American Express offers tips for business trip budgeting
September 30, 2011
Since the Great Recession began in 2008, many companies are continually on the lookout for ways to improve their budgets and save money. American Express Global Business Travel recently published a list of seven helpful tips for travel managers to cut back on expenses.
“Businesses and travel management professionals in particular have to balance the need of using travel as a means to grow business with the stark reality that budgets are not growing in tandem,” said Herve Sedky, the senior vice president and general manager of American Express Global Business Travel. “They are being asked to identify areas of savings while also being charged with the need to allow for more trips. We are working with clients to deploy internal measures that can be taken to stave off increases that are not within their control.”
Some of the tips that American Express offers up include knowing where to book trips because some destinations are more expensive than others, and being diligent in keeping track of all tickets, as some may go unused. Many companies have contracts that allow them to apply unused tickets toward future trips, but not all of them utilize this option.
Another way that business travelers can save money is to use calling cards instead of making long-distance calls from the phone in their hotel room.