Your next business trip could be cheaper if you follow these guidelines.
Going on a business trip is part of being involved with a successful company, and a lot of flourishing businessmen and women go on multiple trips each year. In fact, according to the Global Business Travel Association, around 488 million business trips are taken annually in the U.S.
It’s imperative to keep each business trip as cost effective as possible and get the best deals on insurance, accommodation, and travel. Here’s how to plan your trips in the most economical way.
Good Value Accommodation
Business travelers spend a lot of money on hotels and travel. In 2016, traveling professionals spent around $318 billion on trips. According to Business Travel News’ 2015 Corporate Travel Index, the average outlay per day in a hotel was $163.13.
Chicago is the top destination for business travel in the U.S., with London leading the way globally. Business travelers would be hard-pushed to find exceptionally cheap hotels in these cities, but using sites like Airbnb can help you find the best deals for the area where you or your employees are planning on staying.
Choosing a Credit Card fit for Traveling
Equipping your collaborators with a company credit card can be a great way to keep track of expenses and also get deals on things like insurance. These top credit cards from Canada provide low interest rates, points, miles, and cash.
The American Express® Business Gold Rewards Card, for instance, offers a waiver of the annual fee and gives customers a welcome bonus worth $300 to spend on business expenses. It also comes with travel rewards so users can transfer points to frequent-flier schemes.
Using credit cards such as these are clearly going to provide savings for people that travel a lot, and it is well worth shopping around for the most comprehensive deals.
Getting the Best Deals on Tickets
Using sites such as Kayak.com to search for flights can be the most efficient and cost-effective way to book tickets. The site gives users access to real-time flight data which can be sorted and filtered in a number of different ways.
For example, you can bring up maps and find out the best routes. The site then provides a link to the specific airline’s website with whom you need to book the tickets. All this can be done from the handy apps which are available for iPhone and Android.
Choosing the Right Insurance
Finally, and possibly the most important thing, make sure all your collaborators have a comprehensive insurance package. One key tip for finding the right cover is to never go through a travel agent, tour operator, or airline, as they always add on extra costs.
You need to decide on the cover that you or your collaborators will need and then use comparison sites to hunt for the best deals that suit you. If you travel more than three times per year, it’s wise to look into getting annual coverage as well.
Following these simple tips will make your next business trip much more economical, and leave you with more money to pump back into your business.
