Reasons to use a TMC
26/09/2022
Here at HTS, we’re proud to be featured in the Business Travel Europe News top 50 Europe’s Leading TMCs 2022, and a Highly Commended finalist for TMC of the Year at the 2022 Business Travel Magazine’s Business Travel People Awards. But what does a Travel Management Company (TMC) do?
As a TMC we offer bespoke specialist solutions for hotel accommodation, venue sourcing and travel - fulfilling the needs of travellers, bookers and buyers.
What does this mean for a corporate organisation? In our latest article, we look at the features and benefits of using a TMC such as HTS for your business travel, hotel and meeting requirements.
1. Ability to demonstrate savings on flights, accommodation and meeting space
The business model of many TMCs can mean that you pay a management service fee, yet one of the key benefits of using a TMC is the ability to demonstrate cost savings. Due to our strong relationships and buying power within the industry, we can negotiate and secure the best rates for our clients. This is especially true if you travel regularly or have employees who travel regularly.
Our expertise means we can search for competitively priced flights and secure negotiated rates at hotels and venues, both UK and worldwide.
HTS operates on a commission model – hotels and venues will pay commission for bookings we place with them, therefore covering the cost of any fees. So, while we may charge a small fee for organisations wishing to use our consolidated invoicing services – known commonly as ‘Bill Back’ – we can still demonstrate considerable savings on your business travel costs.
2. Create personalised travel policy to suit your business needs
Business travel should be as consistent across your business where possible. With this in mind, your TMC should establish a travel policy that meets the business needs. A clear policy in place will ensure everyone knows where they stand, acceptable and unacceptable behaviours can be outlined, and rules on expenses can be established.
Your TMC shouldn’t just work with you on establishing the travel policy, they should support you in enforcing it across the business. At HTS, we identify your traveller's individual preferences, we’re able to create a hotel and travel strategy bespoke to your needs.
We work with each of our clients to implement and mandate their tailored hotel and travel policy to ensure full compliance.
3. Efficiency and time savings
A major benefit of working with a TMC is it can free up your – and/or your employees’ - time for other tasks that are crucial to your business success.
Travel management can be complicated and time consuming. Do you want the hassle and responsibility of managing multiple travel requirements across your business?
Accurate communication and quick response from our team of specialists ensures a smooth, no-nonsense approach to your hotel booking, venue sourcing and travel management.
4. Provide consolidated reporting and MI to understand travel spend
We deliver spend transparency by sharing valuable data-driven insights and recommending substantial cost-saving opportunities and booking efficiencies.
An efficient TMC should be able to demonstrate savings, and help you understand your travel spend through consolidated reporting. Helping to bring the important information together into one place makes it easier to keep track of travel costs.
At HTS, we analyse your data and send monthly MI reports and provide recommendations to improve efficiencies and cost savings. By helping you to understand your data, together we can adjust the strategy to ensure we’re achieving the best from your travel policy.
5. Offering peace of mind and duty of care
One of the biggest concerns for an employer is the duty of care when their employees are travelling for business. Another benefit of working with a TMC, is that we can take this stress and worry away from you as our team are available to support, even during the unsociable hours.
This means that if something goes wrong, if you need to make a sudden change, or if you need urgent advice, there will always be someone on hand to help you.
Don’t take the risk of having to manage the duty of care personally – leave it in our safe and reliable hands, offering you peace of mind.
6. Work with the experts for advice and insight
Any experienced TMC will know the travel industry inside out and will have learned some tricks along the way.
With this in mind, they will be able to provide expert advice on how to best spend your money, what the best travel routes are, and what you need to know before you visit certain destinations.
At HTS, we firmly believe we are no exception to the above. Our team regularly meets suppliers, expanding our own product knowledge in key areas to benefit clients.
Additionally, our Managing Director - Julie Shorrock - sits on the board of beam, an association representing agencies, hotels and venues for business travel, meetings and events. As Membership Director, Julie aims to ensure the association continues to benefit all members – boosted by insights from her relationships with agency and supplier members. These relationships and insights are also used to benefit and inform HTS clients where relevant.
Are you ready to see cost savings, create a personalised travel policy, understand your data, be assured your travellers are in safe hands and know you are working with the experts? Then get in touch with the team to find out more.
