The hidden costs of managing business travel across multiple suppliers
Business travel remains a critical part of building relationships, winning business and connecting global teams.
In fact, global business travel spending is expected to break £2 trillion by 2029 according to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), demonstrating that face-to-face meetings continue to play a vital role in business success.
Yet while many organisations are investing heavily in travel, they may be unknowingly increasing costs through fragmented travel programmes.
Managing travel across multiple airlines, hotels, rail providers and booking platforms can seem like a practical way to maximise choice.
However, it often creates hidden costs that impact efficiency, visibility and the traveller experience.
When employees book through different suppliers and channels, travel data becomes scattered.
This can make it difficult to gain a clear picture of overall spend, identify savings opportunities and ensure compliance with company travel policies.
Finance and procurement teams are often left piecing together information from multiple sources, creating additional administration and reducing the ability to make informed strategic decisions.
The hidden costs are not just financial.
Managing relationships with multiple suppliers can drain valuable time from travel managers, finance teams and travellers themselves.
From chasing invoices and comparing rates to managing last-minute changes and travel disruptions, fragmented programmes often create unnecessary complexity.
It’s one reason why many business travellers now book through managed travel programmes, as organisations increasingly recognise the value of a more streamlined approach.
Duty of care is another area where fragmentation can create challenges.
When bookings sit across multiple systems, it becomes more difficult to maintain visibility of traveller locations and provide support during unexpected disruptions.
In today’s fast-changing travel environment, businesses need confidence that they can quickly locate and assist employees wherever they are in the world.
Organisations can also lose significant buying power when travel spend is spread across numerous suppliers.
Without a consolidated programme, opportunities to secure preferred rates, negotiate stronger agreements and maximise value are often missed.
This is where One Global makes the difference.
Through our worldwide community of nearly 30 expert TMCs, we help organisations bring their travel programmes together under one strategic approach.
Rather than juggling multiple suppliers, clients benefit from greater visibility, stronger governance, enhanced traveller support and more meaningful data insights.
Our combination of global reach and local expertise ensures businesses receive consistent service and support wherever their travellers need to go, while gaining the control and transparency required to manage costs effectively.
Business travel continues to deliver real value, the challenge for organisations is ensuring every trip is managed as efficiently as possible.
By partnering with One Global, businesses can remove the hidden costs of fragmented travel management, simplify their programme and create a better experience for travellers and stakeholders alike.
Want to know more?
Contact the team here:
