An account manager role in business travel is highly challenging as it encompasses diverse responsibilities. They are a direct point of contact for organizations to meet their business travel requirements. Account managers must work closely with travel managers to determine the specific needs of the company’s business travel and recommend avenues for cost optimization and improvement of travel experience.
Business travel accounts manager handles multiple clients by knowing their strategic goals and delivering value-added business travel solutions by adopting a consultative approach. Key account manager responsibilities enhance the organization’s travel program by helping travel managers achieve greater compliance with travel policy.
Travel account manager roles & responsibilities
The main role of the travel account manager is to win and retain accounts by managing clients’ travel programs, driving profitability, and sharing feedback on new growth opportunities by analyzing business travel trends. The following roles and responsibilities can help the account manager achieve the main objectives.
1.Overcoming resistance
Several organizations are skeptical about using a Travel Management Company, as these are unaware of the value addition and cost optimization benefits of TMCs. Travel account managers adopt an empathetic approach by appreciating their concerns about hiring a TMC and convincing them about the immense advantages of partnering with a travel management service. They must have an in-depth understanding of the past travel management infrastructure and pain points to recommend a bespoke solution.
2. Advising TMCs on travel policy
The Account manager role in business travel involves mentoring the customer while acting as a strong bond between the customer and corporate travel management company. They update the reservations team members about the travel policy guidelines for seamless compliance. Account managers explore new travel suppliers to optimize travel costs. They update the booking team about the new travel routes and destinations to help them incorporate the changes and plan trips.
3. Data analysis
Key account manager responsibilities include driving continuous improvement by reporting on the status of Key Performance Indicators by analyzing the monthly data and emerging trends. Adding new travel suppliers to the existing travel inventory is possible by leveraging travel spend data. Travel account managers empower the Travel Management Company to help organizations improve travel policy compliance by ensuring the implementation of strict booking policies. They support TMCs to play the role of guardian of corporate travel policy.
4. Consistent support
Account managers regularly update companies by providing diverse insights through performance metrics. These enable companies to understand various aspects of travel spending to take the steps for travel cost optimization. The insights cover the usage of travel suppliers, adoption rates, trends of savings, and missed cost-saving opportunities. Travel account managers also update companies about adding new deals to the travel program besides cost savings through redeeming corporate reward points, supplier deals, and rate contracts.
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5. Consultative approach
Account managers have an in-depth understanding of the client’s business and travel requirements. They make appropriate recommendations by communicating with travel managers and brokers to enhance the business travel program. A travel manager should adopt a customized consultative approach and guide the clients to optimize travel costs as per individual travel needs. Maximizing value, reducing travel costs, and boosting the effectiveness of travel programs are key factors of the account manager role in business travel that drive client satisfaction.
6. Driving value addition
Travel Management Companies can impact travel programs by including irrelevant travel suppliers. Account managers strive to identify travel suppliers that improve cost efficiency by adding value to the travel program. They study the organization’s business travel trends to include suppliers that will maximize inventory utilization. It will facilitate future deals as travel suppliers are sure of consistent business. Travel account managers identify strategically important suppliers for greater focus for better value addiction.
7. Automating travel management
The account manager role in business travel helps organizations adopt a SaaS-based travel management solution to improve travel policy adoption. Organizations can streamline travel management using state-of-the-art platforms like Paxes.com to improve the travel experience of employees. It allows a self-booking facility and provides anytime support through the app from any location to promote duty of care compliance. The corporate travel management platform enables employees to access preferred travel suppliers for smooth travel booking.
Conclusion
The account manager job description involves myriad responsibilities to improve travel management programs of different client organizations. They are accountable for enhancing the travel experience without impacting compliance with the corporate travel policy. Account managers ensure duty of care by offering prompt and round-the-clock support to employees by reducing travel risk. They help clients detect issues with travel programs and suggest ways to optimize travel spending. Accounts manager can also integrate travel platform such as Paxes in expense management software for better travel management.
Account Manager Role In Business Travel FAQs
What is the main role of a travel account manager?
A travel account manager is a bridge between a Travel Management Company and a client to ensure seamless travel management, cost-effective business travel, and policy compliance.
How does a travel account manager reduce travel costs?
Travel account managers create an optimum travel inventory by identifying travel suppliers and negotiating the best rates for the company. They analyze travel trends and recommend improvements to reduce costs.
What are the main skills for a travel account manager ?
The main skills for a travel account manager are communication, negotiation, analytical, relationship building, and business skills.
Why does an organization need a travel account manager?
The inability to book cheaper travel options to save costs, inconvenience complying with travel policy guidelines, and poor travel management leading to over-the-budget travel spending are a few reasons to hire a travel account manager.
How do travel account managers help organizations boost duty of care?
Travel account managers ensure round-the-clock emergency support and establish processes to safeguard business travelers against illnesses, accidents, and natural disasters.
