Business travel is often stressful, but it shouldn't be made worse by an inefficient travel management company (TMC).
If you find any of the following scenarios familiar in your own relationship with a business travel agency or corporate travel management company (TMC), it might be the right time to consider changing service providers. Read our guide on The Benefits of a Good Business Travel Agent to discover what a better service looks like.
No Out of Hours Support
James, a finance director, was overseeing a critical business trip for his team. During a late-night layover, one of the travellers received an unexpected notification that their connecting flight had been cancelled due to weather disruptions. With no access to their TMC’s after-hours support, James had to scramble to find alternate flights himself, while dealing with frantic calls from the stranded employee. He spent hours on hold with airlines, struggling to secure seats before morning meetings, causing unnecessary stress and delays.
Why This Wouldn’t Happen With A Good Travel Management Company (TMC)
A dependable business travel agency should provide 24/7 emergency support, ensuring travel bookers and their teams are never left stranded due to last minute disruptions. A great business travel agent would immediately step in to handle rebookings, secure hotel accommodations if needed, and offer real-time guidance to minimise stress and ensure smooth travel. No matter the hour.
Lack of Speed
Emma, an operations manager, was booking travel for a team attending a high-profile conference. At the last minute, one of the executives requested a change to their itinerary due to a schedule conflict. Emma immediately contacted her TMC, expecting a quick turnaround – but hours passed without a response. As time ticked away, flight prices soared, and hotel availability dwindled. By the time her agent got back to her, the most convenient options were unavailable, forcing Emma to book a more expensive and less practical alternative, outside of the company’s policy.
Why This Wouldn’t Happen With A Good TMC
A great business travel agent understands that in corporate travel, speed matters. Whether it’s last-minute itinerary changes, urgent rebookings, or unexpected disruptions, a responsive TMC should act immediately, ensuring bookers aren’t left waiting while prices rise and options disappear.
Overpriced Agents
Sarah, a senior executive assistant, was tasked with booking a last-minute trip for her CEO. She relied on her TMC to find a cost-effective solution, but instead, she was presented with overpriced flights and hotels beyond budget. With little transparency on fees and no alternative suggestions, Sarah had no choice but to overspend. Sarah later discovered herself, that better deals were available elsewhere.
Why This Wouldn’t Happen With A Good TMC
A reliable TMC should leverage negotiated rates, optimise travel budgets and provide cost-effective recommendations within a client’s policy, prioritising cost efficiency without compromising on quality. Instead of simply presenting overpriced options, a well-managed corporate travel agency would use industry expertise to dig deeper, leveraging supplier agreements and work proactively to seek cost-saving opportunities that align with the client’s budget.
Limited Travel Insights and Reporting
Samantha, a procurement specialist, was responsible for managing business travel expenses and ensuring cost control. However, her TMC provided minimal reporting, making it nearly impossible to track spending trends, traveller behaviours or missed savings opportunities. Without clear visibility into travel data, Samantha struggled to justify costs to leadership and had no way to refine future travel strategies.
Why This Wouldn’t Happen With A Good TMC
Any good business travel agency should offer detailed reporting and analytics. This is essential to give clients real-time visibility into travel spend, policy compliance and supplier performance. With the right insights, businesses can optimise their travel programs, identify savings and make data-driven decisions to further enhance efficiency.
Conclusion
If any of these situations feel uncomfortably familiar, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to keep settling for subpar service. A failing travel management company doesn’t just cause frustration; it costs your business time, money, and trust.
The good news? Better support, smarter solutions, and true peace of mind are all within reach. It’s time to move on from being let down and partner with a TMC that puts your needs first, every time.
Want us to show you exactly how seamless, stress-free corporate travel can and should look? Continue your journey by reading Taking Business Travel Off Your To-Do List.
