However the price is not the only criterion

Source of lost time, expenses, sometimes stress, business travel organization requires more support from tour operators to ensure profitability. For evidence, a panel of 221 companies surveyed in the American Express business travel barometer in 2006, 94 of them report to appeal to an external agency. Unlike the tourism sector, where the Internet has enabled individuals to escape from this intermediate, the professional sector has maintained, even strengthened this link. "The trend over the past three years is to outsource this function", confirms Hubert Joly, President and CEO of Carlson Wagonlit Travel. After, time, succumbed to the temptation of the Net to access rates of companies at low prices ("low-cost"), companies have seen the benefit of the agencies. Rates 10 to 15 offer an average of des moins en moyenne Les spécialistes dele voyage proposent en moyenne less average advance Hubert Joly, it is a disaster for the company to go directly on the Internet ", he added.

Optimization of business travel budget is, in fact, become priority. A motivation which is explained by the progress of spending. 38 of companies saw their budgets increase during the last twelve months. Principals: the globalization of the economy and the consolidation of multinational groups. "Today, even a small business a need to move to negotiate contracts," says an expert. And, if certain technologies such as videoconferencing, remove a few movements, "nothing beats direct contact", note Régis Chambert, Director-General travel business American Express for the France, the Benelux, the Italy, and the Spain. In addition, the population of business travellers has become democratized.

Next to the Director General, trade framework, but also the technical engineer are required to travel. To limit costs, companies require the collaboration of professionals: travel agents. But to adapt to these new requirements, the profile of the latter had to evolve to beyond the mere intermediary role. "The travel agent trade still exists, but he added now Council", said Hubert Joly. "Such is our business tomorrow", insists Patrick Abisset, Chairman of the travel business in Selectour.

A Visual conviction

In fact, if the consultants are still less than 5 of the population of Carlson Wagonlit, the trade turns. Companies overlap with certain software when they manage installation, Setup and maintenance of computer systems dedicated to the management of travel controls. These tools, very present in the United States, are requested. 20 Customers of American Express are equipped with and the company hopes to achieve a proportion of 30 by the end of the year. They allow the company to have direct access to the list of air, rail companies and hotels under contract with the company and to opt for the more attractive without paying agency transaction. The system also has the advantage of discipline teams by creating a "Visual conviction", according to Hubert Joly. If companies are more stringent 85 of major groups have implemented a policy to fit business travel, employees often consider it mere recommendations. With a system integrating alerts transactions contrary to rules House , employees are empowered. "The economy can go up to 15 with this psychological effect," said Board Chambert.

However, the price is not the only criterion. Businesses focus on return on investment of the trip. Almost a challenge when we know that 55 of the European businesspeople surveyed by Ipsos on behalf of the Tandberg company recognize that part of the travel they do "is not necessary", 15 of them, that they "are harmful to their productivity." To avoid this through, most tour operators offer real missions of Council with a diagnosis of function travel and recommendations for optimizing the practices. According to profiles, destinations or the circumstances, agencies can then advise a combination sometimes more expensive but more comfortable. With a favourable price-quality ratio, the TGV, which prevents security controls, and the arrival on the outskirts is preferred for distances of less than three hours. "For two years, our growth is two-digit", welcomes Sylvie Latour, Director marketing and business for the TGV. Of the 80 million passengers transported last year, 35 are labelled business travellers, of which 40 travel in 1st class.

Since 11 September, companies are also attentive to the security of employees. To reassure them, the agencies offer tools locating employees on a destination. "This tool was very useful during the London bombings," said Regis Chambert.

Business travel has indeed become a sensitive issue that warrants that the service is now managed at the highest levels of the hierarchy, often financial branch. The policy travel shows in fact a facet of entrepreneurial spirit, and his concern for the welfare of employees. Travel management also manifest the corporate social responsibility, societal and environmental group. Sign of the times, "the companies claim us reporting on the emission of CO2 induced travel, corruption or internal control", thus notes Hubert Joly. An option also available on "eco-comparer" just to put in place the Agency voyages-sncf, more affordable for SMEs - SMIs.