Maximise value & savings: The ultimate travel program checklist

Think your travel program is delivering the best value? Use this essential checklist to uncover hidden opportunities, optimise savings, and ensure every journey counts.

Whether you're managing travel in-house or working with a TMC that isn't quite hitting the mark, this checklist will help you spot where you might be leaving value on the table. Use it to:

Identify gaps in your current travel program
Uncover hidden savings opportunities
See how your program stacks up against best practices
Find areas where expert support could make a difference

Think of it as your travel program warrant of fitness, checking everything from policy compliance to traveller wellness, so you can make informed decisions about your travel management needs. Give yourself 1 point for each Yes answer you currently have within your travel program.

Section 1: Travel policy & compliance

Your travel policy is the backbone of a successful program. Ensure it's accessible, up-to-date, and fully integrated with your processes.

[ ] Is your travel policy clear, concise, and easy for employees to access and follow?
[ ] Does your policy actively prevent booking mistakes before they happen?
[ ] Is your policy regularly updated based on compliance challenges and traveller feedback?
[ ] Are approval processes automated to prevent booking delays?
[ ] Do you have visibility into policy exceptions and their cost impact?
[ ] Can employees easily find and understand what's allowed before they book?

Section 2: Getting value for money

Smart negotiations and access to corporate rates can transform your bottom line. Ensure you're leveraging every opportunity for savings.

[ ] Are you accessing corporate rates?
[ ] Does your accommodation program include value-adds like free breakfast and WiFi?
[ ] Can you see all available fare types in one place when booking?
[ ] Are you getting the best corporate deals on rental cars (including airport fee reductions)?
[ ] Do you have data to back up supplier negotiations?
[ ] Are you missing out on bulk booking discounts for team travel?

Section 3: Booking methods & support

Having the right support matters when travel plans change (and they will). Check your booking processes and safety nets.

[ ] Do your travellers have access to 24/7 expert support for complex bookings and disruptions?
[ ] Can simple bookings be made quickly online without compromising on savings?
[ ] Is there a clear process for managing last-minute changes and emergencies?
[ ] Are you actively tracking and using airline credits before they expire?
[ ] Does your expense reconciliation process take hours instead of minutes?
[ ] Can you easily make group bookings without endless email chains?

Section 4: Program optimisation

You can't improve what you can't measure. Ensure you have visibility and insights to make data-driven travel decisions.

[ ] Can you see all travel spend across your organisation in one place?
[ ] Do you receive actionable insights about booking patterns and savings opportunities?
[ ] Are you losing money through expired credits or missed savings opportunities?
[ ] Can you quickly locate and assist travellers during disruptions?
[ ] Do you have benchmarking data to compare your program's performance?
[ ] Is manual data entry eating up valuable time that could be better spent?

Section 5. Looking after your people

Happy travellers make smarter choices. Balance cost control with traveller experience to build a sustainable program.

[ ] Are your frequent travellers earning points and status on their business trips?
[ ] Do your travel policies reflect both company savings and traveller wellbeing?
[ ] Can travellers quickly get support when disruptions occur?
[ ] Are sustainable travel options clearly marked and easy to book?
[ ] Do long-haul travellers have access to lounges and reasonable layovers?
[ ] Is your travel program helping or hindering talent retention?

How'd you score?

Count those ticks and see where you land:

Under 15 - Needs work
Looks like your travel program could use a proper overhaul. No worries - we know exactly how to help.

15-19 - Getting there
A few gaps to fill. Time to look at some improvements?

20-24 - Pretty good
Not bad at all, but there’s room to improve it. We could help with that.

25-30 - Sweet as
Choice! Your program's humming along nicely. Let's chat about fine-tuning it even further.

Business Corporate Travel Management New Zealand

Ready to level up?

Whether you're flying high or need a hand getting off the ground, Corporate Traveller helps Kiwi businesses sort their travel programs proper. We're talking:

Real savings
Better service
Happy travellers

Keen to see how we could transform your travel program? Let's chat.

Talk to a travel expert