SMEs led South Africa’s corporate travel recovery, but many small businesses now find themselves needing to tighten their belts due to rising travel costs caused by restrained capacity, supply and demand, high fuel costs, and inflation. But can you really afford to cut back on travel when face-to-face contact with your customers gives you your competitive advantage? You don’t have to. According to Bonnie Smith, GM Corporate Traveller, you’re probably spending unnecessary money on business travel right now, yet there are simple strategies you can use to make significant savings – without crossing rows off your Excel spreadsheet. Smith says that business travel is often one of the top line items for a business, so it’s important for them to keep track of every penny they spend. But few are aware of the surprising ways they overspend – or how to avoid it. “With rising inflation, higher electricity rates on the horizon, and lost productivity due to loadshedding, it’s tempting to cut your travel budget to save money. But that can cost you more in the long run through lost sales or strained client relationships,” says Smith. According to the Global Business Travel Association, a Travel Management Company (TMC) can help companies save between 5% and 50% on travel costs by helping them trim back on areas they are overspending. These are some surprising ways you can avoid overspending on business travel. Avoid Racking up Penalties when you Book Online Booking a flight online may make you think you’re getting…
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