How to define the perfect corporate travel programme

It’s a delicate thing – balancing cost, flexibility and traveller wellbeing when you’re defining your corporate travel programme. The lower the fare, the more restrictive the ticket, the less flexibility you have. The more you save in the short term by flying employees in economy class on the red-eye, the worse the long-term effect on their wellbeing. The seesaw corporates face when trying to keep costs as low as possible, while ensuring they have the flexibility they need to achieve their company’s goals and reduce the potential friction their frequent travelling staff may feel, requires an expert approach. That’s why getting corporate contracting right is so important, says Oz Desai, Corporate Traveller SA’s general manager. “You have to be familiar with how airlines and hotels structure their fares or rates and learn how to balance the opposing needs to cut costs, but increase flexibility so that you’re only paying for it when you actually need it, and choose the lower price when...