When the economy tightens, every dollar matters. Today’s geopolitical and economic headwinds are reshaping travel decisions, with international leisure travel slowing and business travel bracing for potential volatility.
But instead of pulling back, forward-thinking companies are leaning in and recognizing travel as a catalyst for growth, connection, and competitive advantage.
Below we explore how an organization with the right strategy and travel management partner can turn uncertainty into opportunity and control their costs without sacrificing momentum.
Maximize Savings with Smart Negotiations
Partnering with a TMC gives travel managers access to supplier discounts and preferred rates that would be difficult to secure independently. A managed travel program can pre-negotiate more favorable rates across every segment of the market, which is an advantage that becomes even more important when rates are in flux and economic forecasts are projecting possible fiscal challenges ahead. These negotiated deals may include hotel promotions, car rental offers, airline rewards, and other contractual discounts.
We go a step further at Direct Travel, leveraging our longstanding industry partnerships to uncover savings across every aspect of our clients’ travel programs, from optimizing air and hotel bookings to daily rate monitoring. Case in point: Our Direct Price Assurance tool utilizes price tracking technology to automatically rebook travelers when a lower rate becomes available. This ensures our clients always have access to the best rates and can capture additional savings without added effort. As Direct Travel’s Executive Vice President Donna Brokowski recently shared in an interview with The Company Dime:
“We have seen growing demand for this capability as pricing has become more fluid and less predictable. Our clients increasingly use the data to not only capture savings but to analyze available trends and rate movement—offering leverage for smarter, more rational rate negotiations.”
– Donna Brokowski, Executive Vice President, Global Supplier Management & Consulting, Direct Travel
Price Assurance does more than secure lower rates. Tools like these arm travel managers with real-time industry data, enabling them to make faster, more informed decisions that strengthen their organization’s competitive edge.
Strengthen Compliance and Empower Travelers
In a fluctuating market environment, travel policy compliance becomes even more critical. Travel managers should begin by evaluating their existing policy. Are there adjustments that could drive higher compliance and better cost control? What factors may be contributing to noncompliant behavior?
While individual travelers may believe they are saving the company money by booking independently, unmanaged travel often bypasses negotiated discounts, preferred supplier agreements, and the broader savings achieved through group purchasing. With a strategic travel management partner in your corner, this work has already been done on the traveler’s behalf. A TMC can leverage extensive industry relationships and procurement power to deliver far greater value than any one-off booking could achieve.
Our team’s philosophy is to help businesses reach their compliance goals by empowering travelers to make better choices. This can take on many shapes and forms, such as designing and automating a pre-trip approval process that provides travelers with rapid responses and clear guidelines. This approach not only streamlines booking but also gives travelers greater peace of mind knowing their plans align with company expectations. The result is a smoother, more confident travel experience with fewer last-minute surprises.
Save Time with Automation & Technology
In a rapidly evolving economy, efficiency isn’t just a cost-saving measure, it’s a strategic advantage. As teams are asked to do more with fewer resources, automating manual travel tasks becomes essential. What role can your corporate travel partner play in this process?
At the outset, your TMC should help identify tasks that are ripe for automation, such as unused ticket management. When an airline ticket is canceled or goes unused, recouping those costs can be complex and potential savings are easily overlooked. Direct Travel’s Unused Ticket Manager eliminates this risk by automatically identifying, tracking, and monitoring open tickets, alerting clients before deadlines to maximize recovery and minimize financial waste.
Beyond task automation, forward-thinking travel managers are also integrating broader tech solutions to drive program-wide efficiency. Our next-generation travel technology Avenir brings travelers, managers, and advisors together on one unified platform, streamlining communication and accelerating issue resolution. The result is not only time savings but also a smarter, more seamless travel experience that supports long-term cost control and program success.
As Direct Travel’s Executive Vice President Dave Breslin explained in a recent interview with Business Travel News, transforming the corporate travel experience hinges on an industry shift to service that combines advanced technology and human interaction:
“Excellence isn’t just about providing great customer service but creating the right balance of high-touch human and self-serve interactions. Reaching this goal requires a robust and talented team and the implementation of advanced technology.”
– Dave Breslin, Executive Vice President, Customer Experience, Direct Travel
By investing in a combination of dedicated service and modern technology today, organizations position themselves ready to outperform tomorrow.
Combine Savings with Service
As companies evaluate their travel goals and budgets, it is essential not to sacrifice service in pursuit of savings. Especially during periods of economic pressure, travel managers can maintain their competitive advantage by leaning on a trusted partner. A TMC can deliver the strategic insights needed to drive savings, mitigate risk, enhance the traveler experience, and maintain compliance.
At Direct Travel, we’re committed to helping our clients simplify their processes, control costs, and elevate their travel programs. Our team of industry experts delivers managed travel solutions tailored to organizations of every size and budget.
In uncertain times, choosing the right travel partner isn’t just helpful, it’s transformational. Ready to rethink what’s possible? Connect with Direct Travel and start building a smarter, stronger travel program today.
