Let’s face it – after the first few trips, the magic of business travel quickly loses its appeal. It’s hardly surprising it has earned a reputation for being stressful, exhausting, and unhealthy – the endless airport waits, fast food on the run, jet lag, and lack of sleep all combined end up leaving regular road warriors resembling zombies by the end of a trip.
We’re here to remind you that you can literally get more out of your travel. One of the biggest perks of business travel is taking advantage of supplier rewards programmes. It changes your returns to ROI instead of straightforward airport arrivals. Most airlines, hotel chains, credit card providers and car rental agencies offer reward programmes and these are usually free to sign up for.
Make sure to check your company’s travel policy to ensure you’re complying with it. Some businesses don’t allow travellers to take advantage of loyalty programmes, considering they are footing the bill.
Airline reward programmes
Larger companies often have preferred providers for travel, so check if they offer loyalty programmes that you can join.
If you’re a frequent flyer with the flexibility to pick your preferred airline, consider the destinations you visit most often and seek out carriers that offer plentiful flights, including direct routes, as well as a loyalty scheme with rewards you’ll genuinely utilise.
Certain airlines also belong to alliances like Star Alliance, which unite various global and regional carriers under one umbrella, enabling you to accrue points across all member airlines. These can prove handy if you travel to far-flung places or simply crave a varied choice of options.
Hotel reward progammes
Major hotel groups like Marriott, Hilton, IHG Rewards Club, Hyatt, and Radisson all offer loyalty schemes.
Each programme boasts its own unique blend of benefits, earning structures, and redemption options, allowing travellers to select the one that best complements their travel patterns and preferences. Typically, members accrue points with every stay, which can then be exchanged for perks such as room upgrades, complimentary nights, free breakfasts, late checkouts, and more.
If sticking to a single hotel chain proves too restrictive based on your travel destinations, you can always join multiple programmes for greater flexibility.
Car rental reward programmes
Car rental car reward programmes usually include perks like upgrades, priority customer service, line-skipping or guaranteed vehicle confirmations.
Our top tips for managing your reward programme
With so many loyalty programmes on offer, choosing the right one for your travel needs and preferences can be tricky. At the end of the day, selecting and managing your programmes effectively is more art than science.
- Join Today – Don’t delay signing up! The sooner you enrol and start accumulating points, the faster your rewards will mount up.
- Keep an Eye on Spending – Some loyalty schemes require you to hit minimum spend thresholds to earn or retain benefits. Stay on top of your expenditure to ensure you’re not missing out.
- Credit Your Trips – If someone else is booking business travel for you, provide your loyalty details or add them to the reservation afterwards. That way, you’ll pocket all the rewards you deserve.
- Double Up – Seek opportunities to supercharge your earnings by combining memberships. For instance, you could book accommodation through a rewards platform using a cashback credit card while also collecting points from the hotel itself.
- Mind Expiry Dates – Make a note of when your rewards are due to expire, so you can either redeem them or take steps to keep them active.
At Rennies BCD Travel, our travel consultants are experts at helping you maximise the perks of business travel. We can provide insider tips on the best local restaurants, attractions and wellness experiences in your destination city. Now that’s a serious perk!
