Business travel, a necessity for company growth
Whatever your profession, there comes a time when you need to travel. Business travel, also known as business trips, is necessary to visit customers or suppliers, to take part in meetings, symposia or seminars, but also to seek out new partners or suppliers, and to visit construction sites or branches.
For a business trip to pay off, the company must be able to follow certain rules and agree to certain expenses. However, the pursuit of profit must not be at the employee's expense. Although the obligation to achieve results is a duty for the employee or collaborator, the company employing him or her must also look after his or her well-being, and above all his or her safety. It's a win-win partnership.
The travel policy, an essential tool for organizing business travel
To make business travel more efficient, many companies have set up a travel policy. While smaller companies can do without one, managing each trip on a case-by-case basis, for larger companies, it's something of an obligation. These larger companies may have several trips in a day, a week or a month. If the department in charge of this issue manages each employee on a case-by-case basis, there's a good chance of making mistakes. Business travel policy is to apply the same principle to all trips.
Before implementing this business travel policy, we need to start by setting it up. In creating this policy, several points should be emphasized:
- Air travel. Some companies choose to use a single airline or travel agency to benefit from discounts or special offers.
- Accommodation. In order to benefit from a loyalty card, and therefore reduce costs, the company may decide to place its trust in a hotel chain or travel agency.
- On-site transportation. Will the employee use the metro? Will he or she rent a chauffeur-driven car? Or will they take a cab?
- Other expenses that can be reimbursed by the company. These include, of course, meals, telephone bills, etc. It's up to you to specify which expenses are to be reimbursed and, of course, the maximum amount that may not be exceeded.
Once the business travel policy has been established, it must be put into practice. The application of the travel policy must be neither so rigid as to hinder the employee's movements, nor so flexible that the employee feels he or she has a free hand. To ensure that it is understood by all, it is important that the company communicates this new travel policy. It is also important to provide for sanctions in the event of non-compliance during business trips.
Expand your business through business travel
Today's means of communication enable professionals to prospect, make contact and meet potential customers or partners. But nothing beats human contact. When prospecting, it's easier for a customer to trust someone they've seen and spoken to, than to trust an e-mail they've received. It has to be said that, while technology has made exchanges easier, it also brings its share of disadvantages, not least piracy of all kinds.
Business trips are necessary to attend conferences, training courses, symposia, seminars and conventions. These are all opportunities to find partners working in the same field. In addition, travel is essential for on-site verification of work or to carry out inspections.
Travel agencies, the ideal companions for all your business trips
It's not always easy to manage the various bookings and to keep track of employees on business trips. If the company doesn't know its way around, chances are it will lose a lot of money on every business trip.
CTABusiness Travel takes care of all these aspects. Reservations for plane or train tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals... Not forgetting other aspects such as obtaining a visa and insurance to cover lost luggage, plane delays or even repatriation in the event of illness.
What's more, with a help desk open every day, travelers can contact an advisor who can assist them with tasks such as car rental, flight cancellation or destination change...
CTA Business Travel also assists companies themselves. Each company has a dedicated account manager who, by respecting the company's travel policy and needs, helps it to find the best solutions for managing its employees' travel. It's all part of a package designed to help companies manage their business travel more effectively.
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