Travel booking software is becoming increasingly popular with corporate and leisure travel providers because it can help business owners and traveling executives monitor their expenses without the cumbersome task of paperwork and reports. Business travel software is available to easily incorporate changes in itineraries, costs and packages so that little time is wasted and reports can be quickly accessed. Managers appreciate the value of online travel booking software when they can oversee the travel budgets and expense reports of employees from any location.

Travel software providers can help struggling travel agents to easily put together travel packages and partner with other hospitality providers that are needed for their clients. Suppliers of travel software can get your corporate travel booking software easily integrated in your current applications and get your entire team trained on the web-based travel software and travel management software basics.

1. Look for software for business travel demos

2. Find web-based travel software

3. Get the right travel software supplier

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Try out suppliers of travel software

With travel booking software, you can look at online programs or downloaded software that can track everything from expenses to time spent at meetings and other work-related activities. Watch your employees while they submit reports directly online in many programs. Many software companies allow you a trial period, which you should take advantage of as well.

I recommend: Check out the travel expense software with a free demo from Expense Wire. Manage travel expenses for free for 30 days at Snap Expense to see if this software is right for your company.

Look for basic Internet travel software providers

While you are trying the free demos, you can log onto a number of websites that will provide complete travel management software programs that are entirely online. You can manage expenses and reports from any location with these web applications.

I recommend: Pay Service is an affordable, easy-to-use travel software online that is viable for any size company to use. Amadeus has a program called e-travel that can mange your expenses and travel operations while hosting the entire site for you.

Use the best supplier of travel software

When you begin to look for business travel software providers, consider using a company that offers a variety of programs so that you can get the level of software that suits your needs rather than trying to make your business practices conform to the software, let it work for you.

I recommend: InterPLX offers companies the most complete solutions fro eliminating travel expense fraud and monitoring your company’s valuable resources while your staff enjoys the ease of reporting with systems. They can customize programs for your need and make flexible adjustments as needed. Try a free demo at Nexonia, a travel software company that can work with exchange rates in hundreds of countries while easily providing reporting platforms for any kind of business travel.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While you are still discovering the basics of your travel management software system, utilize the expertise of your software providers with a contract for support services for as long as you need them.

Travel booking software makes providing expedient customer service a breeze. In times past, successful travel agencies relied on Legacy Global Distribution Systems (GDS) as the main travel software program. Only certified travel agencies could buy Legacy GDS. The recent deregulation of GDS changed the landscape of travel software providers, opening the door to low-cost solutions for anyone with the desire to provide cost-effective service to their customers.

The rapid adoption of Internet-based travel software solutions further expands your options for travel software. Although some airlines still prefer to use GDS, travel agencies are integrating web-based travel software into their business models. Stay on the cutting edge of the travel industry with these travel management software tips.

1. Take a product tour from suppliers of travel software.

2. Maximize customer service with business travel software.

3. Find travel software solutions to integrate GDS and Internet-based booking software.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Tour suppliers of travel software online

Conduct a search of online travel booking software and you'll find that there are plenty of travel software providers vying for your business. However, not all of them provide online demos and downloads for you to test drive.

I recommend: Capterra, Inc. provides a list of travel software providers and links to view online demos and videos. Create a demo account with TravelGuide Software and learn how they are revolutionizing the travel industry with online trip-enhancement technology.

Utilize business travel software to expedite service

Money conscious travel corporations look for software to stretch their dollar without compromising features like the ability to process reservations quickly. With travel software designed for business travel, be the one-stop-shop for all of your clients' travel needs.

I recommend: Sign on to Reservations Gateway Inc. and manage inventory contracts with booking and commission tracking. Travel Technology Systems, Ltd. provides Galilieo connections at an affordable rate.

Select travel software solutions that integrate GDS and online resources

Travel agencies that use GDS in addition to online resources have the best of both worlds. Many airlines still use GDS as their travel software of choice. On the other hand, consumers enjoy the flexibility that online services provide. Toggling between the two platforms allows your business to communicate with both in the most effective way.

I recommend: GuestClick, Inc. has developed the ability to manage traditional GDS distribution channels while taking advantage of web-based travel software. LuxuryRes, Inc. offers GDS connections and electronic distribution.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  With traditional travel agencies going out of business everyday, staying on the cutting edge is vital. Consider partnering with local companies at destinations to increase your appeal.
• •  While web-based travel software now lets non-licensed brokers work as travel agents, the majority of travel firms prefer to work with licensed travel agents.

Travel booking software can help you manage your company expense accounts and the amount of resources you spend on travel. Maximize your resources with business travel software that has become easier to use and less expensive to run. You should take advantage of the expertise developed by travel software providers to help you manage and run what can become and expensive piece of your operations.

Suppliers of travel software can operate online so that you keep on top of your company activities while you’re away. Corporate travel booking software can provide information in a concise and relevant form so that you can make quick decisions when necessary and managers can stay on top of client travel arrangements. Find a number of ways to best utilize suppliers of travel software.

1. Use business travel software to manage staff travel

2. Use travel booking software as an agent to make reservations

3. Use suppliers of travel software for care rental companies

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Simplify your travel with software for business travel

You can save hours of calls and online booking with travel software that can easily hook you up with the necessary reservations for you next business trip. Travel software providers also can show you how to manage your expense accounts and reports into easy to manage packages.

I recommend: Use Mobimate to take care of all your information regarding your travel plans. You can download your destination onto a mobile device such as a Blackberry, and the software will help you make hotel and dinner reservations and let you know the weather forecast. The mobile technology is very useful to busy business travelers. Use a travel software platform to track employee travel expenses. Travel Expense Software can provide a 100% web-based program that you can access anywhere to stay on top of your business resources.

Get the finest travel booking software

Travel agents must learn to use new forms of marketing and booking systems since the rapid expansion of Internet usage by business and consumer travelers has cut the travel agent industry to shreds. Successful agents must devise new ways of doing business and take advantage of travel management software.

I recommend: Use Galor to get a software system that you can use in your travel agency as much or little as you need. You can grow steadily with this program, which will help you with marketing, bookings and commissions. Use Online Agency to garner the bulk power of partnerships and web-based applications while building your own website and a thriving travel business.

Find other uses for online travel booking software

Whether you are looking for ways to expand your own business and want to provide hospitality-oriented services, or you have an entertainment or rental business that serves the industry, you can get money-producing results from using travel software.

I recommend: JDA provides travel software for revenue management for the travel, hospitality and rental industries. Use Resort Data Processing to manage and sell travelers time in resort destinations.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take time to try out the free demos provided by travel software providers before making a final commitment to one company.

Travel professionals use many different kinds of technology applications to assist their clients in making reservations for business trips. From General Distribution Systems (GDS) to online booking tools, there are numerous offerings that address the many elements of travel planning. The uses of travel software and applications are as diverse as the agents and agency staff that use them. Becoming familiar with travel software key terms will help you make the right choices.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Management reports

Every travel agency has to deliver reports detailing its services to its clients. Management reports include information such as which airline vendors were booked by travelers, how much was spent with each airline and other travel-related information. Travel agencies are sometimes tasked with compiling and consolidating information from several vendors and delivering that information to their clients in a way that makes sense. Management reporting software accepts and compiles feeds from several sources for the travel professional to present to clients.

I recommend: Globe Track offers a tour operator software that provides management reports on travel quotations and reservations in multiple combinations.

Central reservation system (CRS)

A central reservation system, or CRS, is a software application that allows an organization to develop a database of information to streamline the reservation process. Travel agencies often use CRS applications to store their clients' profile information, including company name, traveler names, departments and travel preferences. Agencies use information in the CRS to create customized travel reservations for their clients based on information that comes from airlines and other travel vendors.

I recommend: Dotcom Technologies provides a comprehensive definition of a CRS system as well as its uses, features and benefits.

Booking engine

Travel companies use booking engines to search fare and inventory availability of air, hotel and car suppliers. Agents use these software applications to search both negotiated fares as well as published rates for their clients. Agencies work with their clients to contract with airlines, hotels and car rental companies to load their rates into the chosen booking engine and allow the agents to make reservations seamlessly.

I recommend: Final Quadrant Solutions describes its SuiteCase booking engine designed for tour operators, as well as online and traditional travel agencies.

Personal name record (PNR)

A personal name record, or PNR, is a profile of all travel-related information for each traveler. Travel agents require their clients to create individual PNR profiles that include everything from the traveler's name to their seat preference. The agents then use these PNRs to make reservations using various software programs. All travel software programs allow some level of integration of PNR information.

I recommend: Review the definition of PNR at Cvent.

Back-office management system

A back-office management system creates invoices from all reservation information, pushes consolidated information to the agency and manages the process of payment reconciliation.

I recommend: Merang Travel Office provides a back-office management system solution that performs a variety of travel-related tasks.

Seamless integration

One of the most important elements of travel software is its integration with other applications used daily by an agent. Because travel professionals often use many software programs for different purposes, all of these applications must integrate to allow the agent to work efficiently.

I recommend: ITA Software details seamless integration of its applications along with a comprehensive system overview of the company's offerings.