Business Travel
Why I own a Travel Company
By Donna Meads-Barlow (Managing Director ~ Donna Barlow Travel)
As the Managing Director and owner of the Donna Barlow Travel Group, Travel is my passion! I make it my business to surround myself with excellent travel professionals that each have 15 plus years travel consulting experience – only the best in the business is good enough for Donna Barlow Travel (DBT) clients.
My vision is to ensure that each member of my team equally share my passion for Travel and travelling. Each consultant is hand-picked for their tenacity and ability to think outside the square and their dedication to consistently go above and beyond our client’s desires and expectations – no matter the spend!
I enjoy the challenge of continually raising the technological bar; providing DBT team and our clients with every tool globally available to ensure efficient, smooth and cost-saving travel management.
It’s my philosophy that my team will always provide suggestions and ideas for effective Travel Management by being involved and proactive. Our collective involvement in the industry and trade associations allows our team to stay abreast of changes in the marketplace, to be introduced to new destinations, maintain and enhance existing relationships with airlines, hotels, car companies, attractions, restaurants and the likes.
I remind my team regularly “It’s a fact that clients have multiple choices where they buy their travel” When it comes to choosing a preferred Travel Management Provider, I relish how my team stands with me and personally guarantee’s our clients will not find a more dedicated team than that of DBT.
That’s why I choose to own a Travel Management Company – to challenge our competitors and continue to delight our clients with results!
I love the challenge of corporate bodies and leisure travellers alike claiming there is so much cheap travel on the Web. We hear from time to time “I can go to airline sites, hotel sites, car rental sites, last-minute bargain sites, and even sites that search and book other search sites”. The ultimate bottom line is “Give me one good reason to use a TMC!"
Here are TEN great reasons DBT clients remain loyal with longevity:
Experience: Both myself and my team love to share our own personal “hands on experiences”. . . Our team have been travelling to all corners of the globe for more than a quarter of a century. When our team shares with you our destination and travel-saving tips, it’s because we really do know what we’re talking about.
Discounts: DBT not only knows the market but is well known in the market, so we have the unique ability to negotiate discounts with travel suppliers on your behalf. Usually, the only way to access these travel bargains is via a company booking channel. For example, if you book as Joe Citizen on an airline Website, how can multiple airlines apply your company's discount? Corporate discounts can run well into double figures.
Booking fees: For complicated travel, you still need the human assistance of a travel agent. The fees charged by DBT are transparent and low. The fees charged by the open web or corner travel agents are often less transparent and substantially higher.
The cost of your time: Surfing around travel Websites is great for research and pictures; however it's simply not good economic use of your time. If you are doing this, you’re time is probably costing you or your company at least $70 per hour, and perhaps much more. Seeing and comparing a wide range of prices and options on various Websites can take a long time. From the company's point of view, it is much better to send all yourtravel requirements to a person or a computer that is programmed to do the job for you, quickly and thoroughly.
Technology: Online Booking tools vary, however DBT’s tailored OTE solution allows you to make travel bookings and review them online 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world. Its critical to your bottom line to employ an enhanced management tool with flexibility. Tools with an electronic travel approval process and Travel Policy built in that only a TMC can deliver provides you real bottom-line-savings.
Safety: Corporate employees travel on behalf of a company. Each company is legally and morally responsible for the safety of their employees. There is a need to minimise personal risk in three ways. First of all, Companies need to prevent their travelling employees from undertaking risky travel. Second, Companies need to know the general whereabouts of each traveller at any given time. And third, should anything untoward happen, companies need to act first, act quickly and get their travelling employees home safely. DBT’s travel managements systems record and track every booking, and at the touch of a button available online to you 24/7 you have all three area’s covered. Some of you reading this will someday need emergency assistance in transit. Leisure travellers need to know that when in need you can contact a real professional person who will help you! For example: When hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans thousands lost their lives simply because they booked online and couldn’t raise a direct travel professional to help them get on a flight out.
Company Travel Policy: The Company is paying for corporate travel and has a right to determine the cost. Some let you go first class all the way. Others watch the dollars. Whichever, it's the company's decision, and only with a dedicated professional booking channel can it apply booking filters to minimise non-compliance. Your new sales trainee might think he deserves a Garden Suite at the Ritz, but your CFO probably has other ideas.
Supplier Management: I personally get involved in negotiating, advising and assisting in the various travel discounts that our companies and leisure travellers have in place. Many discounted travel related products typically require minimum expenditures or market shares. The only way to track market share is with data collected and sorted via a dedicated booking channel. Yes, internal systems and card companies can gather data. But the data needs to be consolidated, and it needs to be rich in travel information, not just transactional information. Also, good data allows companies to add up its "bang for the buck" securing best deals in future negotiations with travel suppliers.
Additional Value-adding Services: DBT markets these heavily. Some value-added services you may not require, but some are of real value, especially when they are already included in our lower travel management service fees. Useful services include:
- Tracking of unused tickets and credits, minimising wastage from unused tickets
- 24/7, emergency care and help line
- Breakfasts included or late check-out of hotels
- VIP booking services. Exceptional service for top executives.