action point: Talk to your TMC about prioritising traveller safety and comfort. They can help you set up a safety net, like tweaking your travel policy or relooking your risk management processes.
2nd New Year’s Resolution:
I will embrace new tech
Did you know that according to the GBTA, 59% of travel managers think technology is a big deal when choosing a travel management company (TMC)? But here's the thing, even with all this tech available, not everyone's on board yet. Are you one of them?
Embracing modern self-booking tools, automated insights, and traveller messaging apps can make many everyday tasks a breeze. It makes your job easier by simplifying bookings, reducing errors, and supercharges your travel management skills.
Action point: Collaborate with your TMC to explore travel tech solutions that will make your job easier – and if there's not enough uptake in your company, ask for support or training to engage them.
3rd New Year’s Resolution:
I will collaborate with other departments
As you book work trips in 2024, make it a goal to loop in finance, HR, and leadership more often. Engaging with finance, HR, and leadership teams aligns your travel policies with broader company objectives and helps you gain valuable insights and support. Collaborating leads to smarter decisions, better financial planning, and happier employees – all of which make your job a walk in the park.
“If budget is worrying the finance team, address concerns up front and brainstorm ideas – maybe vendor consolidation or policy tweaks could save cash. Or work with HR to connect travel perks to attracting and retaining talent,” suggests Smith.
Action point: Set up a meeting with your TMC to align your travel policies with the goals of finance, HR, and leadership. They can offer insights to save money and keep your team happy.
4th New Year’s Resolution:
I will make my travel numbers work for me
If you can't measure it, you can't manage it. Solid reporting is critical to getting the complete picture of what's happening in your travel programme. Whether you need data on specific projects, your carbon footprint, top travellers, or anything else, leverage reporting tools from your TMC and others.
These reporting tools let you make super-smart decisions, spot areas that need a little TLC, and evaluate your programme's performance like a pro. This resolution streamlines your job, giving you real-time insights and freeing you from the boredom of manual data collection.
Action point: Work closely with your TMC to use reporting tools effectively. Ask for customised reports that provide insights into what matters most to your team or business.
5th New Year’s Resolution:
I will update my travel policy
You may already have a travel policy in place, which is fantastic. But, have you taken a moment to consider when it was last updated? Think about how your team has evolved since then. Has it become more diverse and inclusive, with members of the LGBTQ+ community on your payroll? Have there been retirements and new hires bringing fresh perspectives to the table? Millennials and Gen Z employees often have distinct priorities and preferences regarding business travel. They want more sustainable business travel options to feel they are making a difference.
Updating your travel policy to cater to these changes simplifies your job by avoiding last-minute policy exceptions and negotiations. A well-tailored policy not only keeps your employees happy but also minimises compliance headaches and facilitates flexibility like bleisure travel - all making travel management smoother than ever for you.
Action point: Chat with your TMC about refreshing your travel policy. Get input from your team and work together to create a policy that suits everyone’s needs. Make sure it follows current industry standards.
Ready to let us help you make and stick to these New Year resolutions? Here’s how we helped some of our clients in 2023. Get in touch and let's review your current travel policy to make 2024 a year of business travel wins.