Crafting efficient business trips require a great deal of research and experience. From planning a business trip to executing it for a higher ROI, corporates have to be on the forefront of every moving part in the process. Managing the intricate details of every trip becomes increasingly difficult alongside the day-to-day business engagements. Hence, organizations tend to take the help of corporate travel management companies to expedite the overall process. These business travel management companies in India assist in booking, expense management, reporting, employee support and numerous other aspects of business trips. With multiple players in the market, finding the right fit for your organization can be a difficult task. Therefore, to help you make an informed decision, here is a brief list of the top business travel management companies in India
Challenges in Managing Corporate Travel
Businesses face numerous challenges while managing domestic and international corporate trips. Budget is one of the major concerns while facilitating a successful travel experience and accomplishing business objectives. Travel policy compliance, complex logistics, risk management, 24×7 employee support are some of the other travel management issues that businesses face regularly.
Tips to select the best business travel management company
There are numerous criteria to consider before choosing the right TMC. Some these are listed below:
- Reputation: While looking for a corporate travel management company for your organization, ensure to research about the client testimonials and reviews. Further, 3rd party blog mentions are also a good way to find out about the reputation of the organization.
- Budget: As great TMCs can charge highly, it may not be feasible for every mid scale and small scale organizations. Therefore, it becomes crucial for organizations to judge their requirements and budget allocation before choosing the best fit.
- Services Offered: Not every TMC can provide the services as per your organization’s requirement. Hence, you should ensure to choose the TMCs who can make tailor made packages for your necessities.
- Technological Solutions: While choosing the TMC, you should understand the power of automation and reason to select technologically advanced options. TMCs should be utilizing various AI backed platforms to provide efficient solutions to your travel needs.
Importance of Outsourcing Travel Management
Outsourcing travel management can offer several advantages, including:
- Cost Efficiency: One of the major benefits of opting for outsourced travel management is the cost efficiency of each trip. With the expertise of travel management companies, the travel cost of each trip decreases on the booking of airlines, hotels and other services.
- Convenience: Outsourcing travel management allows businesses to free their employees time which otherwise would have been used to book and manage travel. They should be able to focus on preparing for the objective of the travel leaving other nitty gritty to the experts.
- Risk Management: Professional travel management services can help in mitigating risks associated with travel, including emergencies and unforeseen events. They offer 24×7 support which otherwise is not possible in general situations.
10 Best business travel management companies in India
1. CWT India
Among the oldest companies in the market, CWT has its history dating back to 1872. Positioned as a B2B4E (business to business for employees) organization, CWT focuses greatly on enhancing the overall experience of the employees. The goal is achieved by establishing a sound connection between people of CWT to the people involved on the client’s side and transferring years of experience of the former in the services offered to the clients. The primary services include tech-based solutions for travel booking, expense management, and trip reporting.
2. Thomas Cook India Ltd
Working as a partner of Fairfax Financial Holdings, Thomas Cook India has been catering to the corporate travel in India for decades. The company provides different travel solutions for a diverse group of people. It specializes in leisure trips, corporate travel, foreign exchange, and travel insurance. Additionally, the company offers franchising options owing to which it has scaled greatly over the years.
3. MakeMyTrip MyBiz
MakeMyTrip is an Indian travel company founded in 2000, with the intent to simplify global travel. The business leveraged the e-commerce set up and has revolutionized online travel booking in India. It has recently launched its all new MakeMyTrip MyBiz services that are centered towards corporate travel. The primary services include bookings on contracted rates, integration with leading HRMSs and EMSs, on-trip assistance, and more.
4. FCM Travel Solutions
Branding themselves as the alternative in business travel, FCM Travel Solutions aims to make business trips a pleasure. The company has a global presence spanning more than 95 countries. It hand-picks their services to provide a memorable experience to its customers. They specialize in bleisure travel, VIP travel, visa and passport filings, etc. The company also educates its employees and clients with regular meetings and events. They also offer consultancy services to the clients to enhance their overall trip experience.
5. Paxes
Paxes is a home grown brand that offers corporate travel management services to businesses worldwide. The Paxes platform is rich with management features that allow employees and admins to effectively navigate and manage the intricacies of business travel. It provides the options of self booking, HRMSs and EMSs integration, plugging in multiple-GDS, accurate trip reporting, policy compliance and much more. The exclusive Duty of Care partnerships assist in efficient risk management and in-trip client support.
6. Navan (Tripactions)
Previously known as Tripactions, Navan has gone through a major technological revamp. The travel management software enables a human connection that is missing in most of the online bookings portals. The company aims to make data driven decisions a key factor in booking and business travel in India. Navan provides travel expense management solutions and accurate trip reports. It is also exploring various opportunities facilitated by AI and Data Science in business travel.
7. American Express Global Business Travel (GBT)
Headquartered in New York, American Express Global Business Travel is an MNC with its operations spread over 140+ countries. The company has a wide range of services from providing solutions for corporate travel to assisting in organization of a successful event. Further, it offers tailored services for clients with specific requirements. American Express GBT caters to the travel requirements of a number of industries such as Healthcare, Education, Entertainment, and more.
Suggested Read: Automation In Travel Management For Human Resources Team
8. Egencia
With parent companies such as Expedia and American Express Global Business Travel, Egencia inherited excellence in the art of travel booking and management. Their services provide conclusive insights that help in smooth, seamless booking and management of corporate travel. It emphasizes increased ROI from business trips by greatly adhering to the travel guidelines, purpose, and desired outcome. The analytics tools provided by the company expands the view of the travel managers in terms of data and assist in making informed decisions.
9. TravelPerk
Founded in 2015, Travel Perk is relatively a corporate travel agency in India offering fresh ideas for business travel solutions. Adhering to its name, TravelPerk has numerous perks for business travelers. The company positions itself as one business travel tool. It provides flexible solutions catering to the specific needs of corporates and individuals. The company is also continuously exploring new methods and techniques involving sustainable travel.
10. BCD Travel India
BCD Travel was born in 2006 when the BCD group purchased TQ3 Travel Solutions. The company specializes in multiple fields including business travel management as well as Event management and coordination. BCD Travel orients itself heavily towards making the most out of the resources that a client organization has on offer, and providing their best resources in the field of travel management, bookings and duty of care. They boast a client retention rate of 97% and their operation is spread over 106 countries.
Conclusion
There is no perfect or singular answer to business travel solutions and finding a perfect one-size-fits-all policy or agency is near impossible. However, the list of business travel management companies in India will guide you towards the best option for your company.
Suggested Read: How To Choose The Best Travel Management Company?
Business Travel Management Companies In India FAQs
What is a corporate travel management firm?
They are agencies who specialize in arranging and overseeing business travel engagements. They provide specific solutions to problems and complications faced in business travel that businesses find difficult to internally deal with or navigate.
Why should a business hire a corporate travel management firm?
The process of business travel management can be very overwhelming and consequently confusing. Therefore to smoothen the process and ensure seamless execution of important engagements, businesses tend to hire external firms that specialize in corporate travel management.
What are the important services they provide?
If we look at Paxes, they provide boutique and tailored services to their clients including options for self-booking, HRMSs and EMSs integration. As well as providing plugging in multiple-GDS, accurate trip reporting, policy compliance and much more. Their services mold to the client requirements and ensure a crease-free business travel experience.
Will an external firm be best suited to my specific needs?
While there are some cons to hiring a corporate travel management firm like adding external costs and a lack of transparency at times, good firms like the abovementioned ten, can cater to the specific needs and constraints of any business.
Provide a list of reputable corporate travel agencies in Dubai?
Dubai hosts several renowned corporate travel agencies known for their expertise in managing business travel. Notable options include CWT, recognized for end-to-end corporate travel solutions; Al Tayyar Travel Group, with a strong presence in the Middle East; Omeir Travel Agency are also noteworthy, boasting extensive experience in catering to corporate travelers.
How do I choose the right corporate travel agency for my needs?
Selecting the ideal corporate travel agency in Dubai, or elsewhere, involves careful considerations. Start by assessing your specific travel requirements, including frequency, destinations, and budget constraints. Research agencies with a solid track record in corporate travel management, supported by client testimonials and case studies. Evaluate their technology solutions for booking and expense management, along with their ability to negotiate cost-effective deals and provide 24/7 traveler support. Ultimately, opt for an agency that aligns with your business travel needs and objectives, offering dependable, cost-effective, and personalized services.
Why should my company consider using a TMC for business travel?
TMCs streamline travel operations, negotiate better deals, enhance traveler experiences, and ensure policy compliance, resulting in cost savings and improved control.
How do I choose the right TMC for my business?
Assess your needs, research TMCs, consider their expertise, technology, and customization, and seek client references for informed decision-making.
What services do business travel management companies offer?
TMCs offer booking, expense management, policy enforcement, traveler support, reporting, supplier negotiation, risk management, and duty of care services, customizable to your needs.
How can a TMC help in managing travel expenses and reducing costs?
TMCs negotiate better rates, implement cost-control measures, provide expense tracking, and offer data-driven insights, reducing travel expenses.
Can businesses customize their travel management services to align with their unique needs and policies?
Yes, TMCs offer customization to align with your unique needs, policies, and corporate culture.
Are there any potential challenges or risks associated with outsourcing travel management in India?
Potential challenges include language, cultural differences, data privacy, and compliance concerns. Select an experienced TMC to mitigate these challenges effectively.
How do travel management companies help businesses enforce travel policies and control travel-related costs in India?
TMCs use technology solutions, real-time monitoring, and reporting tools to enforce policies, negotiate with local suppliers, and optimize travel spend in India while ensuring policy adherence.
