A corporate travel consultant is a dedicated travel agent who works for large corporations. He or she must conduct research and make travel arrangements for individual employees as well as large groups of people attending events like business conventions. Employees who will be traveling internationally can get cultural advice from these consultants to help them communicate effectively with foreigners.
A corporate travel consultant contacts local hotels near the branches and discusses corporate rates. Many large businesses have multiple branches around the world. In fact, the consultant may draft a contract between the company and the hotel to guarantee that future reservations will be made at a pre-determined rate. In addition, if the hotel will be used by several company employees at the same time, such as for a yearly corporate meeting, he or she may discuss group rates.
A corporate travel consultant will typically visit a hotel for evaluation before recommending it for a business contract. Meeting rooms and hotel rooms are frequently inspected for overall comfort and quality to ensure that they are a good fit for the company. The consultant may meet with hotel management to discuss any special requirements that the company may have, such as reserving an entire floor of rooms for a large corporate event.
The corporate travel consultant usually arranges transportation to and from the hotel, as well as during the trip. Each city has its own modes of transportation; the consultant must research and select the most dependable, safe, and cost-effective mode of transportation. Often, the corporate travel consultant will create a contract with a specific car rental company. This contract will provide a discounted rate for the company’s traveling employees.
There are some risks associated with traveling, such as missing a connecting flight due to airport delays. The corporate travel consultant will intervene on behalf of the traveling employee and arrange alternative travel plans; as a result, the employee will be professionally redirected to another mode of transportation, avoiding the cancellation of important meetings.
When traveling internationally, the consultant must be well-versed in local customs as well as legally required travel documents. All passport and visa laws should be understood by consultants to ensure that all traveling employees have a smooth transition between countries. Certain regions may have customs that most travelers are unfamiliar with; the consultant should explain any offensive terms or hand gestures to the traveling employees so that they are not misunderstood in another country. In some countries, the “thumbs up” hand gesture, for example, is considered offensive.