So, you’ve sat down and drawn up a superb travel policy. Your travel program is ready to launch, and all you need is to get some vendors. It might seem like a simple task; get online, make some calls, pick your choice. But it takes a lot more than that to find a vendor who not only understands your business travel needs but has a proven track record of delivering and most of all, is within your budget and is worth the investment.
Business travel costs constitute a large percentage of all operational expenses, and businesses spend roughly $110 billion every year shuttling their employees to and fro. On top of that, corporate travel is extremely important, with such trips leading to sales, retained customers or even new connections.
It’s clear that the utmost care must be taken when looking for a vendor for your travel program. Here’s a list prepared by CrewFacilities.com showing a couple of mistakes you ought to avoid when sourcing for vendors.
An ill-defined strategy. In business, a strategy is the framework that holds everything together. Without one, everything would result in chaos, and in this case, reduced profit margins. A strategy would guide you during the entire process, from starting the search, comparing all the best options and signing a contract.
Ill-defined standards for suppliers. Standards define the kind of services and products you’ll get. Well-defined standards will ensure that you have a long and profitable relationship with your vendor of choice. Plus, they’ll help you filter out all the unfavorable options. If, for instance, you want a certain quality of hotel rooms, you’ll only consider vendors who meet that standard. But if you’re just browsing to see what’s there, you aren’t doing yourself any favors.
Not considering all your options. There are tons of vendors out there, each offering different quality of service, at different prices. Undertaking a survey of as many vendors as you can, both established and fledgling, will help you determine their different capabilities and match them to your specific needs.
Inadequate research. Once you’ve narrowed down to one or two vendors, you’ll have to dig deeper into their pasts. You could look for online reviews and testimonials, and verify their registration and certification. Such due diligence is about covering your bases and making sure you’re about to make a decision that won’t come back to bite you in the future.
Not negotiating. The plan is to keep operational costs as low as possible, and negotiating for better prices is a great way to do that. Make sure you clearly understand the vendor’s pricing policy, and this way, you’ll be able to negotiate for prices that while within budget, will also guarantee employee comfort and satisfaction during their trips.
If you have had trouble sourcing vendors for different travel program services and products, contact CrewFacilities.com and we will use our extensive experience and industry connections to get you the vendors who will offer the best value at a great price.
Andrea Tsakanikas - CrewFacilities.com 