If the thrill is gone with your corporate travel programme, you may be settling for less than you deserve. When that initial honeymoon phase fizzles into a dull routine, your needs stop being met. This Valentine’s Day, take a good hard look at whether your corporate travel management company (TMC) still has your back.
Red Flag #1: Crickets instead of chatty check-ins
Remember all those cosy convos about your travel quirks and preferences? Now it's nothing but an endless phone tree when you need questions answered.
No dedicated agent in your corner who gets you? You feel lost in the shuffle without that personal touch. Not even on a first-name basis? It's time to find someone else to handle your business travel programme.
When scoping out new prospects, prioritise ones promising single points of contact - like having your own Travel Consultant. You want embedded advocates who feel like extensions of your team.
Red Flag #2: Straight to voicemail
In healthy relationships, your partner shows up when you need them. You used to feel like a top priority when your TMC picked up right away.
But delays fixing trip snafus are now par for the course, with voicemails left hanging for ages.
Think formalised service level agreements (SLAs) on reasonable response times could get communication flowing again? If not, confirm rapid turnarounds for your tier, backed by hard metrics, when evaluating a replacement that will improve your corporate travel programme.
Red Flag #3: MIA during emergencies
When things go sideways on the road, you need trusted companions in your corner—not recordings or bots. Without 24/7 access to real-live assistance, your corporate travel programme may leave you high and dry if plans unravel.
Your TMC does way more than logistics - they’re key for travel risk management. They should have your travellers’ backs to ensure duty of care duties are covered.
Red Flag #4: Stale vows
Like any enduring relationship, your travel programme needs some TLC to thrive. On chummy terms with your Account Manager? Do they make sure your travel policies evolve with your needs?
Travel frameworks left static quickly go stale. Ensure your business travel service provider reviews your travel policy, programme and fine print annually, syncing things up with regulations.
When weighing new options, ask how they'll benchmark innovations to keep your systems competitive and compliant.
Red Flag #5: Empty hype
Few things erode trust quicker than tools overpromising but underdelivering. Glitchy sites passed off as seamless platforms—but missing must-haves like virtual payment or duty of care? Houston, we have a problem.
When kicking the tyres on new travel tech, make sure it dials in visibility, savings, and support for user adoption. Ask about specific time-savers, compliance assists, and safe travel components.
“Ask about tech for automated reconciliation, a business traveller app, flexible payments, and robust data,” says Bonnie Smith, GM of Corporate Traveller.
Red Flag #6: Boredfest
In healthy relationships, little thoughtful touches remind partners they’re valued. But upgrades, insurance perks, and loyalty boosts may be rare these days for you and your road warriors.
Take it as a red flag if bureaucracy makes your business travel programme feel cookie-cutter.
If you want to regain that feeling of being special, ask vendors how they’ll land preferential rates, choice spots, and surprises to delight travellers.
The right partner goes to bat for your dreams, adapts to your needs, and helps you soar. Once that magic fades, work up the nerve to seek out true compatibility again. “The right travel management company makes travel feel less like a contract and more like a caring, collaborative journey for your organisation,” concludes Smith.
Looking for a travel management company that can promise you the world - with corporate travel policy best practices sealing the deal? Corporate Traveller is the one! Download Your Business Travel Game Plan to find out why.