Simple and scalable pricing; quick set-up; and top customer service are all part of this innovative offering.
PLYMOUTH, MINN. – According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses make up 99.7 percent of employer firms in the United States.* While these businesses frequently have travel needs, they typically do not maintain large travel budgets for fully-managed travel programs. To address this need, Travel Leaders Corporate – a leader in business travel consulting, analytics and travel fulfillment – is formally announcing a new program designed especially for small businesses as part of its award-winning Travel Leaders CONNECT, which will provide a flexible and economical option that can quickly be implemented and remove the hassle of booking travel for this corporate segment.
"We know that small businesses have unique needs. They may not require the entire suite of services that large Travel Management Companies (TMCs) like Travel Leaders Corporate offer, but they do need an option for business travel that is cost-effective, service-oriented and easy," said Gabe Rizzi, Chief Sales Officer and President of Travel Leaders Corporate. "With Travel Leaders CONNECT, they will have access to travel fulfillment services from any mobile device, with flexible and affordable pricing designed specifically for small businesses. It's like having a travel agent in your pocket at a fraction of the cost."
As the latest iteration of what was formerly known as Travel Leaders Wire, Travel Leaders CONNECT is an award-winning communications platform that works across a variety of operating systems via SMS and is completely mobile-compatible. Small business customers will have a dedicated consultant to fully assist in the implementation. With a very short fulfilment window, Travel Leaders CONNECT can be fully implemented at a client level, and corporate travelers will be able to quickly and easily work with their corporate travel agent experts – via text or chat – to handle all their business travel needs.
The added benefits include access to a level of "Duty of Care" that small businesses are not usually accustomed to, by having Travel Leaders Corporate providing real-time – frequently critical – travel updates, re-routing and rebooking when necessary, all through a direct mobile connection with each individual traveler.
"Using Travel Leaders CONNECT is as easy as sending a text; it's not an app. Travel Leaders CONNECT is not only meeting a long-expressed need by small businesses, it's also a service that takes care of each individual traveler from the initial stages of booking travel until they arrive home safely," Rizzi added. "We're eager to serve the numerous small businesses across the United States with this intuitive offering. Through Travel Leaders CONNECT, they will enjoy the benefits of a fully-managed travel program while sticking within their budgets, using only the services they need, but more importantly it will make business travel easier. It will be incredibly valuable for small businesses by providing real time travel expense reporting and tracking for registered users."
Many small businesses have highly variable business cycles and require flexible travel programs. Travel Leaders Corporate will offer these companies a scalable solution with a contract-free, monthly fee, so small businesses spend only what they need. By taking advantage of Travel Leaders Corporate's award-winning Travel Leaders CONNECT, clients will have access to:
- Rapid Implementation – Experienced implementation managers work with clients to enable full access to the program in five business days.
- Profile Portal – This allows business travelers to store contact information, travel preferences, and loyalty numbers.
- Corporate Travel Agents – Instantly have access to corporate travel agent experts via text or chat to make travel arrangements or changes.
- End-to-End Mobile Travel Management – Real-time alerts such as disruption notifications for cancelled flights and itinerary changes, along with re-accommodation when necessary, is provided with no waiting online or on hold.
- Scalable Pricing – Cost is based on a flat fee, not the volume of transactions, and is contract-free.
- Increased Data Visibility – By utilizing Travel Leaders CONNECT, Travel Leaders Corporate can assist clients in tracking travel expenditures, targeting savings and delivering real ROI on their travel spend.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
