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What is a travel management company (TMC)?

What is a travel management company and why should you use one? Learn about what a TMC is and how it can help your business.

With corporate travel ramping up as we enter “post-pandemic” times and an increased return to travel , the greater the need for travel management solutions. If you’ve noticed the uptick in corporate travel within your own business, you understand just how complicated it can be for you or your employees to coordinate itineraries. That’s where a travel management company, or TMC for short, can add great value to your business, regardless of size, and save you and your employees time, money, and headaches.

What is a TMC and what do they do?

On the most basic level, a travel management company (TMC) is a travel agency that specializes in arranging corporate travel for businesses of all shapes, sizes and needs. TMCs can take care of all the details involved with business travel, including booking flights, handling hotel reservations, supporting with duty of care, and taking care of car rentals, among other services. Through advanced technology and online booking tools (OBT), travel management companies can help your employees find the best deals while also adhering to your company’s corporate travel policy. TMCs can even help your business create a travel expense policy if you don’t have one already. [1]

Is there a difference between an OBT and a TMC? [2]

Yes, there is a difference between an Online Booking Tool and a Travel Management Company. An online booking tool allows employees to track and manage their own business travel. Travel management companies offer more robust support on top of providing their own online booking tool. While OBTs allow your employees to individually search for their own corporate travel options and deals, TMCs typically offer support from experienced travel consultants who specialize in finding the best rates for business travel, while also allowing your employees the flexibility to choose their own flights, hotels, and car rentals .

TMCs like Egencia are experts in handling the ins and outs of corporate travel. They are equipped to handle everything from gathering all the necessary travel paperwork, to providing live support during unforeseen circumstances, like missed flights, to notifying travelers of last-minute updates of travel regulations. With the backing of a TMC, your employees are supported every step of their travel, while helping your business save money and offering deeper travel insights.

Are travel management companies and travel agencies the same thing? [3]

No. Travel Management Companies and Travel Agencies are not the same thing, although they may share some similarities. While travel agencies can help clients book corporate travel, and occasionally offer lower rates through a limited number of vendors, TMCs focus on exclusively servicing businesses, helping create and adhere to a company’s corporate travel programs, and finding the best rates for maximum savings .

TMCs also provide a wider array of services than traditional travel agencies, like centralization and automation of the travel booking process, data-reporting options, and travel policy creation. Additionally, TMCs have cultivated years-long relationships with vendors and can negotiate lower fares for maximum savings.

7 benefits of using a travel management company

As business travel continues to ramp up, TMCs can offer travel solutions for your employees while keeping the bottom line of your business goals top of mind. Some of the most significant benefits of utilizing a TMC include:

1. TMCs help streamline your travel booking process

By automating the different travel components like lodging, flights, and ground transportation into one online booking platform, it allows the booking process to become more efficient and easier to manage and saves your employees valuable time.

2. Makes it easier to gather data for more informed decision-making

Through partner integrations and APIs, TMCs can offer real-time data gathering that can help analyze travel trends, assess risk management, as well as control budget spending . In turn, this data can help your organization make better, more educated business decisions.

3. TMCs provide travel assistance 24/7

One of the biggest benefits of using a TMC is that you can rely on reaching a travel consultant any time—day or night. Instead of having to keep track of several different vendors, your employees enjoy one point of contact that is reachable through a variety of different channels.

4. Enjoy the perks of concierge service

From handling the most minute details that can range from seat preferences to making sure travel reward points are applied accordingly and everything in between, TMCs elevate the traveler experience of your employees by taking care of all their travel needs.

5. Can help reduce corporate travel costs

Because TMCs specialize in finding and negotiating the best travel deals with enterprise providers and partners, they have access to lower rates on flights, hotel rooms, and transportation—cutting down on overall business travel costs while still offering competitive name-brand selections.

6. Provide traveler safety assistance

Whether unexpected security concerns arise, or travel regulations are updated at the last minute, TMCs keep travelers informed with real-time notifications.

7. Integrate your company’s corporate travel policy for greater compliance

TMCs bridge the gap between employee travel booking best practices and your company’s corporate travel policy . A TMC can filter an employee’s search results to be automatically compliant to your business’ travel policy guidelines, saving them time and providing ease of use. If for whatever reason an itinerary isn’t compliant, it’ll get flagged for further approval.

Choosing a TMC that’s right for your business

While there are a number of different travel management companies to choose from, the right TMC will depend on your business needs and goals. Some must-haves to take into consideration as you shop for a TMC to partner with include: [4]

• Responsiveness
• Comprehensiveness

Choose a TMC that is aligned with your company’s culture . Since you’ll work closely with them to create and organize your employee’s corporate travel, they should align with and uphold your company’s values.

Egencia provides you with corporate travel solutions

Whether you’re just starting a new corporate travel program or are looking to make yours more robust, Egencia provides modern travel management with a single, global, highly configurable platform. You’ll have the power to build integrations that help you automate, connect and simplify your travel and expense management. From small and medium-sized businesses to global corporations, we connect you to over 290 global airlines and 650,000 lodging properties.

Ready to get started?

Request a demo to see what we can do for you.

[1] https://www.cbtravel.com/difference-between-travel-management-company-and-travel-agency/

[2] https://www.travelperk.com/blog/best-business-travel-management-companies/

[3] https://www.cbtravel.com/difference-between-travel-management-company-and-travel-agency/

[4] https://jtbbusinesstravel.com/how-to-choose-a-travel-management-company/

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Travel Management 101: Back to the basics 

Traveling for business isn't just about hopping on a plane – it's a structured journey requiring precision and robust support. 

As the realm of corporate travel grows, so does the need for effective travel management and dedicated support. 

That’s why we at Corporate Traveler created this guide. 

Packed with indispensable knowledge and pragmatic insights, we’ll cover everything from the fundamentals of business travel management to evaluating the advantages of integrating the right travel management software solutions. 

Whether you're an aspiring travel manager or a seasoned business professional looking to enhance an existing travel program, this guide serves as your compass through the labyrinth that is corporate travel management. 

• Introduction - What is corporate travel management?
• Managed vs. unmanaged travel
• What is corporate travel technology?
• 5 key components of effective corporate travel management
• Make your business travel count

What is corporate travel management? 

Corporate travel management refers to the strategic planning, coordination, and control of multiple processes, all relating in some way to business travel. Each company has its own unique approach to corporate travel management, but at the end of the day, the primary goal remains the same: guaranteeing safe and efficient travel for employees within the framework of the company's policies and guidelines. 

This involves (but is in no way limited to) overseeing travel expenses, mitigating potential travel risks, and ensuring booking processes adhere to the company travel policy. 

Businesses navigate travel management through various channels, including: 

• Travel management companies (TMC) 
• In-house travel manager(s) 
• External travel agents 

What is a corporate travel manager? 

A corporate travel manager is typically an internal employee responsible for steering the travel program and coordinating all business trips for the entire organization. Not only are they the architects behind the corporate travel policy, they also handle duty of care (DOC) and risk management initiatives as well as assist the company in navigating global business travel terrain. 

(Side note: When the expertise comes from someone outside the organization, we call them corporate travel agents) 

Depending on the scale of the company, there might be a full-fledged team of travel managers, or the responsibility might rest with a solo office manager or HR representative. 

Their daily duties? Well, it’s quite the to-do list: 

• Booking trips for employees across various roles within the company 
• Tracking departmental travel expenses to ensure adherence to budgets 
•  Offering travel support to employees throughout all stages of their journey 
• Managing travel vendors or tools used by the company 
• Negotiating corporate rates with frequently used hotels 
• Arranging group travel and ground transportation, like rental cars or trains 
• Tracking company travel spend and providing reports for analysis 

What is a travel management company (TMC)? 

At the most basic level: a TMC is a specialized travel agency that assists businesses in managing their corporate travel needs. 

Like travel managers, TMCs adeptly handle all the nuances involved in business travel, from handling flights and securing hotel reservations, to providing top-notch DOC and analyzing expense reports. 

So, what sets them apart? The beauty of working with a TMC like Corporate Traveler is that we provide holistic travel management services and solutions that are specifically designed to streamline travel processes, optimize costs, and facilitate convenient and efficient business travel for employees. 

Is your company literally jetting off? An increase in employee travel comes with an increased need for travel and expense management. 

With Corporate Traveler, you can access negotiated rates, analyze your spend, and save across the board – all from anywhere, on any device. 

Managed vs. unmanaged travel 

Managed travel refers to any business travel that is supported by the services and expertise of a TMC. Travel bookings are either made with a dedicated travel consultant or via the travel company’s online booking tool (OBT), all of which are consolidated into a single, easy-to-digest report. 

Unmanaged travel, on the other hand, is where an organization handles its own business travel arrangements. In some cases, travel tasks and responsibilities may be delegated to a travel arranger or assistant. In others, businesses leave employees to book for themselves directly on InsertAirlineHere.com 

For some businesses, unmanaged travel a highly attractive option. But things aren’t always as they seem. 

Is your travel program unmanaged? Check out our article on managed vs. unmanaged corporate travel to see some key benefits to a managed program that you might not know you’re missing out on. 

What is corporate travel technology? 

Travel management software is like a specialized toolbox companies wield to ace their travel game. Think of it as software tailor-made to streamline and automate every feature of travel management, including: 

• Travel booking 
• Travel supplier management 
• Approval workflows 
• Corporate travel policy enforcement 
• Expense management 
• Reporting and analytics 

These travel management solutions don’t just stop at desktops! They are also offered as user-friendly mobile apps, allowing employees to book and manage their business trips without a travel agent or manager. 

In a nutshell, this tech is the control tower – a centralized platform steering travel bookings, policies, expenses, and reporting. It hands companies the reins, granting them stellar control, efficiency, and a crystal-clear view of their corporate travel management playground. 

But don’t just opt for any OBT. Choose a tech solution that knows how to play together. 

What is a corporate travel management system? 

This is a holistic, agile travel tech stack that consists of interdependent software solutions that work together seamlessly to provide end-to-end travel management. Such a cohesive system gives you the ability to streamline approvals, stay connected to employees wherever they are, and improve business travel compliance. 

By integrating different software solutions such as online booking tools, expense management systems, and travel risk management platforms, companies can create a comprehensive travel program that enhances the traveler experience, reduces costs, and improves compliance. 

With a travel tech stack in place, companies can also gain greater visibility into employee travel spend, track traveler behavior, and make data-driven decisions to optimize their travel program. 

5 key components of an effective corporate travel management program

No matter the size of the organization, number of stakeholders, or software employed, an effective corporate travel management program typically consists of several key components. 

1. Inclusive corporate travel policies 

This one might seem obvious, but we can’t stress it enough. Your travel policy is an extension of your travel program and company culture. A travel policy is the glue that holds your travel program together – from approvals, expenses, booking processes, and emergency contacts. 

Having a travel policy helps you: 

• Control travel costs 
• Determine how reimbursement works 
• Compile a list of trusted and approved travel vendors 
• Manage an employee’s travel experience and safety 
• Cut rogue bookings – and simplify approvals 
• Budget, report on travel expenses and activity and reconcile bookings 

As a company though, your travel policy helps centralize your travel program, makes data and tracking more accurate and easier to navigate, and it saves time and money (including on expense management). Plus, if you take the time to craft your policy in an intentional and inclusive way, you’ll have a policy your travelers are happier to follow. 

Want to learn how? Check out our   guide to corporate travel policies . 

2. The “right” corporate travel booking tool 

Not all online booking tools are created equal. 

Look for a travel platform that helps you develop processes that simplify: 

• Travel policy compliance – You've gone through the trouble of building a policy that meets all your travelers' needs. How can you make sure your travelers follow it? A corporate travel management platform, like Melon, allows you to outline your travel policy in the platform and alerts bookers when they are selecting options outside the company guidelines to help them stay on track. 
•   Centralized booking – Booking across different websites and compiling it into one organized itinerary is tricky. Melon brings all the available booking options, including flights, hotels, and transportation, into one platform. Say goodbye to that browser full of open tabs.
• Preferred vendor integration –Have a preferred airline? Like a specific hotel bed the most? Collecting rental car loyalty points? Our travel platform, Melon, delivers your preferred vendors first so you always find what you're looking for.  You'll rest easy knowing your travelers are choosing from the negotiated rates and exclusive deals that save your bottom line. 
• Approval workflows – Jump off the approvals merry-go-round. With Melon, you can set up a custom approval workflow to make sure that travel requests are routed to the appropriate managers for review. Once approved, Melon takes care of booking the rest. 

3. Consolidated reporting and expense management 

Your travel program looks blurry when you're looking for your travel spend data among different sources. This is where consolidating your travel data with a single travel management company proves its worth: 

• Centralized data management: The sheer volume of travel data can be overwhelming to say the least. You can spot trends and opportunities to cut travel costs and enhance your travel program from one dashboard. 
• Leveraging the right tools: TMCs offer a range of tools for various aspects of travel management. With a TMC, you can consolidate the tools you need for reporting and quickly view everything from travel expenses to carbon emissions tracking. 
• Nothing gets past you: A common challenge companies face with their travel programs is booking leakage, where employees make bookings outside the approved channels. With consolidated travel data, you can more effectively identify and target booking, supplier, or channel leakage. 

4. Corporate travel discounts & rates 

Business travel isn’t cheap. And if it is not managed effectively, it can be a black hole for your company’s budget. 

Corporate travel rates are special deals that are offered to companies by travel service providers. These rates are specifically designed to cater to the travel needs of individual businesses, giving them access to more economical options and perks that might not be available to the average solo traveler. 

Why? Essentially, travel services providers want to give businesses like yours a more attractive rate so that they can gain your loyalty and secure a high volume of business. 

This includes air travel, hotels, car rentals, and rideshare accounts. 

So how can you benefit? That’s easy – invest in a full travel management package. 

Here at Corporate Traveler, you can expect greater choices without missing out on business travel savings. With a network spanning 90+ countries and counting, we can hook you up with ALL the rates . 

5. Proactive duty of care 

Duty of care is a company’s moral and legal obligation to monitor its employees' safety and security . And when your employees venture beyond the borders of their familiar workspace, their health and safety take center stage. 

Most incidents that occur on business trips are not a matter of life-or-death…but they’re still pretty inconvenient. From a stolen phone to food poisoning, small incidents may add up to lost workdays, wasted business trips, and unhappy employees. 

To keep your travelers safe, they need support and assistance - anytime, anywhere. This not only ensures that they are safe, but also that they feel safe. The safer your team members feel on their travels the more relaxed and productive they’ll be, improving staff retention and streamlining the travel experience. 

The best way to ensure your traveler’s safety? Preparation. Put a plan in place to reassure your travelers and give them a game plan for every situation. With the right prep, you’ll know exactly where all your travelers are and how to reach them at any point of their journey. 

Your business travel matters. Make it count. 

In the dynamic landscape of corporate travel, success hinges on effective management, nuanced strategies, and unwavering support. And if there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that precision and dedicated guidance pave the way for streamlined, efficient business travel. 

At Corporate Traveler , we understand the intricacies of this realm. Our comprehensive solutions and expert guidance are tailored to elevate your travel program to new heights. 

Travel expertise? Anytime. We get you and your travelers where they need to go. You can depend on a team of real people to support you, 24/7. 

Latest tech? Always ahead. Innovative booking solutions, real-time updates, and on-demand reporting to take visibility to the next level. 

The best fares and rates? Of course. The widest range of travel options with the most perks. Superior value, choice, and savings that add up quickly. 

More savings? Yes, please! Access all the available content from negotiated fares, exclusive deals and perks, and Melon exclusive deals. 

Business travel is an investment, and it should feel simple. Take your business travel to the next level with exceptional service every step of the way. 

With a blend of knowledgeable travel experts and seamless digital experiences, we’ve got you covered from door to door. 

Want to make corporate travel easier? We've got you.  

Travel and Expense

What is a travel management system.

We know how much juggling travel managers do. One employee might need to get to Mumbai to manage an ongoing project, another needs to get to Boise to attend an industry event. Still others need to book a multi-stop trip, making sales presentations along the way. 

The person who manages company travel helps team members get to meetings, sales presentations, and trainings all over the world. They help book flights, reserve hotel rooms, and smooth out all the snags when delays or issues occur. And this recent study finds that travel management is growing more complex for companies of all sizes.  

But, the most savvy of them don’t do it alone. They use technology like a travel management system to ensure that nothing gets overlooked and everything runs smoothly. 

What is a travel management system? It's a tool that provides a single, seamless interface for booking, tracking, and handling end-to-end management for business travel .  

Understanding Travel Management Systems 

Travel management systems (TMS) are one-stop software systems where all of a company's travel arrangements can be handled. The platform helps you manage travel budgeting, policy, and reporting, so you can be sure that everything is always running as it should. 

Efficient company travel means spending money in a way that’s consistent with your company's goals and values. This means budgets for specific types of travel, and different travel policies that depend on each person's role in a company. The folks up in the C-suites, for instance, may have different needs than those in sales. 

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But keeping track of everything can be time-consuming. It's a drag when an employee is excited about booking a specific hotel, but then learns it’s outside your company policy. It's also a pain when someone is geared to book a flight but loses out on the seat because they aren't sure whether it's compliant or not. 

A good travel management system puts all the data you need in front of you so you can work faster and easier. 

Key Features of an Efficient Travel Management System 

The right TMS can be customized to work with your unique travel needs. You can set policies so that each employment role has access to exactly what they need. This eliminates travel bookings that fall outside policy, which means less time spent looking for compliant travel options. 

The system should be customizable, so it fits your company size and your company's most common travel needs. Does your company use more trains than flights? Do you have specific car rental companies you like to work with? The TMS should be customizable to show just what you like. 

The platform should offer a wide array of inventory options. More options means your travelers can find the best prices on flights, hotels, car rentals, and more. It also means you can book the dates you want so everyone is where they need to be. 

A system that does not offer enough options might mean spending more than you'd like. More options can mean your travel budget goes farther, and your employees do, too.  

And, most of all, a TMS must offer easy travel booking. After all, this is about saving time and effort. Without a good system in place, you may find that someone is spending more time than they should chasing down deals that are compliant with company policy. Not a good use of anyone's time, right? 

The right TMS is easy to use so employees can spend less time wrangling with travel and more in the role they were hired for. 

How does your T&E process measure up for your business needs? Take this quick Travel and Expense Maturity Model assessment to find out. 

Integration with Your Financial Systems 

It's no secret: When you lobby for new software and utilities, you need to be able to show how it will save your organization money. 

A quality travel management system integrates seamlessly with your company's internal financial system. By putting reports of all travel-related spending in one place, you'll be able to show how much you're spending and where you have been able to save your organization's hard-earned cash. 

How much time have you spent getting traveling employees to submit their expenses? Plus, even when they do, mistakes can happen. That $12 sandwich scarfed down at the airport might be hurriedly entered as $120. Or, it might be missed altogether, leaving your traveler with an unreimbursed expense that you have to manually handle later. 

With the right TMS, bookings and charges are automatically captured and categorized . 

Finding the Best Solution for Your Company 

Putting the most knowledgeable and experienced people on the job is just good business—and so is equipping them with the best tools to do their jobs. Finding the right solution for your business can seem overwhelming, but a good place to start is by evaluating your travelers’ needs and the needs of your company.  

Savvy travel managers also know that travel management companies can help them save money, work more efficiently, and find the best solutions, such as travel management software, to get their travelers from point A to B. 

Want to know more about what a travel management company does and how it can help improve your company’s business travel? Get our free ebook to learn more . 

A TMC can do a lot to support your business travel, but pairing it with the right technology partner can be critical to your travel management success. See how solutions like Concur Travel & Expense provide tools for pre-, during, and post-trip, and help make a safe, sustainable, secure travel program possible. 

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The 7 habits of highly effective travel managers

• Booking and approving trips
• Crafting travel policies and approval workflows
• Ensuring travel policy compliance
• Implementing technology to streamline processes
• Optimizing travel expenses
• Communicating with travelers and stakeholders
• Measuring travel spend KPIs
• Making sure the company fulfills its duty of care via a travel risk management plan

1. Prioritize and delegate

2. monitor travel policy compliance, 3. oversee the implementation of technology, 4. say no to micromanagement, 5. align kpis, 6. be kind to your travelers, 7. ask for feedback.

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THE TRAVEL BOSS is a professional travel management company that was launched in South Africa in 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown. 

Years of experience, relationships & talent played a fundamental part in the building block especially when it came to naming the business. Our intentions are to create a breathtaking experience to entice the Leisure & Corporate Traveller, by driving a customer centric approach offering personalised services.

Our team of young executives nurture & fulfill our customers needs through our value proposition, which is seamless service delivery, negotiated value for money packages and unrivaled leisure and corporate travel experiences.

We offer a broad spectrum of products which ranges from local, international packages including flights, accommodation, transfers, car rentals, travel insurance and incentive groups. We have always aligned our business with reputable and stable partners locally & abroad assuring you safety and confidentiality at all times.

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Corporate travel management, 4 key reasons why we are one of sa’s award winning, corporate travel agencies.

Save On Travel Costs

We negotiate special rates with airlines, hotels, car rental & transfer companies and provide accurate reports to measure, manage and reduce travel costs.

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Each of our valued clients enjoy personalised service from a dedicated senior travel consultant, so you won’t ever have to speak to a call centre agent.

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Last minute itinerary changes? Dealing with a crisis abroad? We know emergencies don’t keep office hours, so we are available 24 hours a day, year round.

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We will arrange more than just flights and hotels. Vehicle hire, charters, VIP services, visas, insurance and much more. Big or small, let us take care of it.

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We analyse and tailor-make the best solution in accordance with the clients’ needs and requirements.

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Industry-leading tech & online tools create savings and time efficiencies at every level of your travel experience.

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Monthly travel reports outline your travel programme, spend and patterns, allowing you to identify opportunities to save.

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Why Choose Us as Your Corporate Travel Agents

• We’ve Been in The Business for Twenty Years Established in 1997, our business celebrates 26 years of success in the corporate travel management industry.
• We Secure the Best Deals Our affiliation with Sure Travel Group allows us immense negotiation and buying power, which we leverage to the benefit of our clients.
• We Offer the Convenience of Credit Tired of processing numerous travel payments monthly? Our clients enjoy a convenient credit facility and, as such, only have to make one hassle-free payment at the end of each month.
• We Don’t Do Contracts Our service excellence ensures client retention, which means we don't need to lock our clients in with unnecessary contracts.
• We provide Financial Control & Accountability We work with CFOs to plan ahead for cost savings, furnish graphs and reports on unused tickets, and provide MIS cost breakdowns per traveller, per supplier.
• We are Fully BEE-compliant We are certified BEE Level II, therefore partnering with us will score you points in more ways than one!
• We Are a Proudly Female Company TravelManor is an all-female company, privately owned by entrepreneur Julie Fevrier, underpinned by the Sure Travel Group (wholly-owned Sure Holding Pty Ltd, one of the largest travel consortiums in the Southern Hemisphere.).
• We Provide Added Value Services This includes free calendar invites, VIP services on demand (airport lounge, meet & greet, online check-ins, etc.), and a variety of other home-away-from-home travel solutions.
• We Tailor Efficient Itineraries Our travel specialists tailor financially efficient itineraries that yield strong ROI, in the language of your choice. We enable executives to attend a maximum number of productive client meetings per trip.
• We are Corporate Travel Specialists We offer individual and group corporate travel & incentive journeys worldwide, including inbound travel in Southern Africa and from SA to remote parts of Africa; as well as delegation organisation, conferences & foreign staff incentives.

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In-house business travel managers.

Whether you are working as the in-house business travel manager at an SME that has its fair share of business travellers, or need to streamline the journeys of countless individuals that travel on behalf of a large corporate company - we are here to partner with you seamlessly from start to finish.

Efficient Corporate Travel

If you like your corporate journeys to go off without a hitch so you can still be productive while you travel for work, our team is here to help ensure this is the case. Our travel managers have all the experience necessary to pave the way for effortless travel so you can focus on your business objectives while we take care of the rest.

Individual & Group Travel Management

Whether you are flying solo, or travelling with colleagues as a group - we are here to keep everything streamlined. Both individual- and group business travel management require plenty of due diligence throughout the process. Let our seasoned team of travel managers assist by taking care of these intricate travel arrangements.

Boutique Business Travel

There is no such thing as a cookie-cutter client solution at TravelManor. By combining years of expertise with cutting-edge technology, we are able to provide a range of comprehensive travel services which are tailored to each individual business traveller and their needs, every time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a corporate travel agent and a leisure tourism travel agent.

Corporate travel agents have the necessary experience and know-how to assist business travellers who require expertly streamlined itineraries when they travel on behalf of their companies. Whereas leisure travel agents are normally more focused on the things to see and do in a given destination, our team works with each company and corporate traveller to ensure that their time on the road and in the air is spent as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.

Why does a business need a corporate travel policy?

Businesses require a corporate travel policy to ensure equal and fair treatment of all their business travellers, and to provide travelling employees with a clear mandate on how time and resources should be spent during a corporate journey. These policies also provide a blueprint for the recourse an employee has in the event of unexpected happenstances that may occur while they travel for work.

Why does it help to have a travel agent in post-Covid 19 pandemic travel?

Every country, state, and territory around the world has slight variances in their response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and the legal ramifications this holds for foreign nationals, including business travellers, can change from one day to the next. Corporate travel planners keep track of these shifting landscapes to ensure that travelling employees are in compliance every step of the way.

Will my corporate travel agent handle all travel insurance?

Our TravelManor experts are authorised to sell travel insurance on your behalf. Our team will however require input and signatures at certain junctures in the process.

What is bleisure travel?

The term 'bleisure' is a cross-cultivation between 'business and leisure'. It refers to a journey that has both business travel and leisure components. For instance, an employee who travels for work may choose to take leave days before or after the dates that they are due to be at a certain destination on behalf of their company, and use this time to explore a new and exciting destination.

Meet The Team

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SANDRA ALEXANDER

Financial Director

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JULIE FEVRIER

Manager Director

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EZRA KAMISH

New Business Development Manager

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Dina loubser.

Team Leader

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Suebiah adonis.

Travel Consultant

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Sheryl medhurst, contact sheryl medhurst, tina jennings, contact tina jennings, donnason akemdien, contact donnason akemdien.

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SHELLEY WILLARS

Travel Professional

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Melt loubser.

Administration Clerk & IT

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Daphne harrison.

Administration & Creditors Clerk

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Cyrildene young.

Administration Clerk

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Faroes fredericks.

Senior Debtors Controller

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Fazlin allies, contact fazlin allies, gaironessa white.

Receptionist & Front of Office

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Taufeeqa slamang, contact taufeeqa slamang, wendy o’connor.

Independent Travel Consultant (ITC)

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Lynette steyn, contact lynette steyn, dawn van zanten, contact dawn van zanten, hear from satisfied clients.

I am writing to confirm that Travel Manor has provided corporate travel services to the Western Cape Tourism, Trade & Investment WESGRO since 2010. In line with our Corporate Governance Policy, Wesgro utilises the services of various business travel management organisations within the Cape Town business precinct, however, Travel Manor has recently been appointed Primary Preferred Corporate Travel Supplier to WESGRO due to their diligence in all our business interactions. WESGRO has always found Travel Manor to be highly professional and courteous in all our dealings with them, and a reliable and valued relationship has been built up over the years. Because of the nature of the Organisation’s work, our travel arrangements are often complicated and frequently requests are sent through at short notice. Travel Manor has always been equal to the task. I would not hesitate to recommend Travel Manor to you as a corporate travel agency. We wish them well in their future endeavours. With kind regards, Mr Ian Blackie Chief Financial Officer - Wesgro

Travel Manor was the preferred travel service provider to the HSRC for a period of 9 (nine) years. During this time, they were consistent in providing prompt, efficient and professional service to HSRC management and staff. In our experience, Travel Manor staff are always flexible and solution-driven, supporting the HSRC’s wide range of travel requirements, locally and internationally. I do not hesitate to recommend Travel Manor as a travel agency for business. A thorough understanding of government regulations, the ability to address the travel requirements of both government and private clients, a willingness to find optimal solutions for specific clients and their combined skill and experience in local and international travelling contributes to their service excellence. Your sincerely, Ms Priya Singh, CA(SA) CFO - HSRC Human Sciences Research Council

I am writing to confirm that TravelManor has provided travel services to the South African National Space Agency SANSA since April 2014. In line with Treasury Regulations, TravelManor was appointed via a National open Tender process. TravelManor has been appointed as the Preferred Travel Supplier. SANSA has always found TravelManor to be highly professional and a reliable and valued relationship has been built up over this period. Because of the nature of the Organisation’s work, our travel arrangements are often complicated and frequently requests are sent through at short notice. TravelManor has always been up to the task. I would not hesitate to recommend TravelManor to you as a travel service provider for businesses. We wish them well in their future endeavours. With regards Dr Lee-Anne McKinnell Managing Director: SANSA Space Science - SANSA South African National Space Agency

This serves to confirm that TRAVEL MANOR provides travel services to the Southey Contracting Offshore and the Southey Contracting Africa & Middles East Divisions. Their services include air travel, visa application and delivery, accommodation booking and vehicle hire and we would recommend their services to companies within our industries – Oil & Gas and Mining within Africa and Middle East. The nature of our business requires fast turnaround times and this is accompanied with many charges that occur regularly due to the dynamic nature of the business environment in which we operate. This extra workload is never seen as an issue for the staff at Travel Manor and we commend them on their high levels of customer service. We wish them well in their future endeavours and will continue to be supportive of them as they provide an excellent and effective service to our operations, in the nine countries in which we operate. Your sincerely Duncan Ross Operations Director - Southey Contracting Offshore Division

Our Clients

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From the world’s most professional DMCs

DMC Moscow invites you to visit our wonderful country.

Moscow is not only the political, cultural, and business centre of modern Russia, but also one of the oldest Russian cities, with a history that goes back 1000 years and many monuments of original Russian architecture and art. The golden domes of its churches, world-famous museums and theatres, broad avenues with high-rises, and cozy, typically ‘Moscow’ streets with merchants’ houses – all make Moscow one of the most popular tourist destinations. In addition to its unique attractions, Moscow is undoubtedly attractive for its economic and business potential. It possesses a wonderful infrastructure, an extensive choice of hotels, and modern exhibition centres hosting important international exhibitions and congresses. Moscow is one of the most colourful and interesting cities in the world, being equally well suited as a location in which to relax and do business.

 The Moscow region is represented by DMC Moscow , one of the leading Destination Management Companies (DMCs) in Moscow .

125252, str. Zorge 9, Moscow

[email protected]

A dynamically developing company with considerable experience of working in this field, DMC Moscow has shown itself to be a responsible partner. Our success is built on our constant striving for perfection and our quest for new ideas and opportunities in this constantly developing and competitive field.

DMC Moscow was set up by professionals. Our main aim in founding our company was to bring together experience, knowledge, creative ideas, and creative management in the MICE industry so as to be able to offer you high-quality service which is focused entirely on the client. Organizing unique business events requires profound and comprehensive knowledge of the region, advanced technologies, a team of experienced professionals, and, of course, responsible suppliers of services. We are proud to be able to call upon reliable and professional partners who provide excellent quality of service at competitive prices. Our extensive network of contacts throughout the region gives you access to experienced and well-qualified specialists.

As a leading DMC, we offer a wide range of destination-management services to participants in and organizers of conferences, seminars, exhibitions, and incentive tours in Moscow and in popular cities in our region, offering all our clients exceptional quality of service. We are keen to share with you our knowledge and experience in organizing events – including events in the most unusual forms. During the course of any event that we organize our employees will be at your complete disposal from the moment you arrive in Moscow to the moment you leave. We will do everything to ensure that your event is organized in complete accordance with your desires and is carried out to the highest professional standard. We will put together the most attractive programme for you while keeping within your budget.

Destination-management services in Moscow:

If you are planning a business meeting, conference, seminar, corporate event, incentive or teambuilding programme, or business tour, we will make sure that your programme is organized with the minimum of fuss or effort on your part. Any event of this kind will require a range of services, which we can easily tailor them to match your desires and budget. With our considerable experience in realizing international projects, we will gladly prepare and conduct your event to the highest standard. We offer the following services:

Venues for all occasions in Moscow: We will organize inspection visits and help you draw up a detailed programme. We will organize bids competitions to find the right service provider and venue for your event. We will help you choose a venue to suit both you and your business event. You will have a choice of modern and comfortable hotel conference rooms, luxurious state rooms in palaces, and much else besides. We will find the option that works best for your business event.

Incentive programmes and teambuilding events in Moscow: Realization of original ideas and incentive programmes – fulfilment of your every desire in order to ensure that you experience nothing but positive emotions and the best of moods. Incentive programmes are devised for specific groups and are tailored to the particular client’s objectives, desires, and budget. We can organize and conduct a broad range of teambuilding events – something which is of fundamental importance in improving team spirit and fostering understanding, trust, and mutual help.

An individual approach to selecting and booking hotels in Moscow: We will help you choose and book hotel rooms in the most convenient locations and at special rates to suit your desires, budget, and the status of your delegates. The hotels with which we work are always situated in locations which are as convenient as possible for getting around the city.

Organization and holding of conferences in Moscow: The success of a dynamically developing business depends on the promotion of the goods and services which the company offers. For this purpose participation in business events is essential; conferences, in particular, are especially important for corporate image and a company’s work with its partners. We will help you organize and conduct events of whatever complexity.

Logistics, transport services, transfers in Moscow:

Transport services are essential to the success of your event. Our work in this area includes coordination of transport services for participants in corporate events, provision of business and executive-class cars, provision of coaches and minibuses, meets at airports and railway stations, group transfers, exclusive transport for evening events, VIP services, and provision of chauffeured cars (for groups of whatever size). We can also place banners and notices on buses and provide special transport for baggage.

Special events in Moscow:

Special events are an effective way to underline the importance of an event. They include opening and closing ceremonies, evening receptions, exclusive concerts and shows, and gala suppers held in the location of the client’s choice (including the most exotic locations). We can take care of catering and musical accompaniment.

Provision of high-class service staff in Moscow:

We can arrange for uniformed guides in your company’s corporate style, professional translators, designers, scriptwriters, directors, and audio-video equipment and IT solutions.

Excursion programmes in Moscow:

An individual approach to organizing events for both groups and VIP guests. We can arrange special out-of-hours visits to museums and pre- and post-conference tours. We will do everything to ensure that nothing distracts you from contemplation of our region’s unique beauty and cultural attractions.

We are confident that an event which has been professionally prepared and conducted to the highest standard will make an unforgettable impression on all involved.

Destination management company in Russia

Destination management in Russia is one of the main focus areas of our agency.

For the years we are successfully carrying of corporate groups in Russia as professional incoming agency in Moscow. The Proekta’s staff is experienced specialists with excellent knowledge of all local features of Russia. The most popular destinations that corporate groups visit are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kamchatka, and Sochi. We develop unique programs and concepts for each corporate tour to create a memorable experience.

Destination management company in Moscow is needed to ensure running event and logistics at the highest professional level. The knowledge of city’s dynamics, original places and non-tourist sights is the main difference of a professional incoming agency from a mass tour operator.

Destination management in Moscow is quite a young industry, but it has great potential. Here in Russia you can always find what to research and make discoveries every day. Russia is a vast country, not like all the others. Here you can experience different climatic conditions for a few hours, get familiar with different cultures and history of our civilization. There’re infinitely many nuances in such a large country as Russia, and dmc in Moscow and Saint Petersburg should take them into account. That’s why we develop each service for our clients on an individual basis.

Direct and long-term contracts with hotels, transport companies and many other service providers allow us to follow flexible pricing policy. For dmc Moscow is city with endless cultural and historical potential, you can discover it hundred times and find every time something new.

We have taken all the best and most interesting in Russia for our customers. We’re excited to use difficult and out-of-the-box solutions since we know nothing is impossible and want you to remember Russia with love. 

Snowed car installations in Moscow, Prague and Frankfurt

Mobile installation of Elbphilharmonie in Hermitage

Launch event of new Dongfeng A9 at MIAS 2016 press day

Building of the exhibition stand and exhibition management at MIAS 2016

Interviewers for Wacker booth at MosBuild 2016

Incentive event for Nissan dealers

Corporate conference in Dearborn, Michigan

Stand opening ceremony at Comtrans exhibition and press conference

Presentation of new models at Moscow International Automobile Salon

Stand buildup for Golden Dragon Company on Comtrans exhibition

Conference for Nissan dealers in Barcelona

Moscow, Butyrskaya Street 62

+7 (499) 653-65-25 (Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00)

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Saint Petersburg, St. Lva Tolstogo 1-3

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Rostov-on-Don, St. Koroleva 5b

+7 (863) 333-21-96 (Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00)

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I've been on 50 cruises. Here are 5 things I wish I'd known before sailing in the Mediterranean.

• I've been on 50 cruises around the world and took my first Mediterranean route last year.
• Picking the right time of the season to go can make a big difference in your trip.
• Before packing, I always check to see if any of the experiences I've booked have a dress code.

As someone who's taken over 50 cruises all over the world, I know firsthand how popular cruising is this year. But one seabound itinerary people often forget to add to their bucket lists is a Mediterranean cruise .

The dreamy ships take passengers around European destinations like Spain, France, Italy, and Greece.

After taking my first Mediterranean cruise last year, here's what I think everyone should know before booking the route.

Going early or late in the sailing season means fewer crowds and better weather.

Many cruise lines, like Virgin, Celebrity, and Disney, start the Mediterranean season in early spring and sail through early fall.

Going early or late in the season usually means you'll have more tolerable weather and smaller crowds in some of the big destinations like Athens .

I made the mistake of going on my Mediterranean cruise at the end of May (over Memorial Day weekend).

Some ports of call, like Nice, France, were easy to get around, but others like Rome were packed to the gills. I wanted the day to end before we even made it to the Vatican on our tour.

Arriving at your embarkation port early is key to having a smooth sailing.

My biggest tip for any cruise — but especially for Americans traveling to Europe for a Mediterranean cruise — is to arrive at your embarkation city at least a day before your sailing starts.

This gives you plenty of time to ensure you make it to the port, especially with the airline delays that typically spike in the summer. The boat isn't going to wait for you i f you don't land on time

Even though it means paying for lodging and likely a few meals before boarding the boat, getting a good night's sleep before a jam-packed vacation is worth it to me.

As a bonus, arriving early also gives you a chance to explore the city.

Be sure to pack at least one shirt with sleeves and bottoms that cover your knees.

Some of the major European tourist destinations have strict dress codes — typically everyone must at least cover their shoulders and knees out of respect.

If you're planning on checking out Vatican Ci t y in Italy or the Meteora monasteries in Greece, b e sure to pack at least one outfit that fits the bill.

Most cruise ships have laundry services (self-serve or valet), so you can wear the same dress-code-approved outfit for a few excursion days if needed.

Food tours are a great way to see a city, taste local dishes, and learn some history.

If you're looking for a unique excursion that still gives you the highlights of a European city, I recommend booking a food tour . I've done tours in places like Amsterdam, Budapest, and Paris, and I've never been disappointed.

Food tours can be booked through third-party travel operators, like TripAdvisor or Viator, and offer the chance to see some of the major landmarks of a city, try local dishes, and learn some history all in one outing.

The tours are usually led by locals, which means the guides can also give you some good recommendations if you have time before you need to return to the ship.

Consider booking tours through third-party sites.

Mediterranean cruises can last anywhere from seven days to two weeks, depending on the company and itinerary. Booking every excursion through the cruise line can add up, but luckily, there are typically more affordable options through third-party companies.

But I only book with third-party operators if the ship docks right at the city I want to explore because I never want to miss the all-aboard time.

For example, on my Mediterranean cruise last summer, the ship anchored at Cannes, and I was able to keep my eye on it throughout my excursion.

If the ship docks in a secondary location and you have to travel to the big tourist destinations , I always book excursions through the cruise line. For instance, the day my family and I explored Rome, the ship docked in Civitavecchia, Italy, and we had to take a two-hour bus ride into the city.

Booking with the cruise company guarantees your return to the ship, even if your excursion runs late.

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Hot Oceans Worsened Dubai’s Dramatic Flooding, Scientists Say

An international team of researchers found that heavy rains had intensified in the region, though they couldn’t say for sure how much climate change was responsible.

• Share full article

By Raymond Zhong

Scenes of flood-ravaged neighborhoods in one of the planet’s driest regions stunned the world this month. Heavy rains in the United Arab Emirates and Oman submerged cars, clogged highways and killed at least 21 people. Flights out of Dubai’s airport, a major global hub, were severely disrupted.

The downpours weren’t a total surprise — forecasters had anticipated the storms several days earlier and issued warnings. But they were certainly unusual.

Here’s what to know.

Heavy rain there is rare, but not unheard-of.

On average, the Arabian Peninsula receives a scant few inches of rain a year, although scientists have found that a sizable chunk of that precipitation falls in infrequent but severe bursts, not as periodic showers. These rains often come during El Niño conditions like the ones the world is experiencing now.

U.A.E. officials said the 24-hour rain total on April 16 was the country’s largest since records there began in 1949 . And parts of the nation had already experienced an earlier round of thunderstorms in March.

Oman, with its coastline on the Arabian Sea, is also vulnerable to tropical cyclones. Past storms there have brought torrential rain, powerful winds and mudslides, causing extensive damage.

Global warming is projected to intensify downpours.

Stronger storms are a key consequence of human-caused global warming. As the atmosphere gets hotter, it can hold more moisture, which can eventually make its way down to the earth as rain or snow.

But that doesn’t mean rainfall patterns are changing in precisely the same way across every part of the globe.

In their latest assessment of climate research , scientists convened by the United Nations found there wasn’t enough data to have firm conclusions about rainfall trends in the Arabian Peninsula and how climate change was affecting them. The researchers said, however, that if global warming were to be allowed to continue worsening in the coming decades, extreme downpours in the region would quite likely become more intense and more frequent.

Hot oceans are a big factor.

An international team of scientists has made a first attempt at estimating the extent to which climate change may have contributed to April’s storms. The researchers didn’t manage to pin down the connection precisely, though in their analysis, they did highlight one known driver of heavy rain in the region: above-normal ocean temperatures.

Large parts of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans have been hotter than usual recently, in part because of El Niño and other natural weather cycles, and in part because of human-induced warming .

When looking only at El Niño years, the scientists estimated that storm events as infrequent as this month’s delivered 10 percent to 40 percent more rain to the region than they would in a world that hadn’t been warmed by human activities. They cautioned, however, that these estimates were highly uncertain.

“Rainfall, in general, is getting more extreme,” said Mansour Almazroui, a climate scientist at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and one of the researchers who contributed to the analysis.

The analysis was conducted by scientists affiliated with World Weather Attribution, a research collaboration that studies extreme weather events shortly after they occur. Their findings about this month’s rains haven’t yet been peer reviewed, but are based on standardized methods .

The role of cloud seeding isn’t clear.

The U.A.E. has for decades worked to increase rainfall and boost water supplies by seeding clouds. Essentially, this involves shooting particles into clouds to encourage the moisture to gather into larger, heavier droplets, ones that are more likely to fall as rain or snow.

Cloud seeding and other rain-enhancement methods have been tried around the world, including in Australia, China, India, Israel, South Africa and the United States. Studies have found that these operations can, at best, affect precipitation modestly — enough to turn a downpour into a bigger downpour, but probably not a drizzle into a deluge.

Still, experts said pinning down how much seeding might have contributed to this month’s storms would require detailed study.

“In general, it is quite a challenge to assess the impact of seeding,” said Luca Delle Monache, a climate scientist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, Calif. Dr. Delle Monache has been leading efforts to use artificial intelligence to improve the U.A.E.’s rain-enhancement program.

An official with the U.A.E.’s National Center of Meteorology, Omar Al Yazeedi, told news outlets that the agency didn’t conduct any seeding during the latest storms. His statements didn’t make clear, however, whether that was also true in the hours or days before.

Mr. Al Yazeedi didn’t respond to emailed questions from The New York Times, and Adel Kamal, a spokesman for the center, didn’t have further comment.

Cities in dry places just aren’t designed for floods.

Wherever it happens, flooding isn’t just a matter of how much rain comes down. It’s also about what happens to all that water once it’s on the ground — most critically, in the places people live.

Cities in arid regions often aren’t designed to drain very effectively. In these areas, paved surfaces block rain from seeping into the earth below, forcing it into drainage systems that can easily become overwhelmed.

One recent study of Sharjah , the capital of the third-largest emirate in the U.A.E., found that the city’s rapid growth over the past half-century had made it vulnerable to flooding at far lower levels of rain than before.

Omnia Al Desoukie contributed reporting.

Raymond Zhong reports on climate and environmental issues for The Times. More about Raymond Zhong

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