Internal communication channels are vital for the fulfillment of the policy.
The channels through which business travelers receive policy guidelines, as well as information about contracted services, have a decisive influence on compliance and the generation of savings, according to a study conducted by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) in partnership with hotel solutions provider HRS.
As the report concludes, “Travel Policy Communication: Understanding Disconnects and Increasing Compliance”, corporate travel policies can only be effective and generate savings if they are communicated properly to the business traveler. Moreover, what a frequent traveler perceives about your company's policy is more important than the actual provisions of that policy.
Fewer than half of corporate travelers responding to the survey said they get their company's policies and travel instructions email, even though 56% said they would prefer to receive information this way.
Many of these employees receive directives in face-to-face meetings or through an internal handbook, even though they may not be receptive to these means of communication.
If the method for disseminating the details of the contracted services is not effective, the employee will end up having to double some expenses
In any case, according to the survey conducted by GBTA and HRS, the travel policy continues to be the main influencing factor in the booking process. In fact, 79% of corporate travelers state that it plays an “important” or “very important” role in how they make their travel requests.
So much so, that two-thirds of corporate travelers claim to book their hotel, flight and ground transportation through approved channels travel policy
.