Business travel is back! After facing financial hardships and the challenges of a global pandemic, companies are now sending their staff out on the road again. However, one thing that hasn’t changed is the pain of booking trips, especially if you’re still relying on outdated methods. But fear not! There are modern tools available that can automate, centralize, and manage travel bookings for your company. Let’s explore some of the best options:
TravelPerk
Booking business travel can be a significant challenge for staff. They often find themselves bouncing around from site to site, trying to find the most convenient and budget-friendly flights and accommodations. This is where TravelPerk comes in. It puts the world’s largest travel inventory in one place, allowing your team to access different airlines, hotels, trains, and more all within a single platform. Not only does it simplify the booking process, but it also makes tracking bookings and producing reports incredibly easy for finance teams. Plus, there’s an exciting integration with TravelPerk and Spendesk, offering automation, approval flows, and accounting tools.
AirBnb for Work
You may already be familiar with AirBnb, but have you heard of AirBnb for Work? This platform allows you to book a wide range of accommodations specifically tailored to business travelers. What sets it apart is that bookings are linked to the company profile, ensuring seamless communication between travelers and the finance team. Additionally, AirBnb for Work offers spaces for meetings, conferences, and even temporary office space rentals. It’s a comprehensive solution for your business travel needs.
TravelBank
Similar to TravelPerk, TravelBank is a centralized tool that allows team members to book all their travel in one place. It streamlines the entire process from finding and booking trips to tracking expenses. What truly sets TravelBank apart is its expense reports feature. Users can easily screenshot receipts for flights or ground transportation, which are then matched to charges on their company card. This automated expense reporting process saves time and effort for both employees and the finance team. Additionally, TravelBank offers individual travelers the opportunity to earn rewards for bringing the company a discount, incentivizing responsible spending.
Flightfox
If you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to travel agents, Flightfox may be the perfect option for you. It connects travelers with a network of travel experts who can help them book the perfect travel experience. Whether it’s finding exclusive deals or ensuring a smooth journey, the Flightfox team is there to assist. They focus on delivering genuine expertise and maximizing the value of your travel. With Flightfox, you can enjoy the benefits of having a team of travel agents available to you anytime, anywhere.
Spendesk
Tracking travel spending can be a daunting task, but Spendesk makes it much simpler. It offers different payment methods, all linked to the same user, ensuring transparency and accuracy. Travelers can make online payments using a virtual credit card and take a prepaid expense card on the road. This ensures that all expenses are logged and assigned to the correct user. Additionally, Spendesk allows real-time tracking of spending, allowing finance teams to have better control over budgets and expenses.
Spendee
Spendee is a useful app for tracking personal spending in real time. While not specifically designed for business users, it can be a helpful workaround for your traveling team members. It allows them to easily track and record their expenses, ensuring that no payment is overlooked. They can also add managers or finance team members to their account, providing visibility over their purchases.
These are just a few of the excellent business travel management tools available in 2024. Other noteworthy options include TripIt, a tool for building itineraries, Google Travel for comprehensive trip planning, Airhelp for understanding travelers’ rights, and PackPoint for stress-free packing.
Give these tools a try and see which ones suit your company’s needs best. Remember, the key is to provide flexibility and choice for your travelers, track and manage spending in real time, keep control in the hands of the finance team, and save as much time as possible throughout the process. Happy traveling!
