traditional-travel-management-vs-corporate-traveler

 

Traditional travel management vs Corporate Traveler: What’s the difference?

 

It's 3 AM. Your sales team is stranded in Singapore after a last-minute flight cancellation. Would you prefer an automated email response or a real person who knows your business and can resolve this quickly?

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There’s a growing gap between what traditional corporate travel management companies offer and the evolving needs of modern businesses. While established players like AMEX and CWT are making strides with innovation, small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may face service inconsistencies. Other traditional TMCs still rely on legacy systems and approaches that can feel out of step with the flexibility and responsiveness companies demand today.

Let's compare Corporate Traveler to traditional travel management companies and discuss what matters: responsive service, practical technology, and dedicated people who care about your business.

Comparing travel management companies 

Let's look at how traditional travel management companies stack up in managing corporate travel today. While these established players have paved the way in corporate travel, evolving business needs reveal some interesting gaps in their travel management solutions:

American Express GBT

Think of AMEX as the self-checkout of travel management - great when everything goes smoothly, challenging when it doesn't. While their technology platform impresses at first glance, the heavy focus on automation often leaves business travelers feeling stranded during disruptions. The do have a large number of travel consultants in office to support their customers, but some SME customers have faced service delays. 

Small and mid-sized businesses frequently find themselves at the back of the queue, watching their larger enterprise counterparts receive preferential treatment. And while AMEX GBT has been making a concerted effort on SMEs, many customers are still facing inconsistent service experiences. Their legacy systems, while robust, can struggle to keep pace with modern travel demands, particularly when booking complex, multi-city itineraries. 

What customers often experience:

  • One-size-fits-all automation prioritized over personalized service
  • Limited support for SME-specific needs
  • Customers report rude agents and slow response times
  • Complex booking process for multi-city trips
  • Premium pricing without premium service
  • Outdated technology infrastructure

CWT

Imagine calling your travel partner during an emergency and being put on hold. That's a common CWT experience. While their global reach is impressive, their service model often feels like a game of customer service roulette. Each interaction might connect you with a different agent, requiring a fresh explanation of your travel needs and preferences. Their ticketing system, while functional, can be a source of frustration with limited credit management options and often inflated pricing.

What customers often experience:

  • Extended wait times for support
  • Fragmented communication channels
  • Premium call charges for basic service
  • Limited credit flexibility
  • Complex credit management system

BCD Travel

BCD's approach to travel management is impressive but feels risky. While their core booking capabilities are solid, they've left some crucial pieces of the travel puzzle on the table. BCD's service delivery can feel impersonal for medium-sized businesses.

The absence of integrated travel insurance, forex services, and policy benchmarking tools means businesses often need multiple partners to fill these gaps. Their reliance on intermediaries for problem-solving can turn simple issues into time-consuming challenges.

What customers often experience:

  • No integrated travel insurance
  • Missing policy benchmarking tools
  • Limited forex capabilities
  • Indirect support channels
  • Inconsistencies with online booking tool

Corporate Travel Management (CTM)

Imagine needing urgent travel support but having to decide which number to call—that's the CTM reality. While they offer comprehensive travel solutions, their segmented approach to service (different contacts for regular hours versus emergencies) can create confusion when quick decisions matter most.

Their proactive support, or rather lack thereof, means clients often find themselves managing disruptions solo. The frequent rotation of representatives means you might explain your travel policy more often than you enforce it.

What customers often experience:

  • Fragmented support system
  • Minimal proactive assistance
  • High customer rep turnover
  • Complex communication channels
  • Limited disruption management

Travel Edge

Travel Edge might excel at crafting custom itineraries, but its limited global network can create challenges for businesses operating across multiple regions. While its specialization is valuable in certain scenarios, it might not be equipped to handle the diverse needs of growing businesses, particularly in specialized sectors like energy, sports, or entertainment travel.

When it comes to forex cards and exchange services, Travel Edge does not offer forex cards or foreign exchange.

What customers often experience:

  • Restricted global coverage
  • Limited specialized sector support
  • Does not offer travel insurance
  • Basic forex capabilities
  • Narrow service focus

The Corporate Traveler difference

Unlike traditional business travel management companies that treat smaller businesses as an afterthought, we've built our entire service model around SMEs. We work with more than 17,000 SMEs globally to make business travel feel effortless. With personalized solutions to support, you could be next in saving the time and money you need to scale.

Let's give you a walk-through:

1. 24/7 expert support: Real people, real solutions

Every customer is a priority, no matter the size, so when you call you’ll have that first-in-line feeling. Let's say your CEO's flight gets canceled at midnight in Chicago. With Corporate Traveler, you're not dealing with chatbots or overseas call centers as you would with a traditional TMC. Instead, you reach a dedicated expert who:

  • Answers within 3-5 rings (yes, really!)
  • Already has your travel data and preferences
  • Can access exclusive rates instantly
  • Can rebook across multiple airlines in minutes
2. White-glove service without the white-glove price

We've reimagined VIP service for the modern business. Our dedicated travel experts aren't just booking agents but your strategic partners. Averaging 8+ years in tenure, they offer:

  • Proactive monitoring of your itineraries to look for hidden savings
  • Seamless handling of complex bookings
  • VIP treatment for every traveler, not just executives
  • Industry-specific expertise
  • Direct relationships with top business travel providers means more savings for you
  • 24/7 live assistance

One client of ours transformed their travel program from a complex in-house operation to a streamlined managed service by partnering with Corporate Traveler. Through dedicated travel consultants and a Customer Success Manager, we removed the complexities of managing border transits, stopovers, and regional airlines. They saw nearly $18,000 saved on travel expenses and value adds while gaining peace of mind knowing they had 24/7 support for their traveling teams.

Read the full story

3. Travel technology that works for everyone

About 82% of travel buyers say their online booking platform falls short of their requirements today. Why settle for less when there's a better solution in Melon, our online travel platform? Melon is the ultimate command center for anyone booking travel, combining powerful features with:

  • AI-powered booking recommendations
  • Automated policy compliance
  • Real-time travel alerts and risk management
  • Seamless expense management and credit tracking
  • Integrated approval workflows
  • Comprehensive reporting and analytics
4. Strategic cost management that delivers

We don't just find cheaper flights—we transform your travel spend:

  • Custom-negotiated rates for your frequent routes
  • Policy optimization recommendations
  • Automated compliance monitoring
  • Regular savings opportunity reports
  • Loyalty program maximization (airlines, hotels, car rentals)
5. Complete travel protection

We've thought of everything. Unlike traditional TMCs who offer piecemeal travel management services, we provide:

  • Comprehensive travel insurance options
  • Industry-leading duty of care (we take care of you wherever, whenever)
  • Integrated risk management
  • Global emergency support
6. Value-added services beyond basic travel

Unlike traditional TMCs, we include:

Making the switch

While traditional TMCs might work for massive enterprises content with basic service, growing businesses need a partner who's equally invested in their success. That's why we offer:

  • Support that never sleeps (not automated menus)
  • Technology that simplifies
  • Personal service when it matters
  • Expertise that adds value

Let's discuss what your business travel program could look like with the right partner. Whether you're currently with a traditional TMC or managing travel in-house, we'll show you how Corporate Traveler can transform your business travel from a headache into a competitive advantage.

Ready for better business travel?

Schedule your free consultation today and discover how we can save your business time and money while enhancing traveler satisfaction. Because in a world of automated responses and chatbots, sometimes you just need to talk to a real person who knows your business.