How To Select a Corporate Travel Agency

An agency that handles travel arrangements for your business or corporation must understand something about the business you're in and your travel needs. The agency must have the scope to plan the kind of travel you need and relationships with vendors you will use most often, such as car rental companies or airlines that fly internationally. It must have the time to take on your company as a client and be ready to book travel for you when you need it.

Instructions

1

Make a list of your travel needs. Determine whether you need international or domestic travel; air travel arrangements only, or hotel and other accommodations; 24-7 availability or contact only during business hours. Find an agency whose employees are familiar with the countries or cultures you do business with. ; Consider whether you're looking for someone who is better at budget travel or more adept at upscale bookings.

2

Research travel agencies and compare their assets against the priorities on your list. Read publications such as "Inc." magazine, which publishes a list of corporate travel agencies. Prioritize your list against a company's strengths. For example, if a company has great connections that lead to good deals on international flights but your company's travel needs are primarily domestic, move on. Check whether the agency belongs to industry organizations, such as the Association for Corporate Travel Executives.

3

Interview companies. Ask about how the agency would handle your company's specific needs. Determine how much time the agency would be able to commit to working with your company and only hire an agency sufficiently staffed to do so.