With the resumption of business travel after a few years of no travel/heavy restrictions, many companies are looking to send staff on trips abroad and to other areas of the UK and this can be beneficial for the business and employees.
While there are many benefits to business travel, it can also be a major cost and you need to consider expenses that employees can claim. Typically, this includes things like public transport, accommodation, food and drink, and parking fees.
This post will offer a few tips for saving money on business travel while keeping staff happy by planning an enjoyable trip.
Table of Contents
1. Make Policies Clear
The key to a successful and enjoyable trip for employees is knowing what is and what is not allowed. You need to create clear business travel policies and make sure that employees understand these before they leave.
You need to establish your preferred expenses method, what they can and cannot claim and what their budget is.
2. Book Travel in Advance
Often, you can make big savings on flights and other forms of travel simply by booking in advance. When you book travel in advance, it also gives the trip more structure.
Alternatively, you could use the company car for transport and it is important to understand your tax obligations if you opt for this method.
3. Think About Group Bookings
If you are sending a team of employees on a work trip, you should also look into group bookings. Not only does this work out as cheaper, but it also can simplify the booking process and make it easier to track expenses.
4. Choose the Right Location
You also want to consider the place where you are sending employees and ensure that you find somewhere that gives them the best experience.
London is, obviously, a major business hub in the UK and a great place for business travel with so much to see and do. For accommodation, serviced apartments in London are ideal as they can provide comfort and privacy as well as cooking facilities to keep costs down.
There are also serviced apartments all over the capital, so you should be able to find one in a suitable area.
5. Sign Up for Rewards Programs
If you arrange regular business travel for employees, you should always look out for rewards programs to take advantage of. You can often make savings by joining rewards programs for hotels, apartments, food, drink, and much more.
Business travel can benefit both the business and employees both internationally and domestically.
While there are many benefits to business travel, it can be expensive and you need to have systems in place regarding expenses that can be claimed back. The above tips should help you to plan enjoyable business travel for employees while keeping costs down.
