The PA Life Christmas Party & Star Awards 2025, sponsored by Your Travel Corporate (YTC), proved to be a perfect chance for everyone to celebrate the outstanding work of so many leading EAs and PAs and for me to speak to them about the challenges they are facing around booking business travel.
Here are the key issues EAs and PAs raised with me on the night regarding their business travel bookings:
Lack of Reliable 24/7 Business Travel Support
Many PAs said they were still the ones handling crises when flights were cancelled or travellers were stranded out of hours.
Their travel management company (TMC) either didn’t answer or lacked any meaningful emergency support.
“My traveller was stuck in Madrid at midnight. The airline helped more than the TMC.”
These mirrored stories I hear all the time, where travellers were left to sort their own last-minute rebooking’s.
Poor Reporting and Lack of Transparency
Assistants expressed frustration with minimal or outdated reporting tools. Quarterly spreadsheets weren’t enough for planning budgets or demonstrating value to leadership.
“I can’t see trends. I can’t pull insights. It’s useless for decision-making.”
Slow Response Times Causing Cost Increases
A major grievance was how long it takes some TMCs to respond to urgent changes. Several PAs said delays of just a few hours caused prices to rise or availability to disappear.
“By the time they replied, nothing they’d quoted was still available.”
Feeling Undervalued by Their TMC
Beyond the operational issues, PAs felt their TMC treated them like low-priority users rather than strategic partners.
“I book hundreds of trips a year. But I’m treated like I’m asking for a favour.”
Why These Conversations Mattered at the Event
There really was a brilliant festive atmosphere at the event, even in November, so thanks to everyone who took the time to speak with me. In these informal chats, the same themes kept surfacing: lack of in-house support, lack of speed, lack of data, and lack of an actual relationship with a travel expert.
What EAs & PAs Want From Their TMC:
Across discussions I had, the wish list was clear:
- Genuine 24/7 emergency assistance
- Fast, proactive communication
- Useful, accessible travel-spend reporting
- A partnership mindset, not transactional service
- Cost-effective, policy-aligned travel options
YTC Care About Getting It Right For You
At YTC, we do things differently. No complicated contracts, hidden costs or long sales pitches, we focus on what matters: providing a seamless, stress-free travel experience for every booker and traveller.
We build strong relationships with our clients through a human-led service that offers 24/7 support from real business travel experts. And we tailor our service around your specific needs.
Contact Us
If you have any questions at all relating to our travel management company services, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at hello@ytc.co.uk or call us on 020 3805 4599
We look forward to booking your next trip with you!
