How to Start a Career in Travel Management

The world of corporate travel is a dynamic, complex, and rewarding industry that plays a critical role in global business. A career in travel management offers a unique blend of logistics, finance, technology, and human relations. It's a field that has evolved far beyond simply booking tickets; it's about creating and managing a strategic program that enables a company to achieve its business goals, control significant expenses, and ensure the safety and well-being of its traveling employees. For individuals who are organized, detail-oriented, enjoy problem-solving, and have a passion for the travel industry, it can be an incredibly fulfilling career path.

This comprehensive guide will explore the various facets of a career in travel management, outlining the key skills required, the different roles available, the typical career progression, and the practical steps you can take to get started. Whether you are a recent graduate, a travel agent looking to specialize, or an administrative professional seeking a new challenge, this guide will provide you with a roadmap for building a successful career in this exciting field.

What is Corporate Travel Management?

At its core, corporate travel management is the function within an organization responsible for overseeing and managing its entire business travel program. This encompasses a wide range of responsibilities:

Policy & Compliance: Creating and enforcing the corporate travel policy that governs how employees book travel and what they can spend.
Supplier Management: Negotiating contracts and managing relationships with travel suppliers, including airlines, hotels, and car rental companies.
Technology Management: Selecting, implementing, and managing the travel management software that employees use to book travel and file expenses.
Data Analysis & Reporting: Tracking key metrics, analyzing travel spending, and providing reports to leadership to identify savings opportunities and demonstrate the program's ROI.
Risk Management & Duty of Care: Ensuring the safety and security of travelers through risk assessments, traveler tracking, and emergency response planning.
Traveler Support: Acting as a point of contact and support for travelers, especially when disruptions or emergencies occur.

Key Skills for a Successful Career

To thrive in travel management, you need a diverse skill set that combines hard, analytical skills with soft, interpersonal skills.

Organizational Skills: A travel manager juggles multiple tasks, from negotiating contracts to handling last-minute travel emergencies. Being highly organized and detail-oriented is non-negotiable.
Negotiation Skills: A significant part of the role involves negotiating with suppliers to secure the best possible rates and contract terms. The ability to build relationships and negotiate effectively is crucial for cost control.
Analytical Skills: The modern travel manager is data-driven. You need to be comfortable working with spreadsheets and analytics dashboards to interpret spending data, identify trends, and make informed recommendations.
Communication Skills: You will be communicating with a wide range of stakeholders, from C-suite executives and finance leaders to individual travelers and external suppliers. The ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and persuasively is essential.
Problem-Solving Skills: Travel is inherently unpredictable. Flights get canceled, and emergencies happen. A great travel manager is a calm and creative problem-solver who can think on their feet and find solutions under pressure.
Tech-Savviness: The industry is increasingly driven by technology. You need to be comfortable learning and managing new software platforms, from online booking tools to risk management dashboards.

Career Paths in Travel Management

A career in travel management can take several forms, depending on whether you work for a corporation (the "client-side") or a Travel Management Company (TMC).

1. The Corporate Path (Client-Side)

This involves working directly for a company to manage its internal travel program.

Travel Coordinator (Entry-Level): This is often the starting point. A travel coordinator handles the day-to-day administrative tasks, such as assisting employees with bookings, answering policy questions, and ensuring traveler profiles are up to date. This role provides a fantastic grounding in the fundamentals of a travel program.
Travel Manager (Mid-Level): As a travel manager, you take on more strategic responsibilities. You might be responsible for managing a specific region or business unit's travel, analyzing spending data, and participating in supplier negotiations. You are the primary owner of the travel program's success.
Global Travel Manager / Director of Travel (Senior-Level): In a large multinational corporation, this senior role involves overseeing the entire global travel program. You are responsible for setting the global travel strategy, managing a multi-million dollar budget, leading a team of regional travel managers, and presenting the program's performance to executive leadership.

2. The TMC Path

This involves working for a company like Routespring that provides travel management services to multiple corporate clients.

Corporate Travel Agent/Consultant: This is a specialized agent role focused exclusively on business travel. You'll handle complex bookings, manage disruptions for travelers, and provide expert advice on itineraries. This role requires deep knowledge of GDS (Global Distribution Systems) and airline ticketing rules.
Implementation Specialist: When a new client signs with a TMC, the implementation specialist is responsible for setting up their account, configuring their travel policy in the system, and training their users on the new platform. This role requires a mix of technical and project management skills.
Account Manager: An account manager is the primary relationship owner for a portfolio of corporate clients. They act as a strategic advisor, helping clients optimize their travel programs, analyzing their spending data to find savings, and conducting regular business reviews to demonstrate the value of the TMC's services.

How to Get Started: A Practical Action Plan

Get Educated: Learn the language of the industry. Familiarize yourself with key acronyms and concepts like GDS, NDC, TMC, Duty of Care, and preferred supplier programs. Follow industry publications like the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), Skift, and The Company Dime.
Build Relevant Experience: If you do not have direct travel experience, highlight transferable skills. Experience in procurement, vendor management, executive assistance, or data analysis is highly relevant.
Consider an Entry-Level Role: A travel coordinator position at a corporation or a corporate travel agent role at a TMC is an excellent way to get your foot in the door and learn the industry from the ground up.
Network: Attend industry events, join professional organizations like the GBTA, and connect with travel managers and TMC professionals on LinkedIn. The corporate travel community is relatively small and well-connected.
Develop Your Analytical Skills: Take an online course in Microsoft Excel or data analytics. Being able to confidently analyze a spreadsheet of spending data is a skill that will set you apart.

A career in travel management offers a unique opportunity to have a significant impact on a company's finances, culture, and employee well-being. It's a field that is constantly evolving, driven by new technologies and a changing global landscape. For those with the right skills and a strategic mindset, it is a career path filled with opportunity and growth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Do I need a degree in hospitality or tourism to work in travel management? No, it's not a requirement. While a relevant degree can be helpful, many successful travel managers come from backgrounds in finance, procurement, administration, or general business. Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills are often more important than a specific degree.

2. What is the typical salary for a travel manager? Salaries can vary widely based on location, company size, and the complexity of the travel program. According to industry surveys, a corporate travel manager in the US can expect to earn anywhere from $75,000 to $150,000 or more, with Global Travel Managers at large corporations earning significantly higher salaries.

3. How has the role of a travel manager changed with technology? Technology has automated many of the manual, transactional tasks of the past (like simple bookings), allowing the travel manager to focus on more strategic work. The modern travel manager spends less time on logistics and more time on data analysis, supplier strategy, risk management, and improving the overall traveler experience. They are technology managers and data strategists, not just booking agents.

4. What is the most challenging part of being a travel manager? One of the biggest challenges is balancing competing priorities. You need to control costs to satisfy the finance department, but you also need to provide a flexible and positive experience to keep travelers happy and productive. You are constantly trying to find the sweet spot between cost savings and traveler well-being.

5. How can I gain experience if I'm new to the field? Look for roles that are adjacent to travel management. An executive assistant who books travel for senior leaders, a procurement specialist who works on vendor contracts, or a finance analyst who reviews T&E reports are all gaining relevant experience. Highlight these transferable skills on your resume and express a clear interest in specializing in travel.