How to Lower Costs and Keep Travel Budgets on Track

Travel managers must accomplish an ever wide number of tasks; this requires a diverse skill set. One single skill that will deliver universal efficiencies is the ability to effectively negotiate. Negotiation is about getting the best long term deal for your company, while bearing all other relevant factors in mind. Today’s post brings you five simple tips to make your negotiation as effective as possible.

 

Simply Ask

There’s a saying about children: ‘quiet kids don’t get candy’. This is as true in travel negation as with children. If you don’t ask you, will never receive a better deal. By entering into conversation with the vendor, rather than a website or third party, you could open up a world of possibilities. You will hear of everything from last minute deals to long running offers and will create a useful working relationship.

Use Effective Language

People cannot give you want you require if they don’t understand what it is you want. If you say: “how can I save money” people will know what it is that you want. A question such as “Is that all you can do” is likely to lead to a negative, one word response – effectively closing negotiations. You should see your negotiations and the language you use a start point to develop a solution, finding out about loyalty programs and late deals for example. Ask open, positive questions and have a goal in mind.

Turn Last-Minute to your advantage

The conventional logic is that anything booked at the last minute will cost more. This is not always the case: airlines and hotels will lose money if these last-minute seats and rooms go unsold. Armed with this knowledge you can be more effective in your negotiations. You’ll probably need to be assertive about your requirements and maybe need to ask to speak to someone authorized to give a better deal, but the results should be worth it. As with language use, it is an opportunity to build and continue a business relationship. Perhaps it will profit to explain just how loyal your company has been over the years.

Quote the most competitive deal

As with all things, you often get what you pay for: a cheap ground transportation company will have cut overhead costs and maybe have limited driver and dispatcher training, resulting in a much less effective service. By quoting the best price you can find however, you will compel your current provider to attempt to match it or explain why they can’t: you’ve nothing to lose.

Follow Through on Threats

Even the most dedicated companies can get sloppy if they start to see your custom as a sure thing. By gaining loyalty rewards with several travel companies you can have the flexibility of threatening to switch without losing too much. If a company is really not performing, you have no choice but to switch. This should not be a hollow threat and with more than one loyalty program in your pocket, it need not be.

Philadelphia Limousine Service is one stop shop for all your ground transportation needs in the Greater Philadelphia Area. As one of the leading ground transportation companies in the Tri-State Area, we strive to provide the best service possible, with the highest regards to quality, passenger safety and customer satisfaction. Philadelphia Limo would be delighted to provide you with the service tailored to your exact requirements. Speak to us today to see what more we can offer you and your business.