Insights

The COVID-19 outbreak has put even the most robust travel risk management plans to test. Global Product Leader for FCM Secure, Matthew DeMaris, shares his thoughts around the key learnings identified by both our business and the customers we serve.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 (coronavirus) a global pandemic. This is the most recent pandemic to be declared since the H1N1 flu or swine flu in 2009.

In the age of COVID-19, the likelihood of your business having to temporarily close offices or worksites is increasing. While this may prove more challenging for some than others there are a number of steps you can take to support your employees through the weeks ahead.

As COVID-19 dominates domestic and international headlines – open, transparent and timely communication is the key to reducing anxiety amongst business travelers.

Traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic can be unsettling. Find out the precautions you can take to minimize your risk of becoming unwell.

Effective October 1, 2020, if you are 18 years or older, live in the United States and plan to use your driver’s license or state ID to travel by air, you will need a REAL ID to pass airport security checkpoints and/or be permitted on the airplane.

Are you frustrated with the current state of your travel program? Is your CFO pushing for more tangible savings while your travelers complain about business travel demands? It may be time to review your choice of Travel Management Company (TMC).

A lengthy RFP isn’t necessarily the mark of a successful RFP. In some cases, short and simple is best, defining the important requirements of your business. The key is to focus on question quality, not quantity and ask questions which prompt creative answers.

Some tenders for office items such as printers or stationery can be conducted using a fairly standard template, slightly updated from the previous version to suit your current needs. Unfortunately, this is not the case for a travel tender.

To achieve significant savings in your travel program, negotiating competitive airline and hotel accommodation contracts with suppliers is key. It’s important to approach these strategic negotiations armed with all the information you need to achieve a tactical outcome.

At the end of the year airports and hotels are jam packed with individuals and families traveling for the busy holiday season—for the corporate travelers, it's business as usual. FCM has put together a range of simple strategies to help survive the frenzy.