Corporate booking tools are a must for travel management companies, even though most clients will rarely use them.
Seven out of 10 Advantage members at conference offer self-booking tools and six out of 10 clients appear interested in them.
TravelSystems account development director Allan Schoenherr said: “Often self-booking tools are not used, but corporate clients think they are great. They open doors.”
Wayte Travel Management managing director Chris Morris agreed: “Many corporates want a booking tool, but then don’t use it. It’s almost at the point where you need one though it will never be used.”
But he added: “Corporate booking tools are useless for complicated bookings.”
Gordon Mowatt, head of corporate travel at WEXAS Travel Management, said: “You have to be careful of the client. Self-booking is the last thing clients want if they feel they are handing the task to you.”
Schoenherr added: “Frequently the person making the bookings wants to speak to someone. People look at the tools and may get to the point of booking and then call.”