Potential reduction of corporate travel expenditures

How the efficient use of travel management tools support micro, small, and medium sized enterprises in reducing corporate travel expenditures

Bachelor Thesis , 2009 , 99 Pages , Grade: 2,0

Tourism - Miscellaneous

This bachelor thesis is concerned with the cost reduction potential of travel management tools with regard to business travel expenditures in micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. For this purpose, primary research in the form of a questionnaire was conducted. The results, which are presented at the end of the thesis, reveal that travel management tools are on the spot for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises but by far not as much that one could say the market is saturated, since 29 percent of the companies are currently applying travel management tools, but more than half of them have not yet thought about the matter. The findings also show that corporate credit cards and online booking engines are by far the most popular tools and that travel policies and online booking engines are the most efficient tools for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises with respect to their corresponding cost saving potential.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• ABSTRACT
• LIST OF TABLES
• LIST OF FIGURES
• LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
• 1. Thesis Introduction
  • 1.1. Introduction
  • 1.2. Objects
  • 1.3. Dissertation Structure
• 2. Business Travel
  • 2.1. Definition of Business Travel
  • 2.2. Current Market Overview of the Business Travel Market
  • 2.3. Historic Development and Trends in Business Travel
  • 2.4. Specialties of Business Travel in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
    • 2.4.1. Definition of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
    • 2.4.2. Corporate Travel Behavior in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
    • 2.4.3. Cost Structure
• 3. Travel Management
  • 3.1. The Business Travel Management Process
    • 3.1.1. Definition of Business Travel Management
    • 3.1.2. Tasks and Objectives of Business Travel Management
    • 3.1.3. Stages of the Business Travel Management Process
      • 3.1.3.1. Pre-trip Process
      • 3.1.3.2. On-Trip Process
      • 3.1.3.3. Post-Trip Process
    • 3.1.4. Positioning of Business Travel Management in Companies
  • 3.2. Business Travel Management Tools
    • 3.2.1 Corporate Credit Card
    • 3.2.2. Travel Policy
    • 3.2.3. Online Booking Engine
    • 3.2.4. Travel Agency
  • 3.3. Business Travel Management Tools for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
• 4. Research Methodology
  • 4.1. Research Question
  • 4.2. Hypothesis
  • 4.3. Research Design
  • 4.4. Data Collection Method
    • 4.4.1. Secondary Data
    • 4.4.2. Primary Data
  • 4.5. Sampling Procedure
  • 4.6. Questionnaire Design and Layout
  • 4.7. Data Analysis
  • 4.8. Research Problems and Limitations
• 5. Research Results and Analysis
  • 5.1. Facts and Figures
    • 5.1.1. Response Rate
    • 5.1.2. Characteristics of the Respondents
      • 5.1.2.1. Industries
      • 5.1.2.2. Headcount
      • 5.1.2.3. Annual Turnover
      • 5.1.2.4. Annual Travel Expenditures
  • 5.2. Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises applying Business Travel Management Tools
  • 5.3. Reduction of Travel Expenditure
• 6. Summary of Findings and Suggestions
• List of References
• Appendices

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This bachelor thesis investigates the cost reduction potential of travel management tools in micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with regard to business travel expenditures. Through primary research in the form of a questionnaire, the study explores the current utilization of travel management tools in MSMEs and their impact on cost reduction. Key themes and objectives include:

• Analyzing the current market adoption of travel management tools in MSMEs
• Assessing the cost-saving potential of travel management tools in MSMEs
• Investigating the specific tools most utilized and their effectiveness
• Examining the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing travel management tools in MSMEs
• Providing practical recommendations for MSMEs to optimize their business travel expenditure

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 1: Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the thesis, outlining the research question, objectives, and structure of the study.
• Chapter 2: Business Travel: This chapter defines business travel, examines the current market, and explores historical trends and specific aspects of business travel in MSMEs.
• Chapter 3: Travel Management: This chapter defines and analyzes the business travel management process, outlining its tasks and objectives, exploring the stages of the process (pre-trip, on-trip, post-trip), and examining the positioning of business travel management within companies. The chapter further delves into various business travel management tools, including corporate credit cards, travel policies, online booking engines, and travel agencies, discussing their application in the context of MSMEs.
• Chapter 4: Research Methodology: This chapter describes the research methodology employed in the study, outlining the research question, hypothesis, research design, data collection methods (secondary and primary data), sampling procedure, questionnaire design, data analysis techniques, and limitations of the research.
• Chapter 5: Research Results and Analysis: This chapter presents and analyzes the findings of the questionnaire survey, examining the response rate, characteristics of the respondents, and the utilization of travel management tools by MSMEs. The chapter also explores the impact of travel management tools on reducing travel expenditures.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This thesis centers on the concepts of travel management tools and their impact on business travel expenditure within the context of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The research examines the current market adoption, cost-saving potential, specific tools used, and challenges and opportunities related to implementing these tools in MSMEs. Key terms include: MSMEs, business travel, travel management tools, cost reduction, and corporate travel behavior.

• College: (International University of Applied Sciences)
• Grade: 2,0
• Author: Benjamin Heselhaus (Author)
• Publication Year: 2009
• Pages: 99
• Catalog Number: V147007
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640577682
• ISBN (Book): 9783640577897
• Language: English
• Tags: Small and medium-sized enterprises, Travel Management Tools, Business Travel, Cost reduction, Geschäftsreisen, TMC, Travel Policy, Reisekosten, Travel Management Company, Travel Management, Business trips, SME, Klein- und Mittelständische Unternehmen, KMU, Tourism, Tourismus, Reisen, Travel