Make post-COVID business travel more cost-effective: Strategies for A/P

Business travel in 2022 started off slow due to the Omicron variant, but it’s starting to pick up again.

And due to the current economy, travel costs are expected to rise – especially as the weather warms and travelers of all types hit the road.

Hotel rates will be 13% higher globally this year, according to the Global Business Travel Forecast. Plane tickets will also be pricier.

Here’s what A/P can do to make sure business travel is as cost-effective as possible for the rest of the year.

Business travel discounts & more

For starters, as employees begin traveling again, you’ll want to encourage them to book their business travel through your preferred car rental companies, hotels and airlines.

If you don’t have any, it’s worth pursuing. Many companies are switching to booking platforms and agents that offer them deals on travel arrangements with certain vendors.

It’s also important to take any new expenses employees will incur into account as travel resumes.

Many employees may prefer to drive instead of fly. So you’ll have to figure out how you’ll address reimbursement in light of record-high fuel prices.

You may also need to consider the costs of supplies such as masks and other personal protective equipment workers might still need (or request) when they’re traveling for business.

To organize all these elements, companies are also investing in digital tools that can save A/P time. These tools can also help employees capture all discounts when booking business travel.

They can streamline business travel whether you work with a booking platform or not. Digital tools can help employees find the most cost-effective accommodations. This includes everything from the preferred hotel with the best room rates to the most affordable rental cars.

The most advanced tools have features to help employees stay organized while they’re away from the office – and communicate with you about any issues they encounter on the road, so reimbursement goes smoothly when they return.