The advent of online booking, which allows customers to research, plan and book their business trip at the click of a mouse, has completely transformed the way the travel industry does business – here are four tips to make the most of booking travel online.
- Double check the real cost. A large number of sites don’t quote the full price, with booking fee and GST, until the final checkout page. Likewise, corporate travel agents charge a fee for their services.
- Choose a site which offers a corporate service designed specifically to cater for the needs of the business customer. It will make your life so much easier.
- If in doubt, pick up the phone. Don’t suffer in silence if you can’t tell whether your hotel has WiFi or a good sushi restaurant in the vicinity. It’s their job to know these things and assist you with all of your travel arrangements, from transfers to room preferences and location info.
- It’s not always possible to plan ahead with corporate travel, but don’t get stung if you’ve left it to the last minute. Booking direct with accommodation providers – online or otherwise – won’t guarantee you the best deal. Online booking engines work with their suppliers to secure the best possible rates, which customers are unable to obtain by going direct.
