Making the Case to Ditch Corporate Travel Agencies Forever
Skift Take
Here we have proponents of a future where companies employ their own "travel architects" and agencies become obsolete. But it's hard to gauge how long it will take for the technology to catch up with their vision. Nothing moves fast in the world of corporate travel.
It defies a certain logic for a company to cut ties with its travel agency in these uncertain times, but it's exactly what one consultancy is advocating.
In fact, U.S.-based Partnership Travel Consulting has claimed there's never been a better time for company travel managers to build their own program, taking back direct control of their technology and traveler services.
The rationale is that companies will otherwise miss out on innovative new platforms from many startups, while technology has advanced enough that it's simple to plug them in. And it's also an ideal opportunity to make the change as most organizations are in a phase of "Covid reset" as they emerge from the pandemic.
Yet the concept goes against the grain at a time when employees perhaps need the human touch as they begin booking their first business trips in a long time. Vaccine regulations and border restrictions still linger, despite some countries relaxing their rules.
Total Dependence
Partnership Travel Consulting defines three stages in order to "build your own" travel
