Travel management companies across the UK have reported an uptick in new business as more corporates seek 'professional' assistance when booking travel, according to the latest survey by TMC network Advantage Travel Partnership.
Due to an increasingly complex post-Covid travel landscape, 48 per cent of the consortium’s members reported an increase in requests from clients who had previously worked without a TMC.
More than half of those members said the reason companies were opting for TMC support is to prepare for potential travel disruption caused by late changes and cancellations.
One in three members surveyed also reported an increase in the length of business trips as hybrid work and ‘work from anywhere’ polices continue.
According to the network, ranked the second largest in Europe in BTN Europe’s Leading TMCs 2022 report, more members are also providing both business and leisure travel services to clients.
Guy Snelgar, global business travel director of Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “Business travellers who received significant assistance during the pandemic from their TMC, whether returning from being stranded abroad or dealing with the complications of vaccine or quarantine requirements, have established strong connections with the TMCs and individual travel agents who supported them. As a result, travellers are increasingly turning to their trusted experts to ask about their leisure travel and family holidays.
“On the other hand, we are also seeing a number of business travellers now booking corporate travel packages with their independent local agent, having previously established relationships through booking personal holidays,” he added.