Intro:
Since most adults must pick a career, it helps to choose one that satisfies personal and professional passions. The population has developed a love for travel. Therefore, individuals with a passion for traveling might enjoy becoming corporate travel managers.
Agents who book travel for individuals and professionals have made a comeback. The agents can compete with online booking websites since more travelers want human contact.
Corporate managers who book travel for business travelers take the travel agent career path up a notch. Moreover, companies with healthy travel budgets usually establish in-house travel departments. Therefore, the managers and staff can earn attractive salaries and attract other enticing perks.
For example, planners who work for corporations will usually receive access to attractive health insurance, retirement planning, and tuition reimbursement programs in their benefits packages.
In addition, they will experience gainful employment. Corporate travel statistics show that the industry covets business travelers.
Some will also receive the opportunity to travel for company events and enjoyment.
The following are seven perks of becoming a travel manager.
1. Salary
Entry-level salaries for corporate travel managers range between $30,000 to $50,000. Then, experienced professionals earn $67,000 annually on average. The figure is above the national median average, which lies at $55,000.
Since becoming a corporate travel manager only requires a bachelor’s degree, professionals do not need to enter the position with much higher education debt. Therefore, they can enjoy their salaries, leaving plenty of room for disposable income.
2. Benefits Package
As mentioned, companies that hire corporate travel managers tend to have corporation or enterprise status. Therefore, they have sizable travel budgets and needs for in-house department managers.
Thus, most managers will receive health insurance, flexible spending accounts, and retirement planning benefits on top of their salaries.
3. Mobile Career Path
Once individuals become corporate travel managers, their career path doesn’t end there. Managers can continue moving up the corporate ladder if they desire upward mobility.
For example, after gaining some experience in this position, some professionals become:
- Office managers
- Account managers
- Sales managers
- Business development managers
Otherwise, it’s possible to reach vice president status in the company.
Career research and sharing websites indicate that managers who plan travel don’t only plan it. Corporate travel managers also:
- Design corporate travel policy
- Establish business relationships with vendors
- Communicate with other company managers
- Analyze data
Therefore, it’s possible to parlay the experience into higher salaries, better benefits packages, and more perks.
4. Establish Business Relationships
All business professionals must network with their peers. Networking allows them to find solutions to problems and learn about industry trends. Trying a new method or software program poses challenges.
However, if peers have already tried it, others can jump on the bandwagon or skip it.
Establishing business relationships helps travel managers improve professional productivity for the company. Plus, they can find out about obtaining the best deals and making reservations that few can obtain.
5. Learn the Industry
Several components make up the travel industry. Moreover, each one understands that the business travel sector has become valuable for their bottom lines.
Hotels, airlines, and restaurants agree to offer package deals since the offers create win-win scenarios.
Travel managers will learn about these intricacies by completing basic tasks. Then, managers become more valuable since they realize how to cut costs and optimize company travel.
6. Potential to Travel
Corporate travel management is an office position. However, some travel opportunities can present themselves.
Before signing agreements, managers must experience the lodging options, airline flights, or ground transportation rides, ensuring they found the best partnerships.
Sometimes, the company will need the manager to travel with staff to company retreats, conferences, or training and development sessions.
Then, managers can turn the trips into bleisure.
7. Improve Business Skills
Since managers who plan travel complete other tasks, the position presents many opportunities to improve business skills.
For example, managers must negotiate with hotel representatives, vendors, restaurants, and ground transportation providers to obtain the best rates.
Managers must communicate effectively with staff, traveling team members, company stakeholders, and industry representatives.
Conclusion
Professional satisfaction is the biggest perk of becoming a corporate travel manager. Then, professionals will find that the position offers gainful employment, attractive salaries, and benefits packages.
