When you research the key responsibilities of a travel agent, leading job sites like Indeed and Glassdoor list things like assisting clients with general travel plans, recommending and booking travel and hotel options, and travel itinerary assembly. And when it comes to booking a family getaway to the Seychelles, a travel agent may be just the ticket. You can sip on cocktails poolside knowing everything is taken care of – from accommodation to meals and activities.

But in the world of business, travelling becomes more complex. In the first instance, you’re trying to navigate corporate travel policies, booking regulations, multiple personal documents and legalese that could give the most ardent student a headache. Very different from a family with one person calling the shots.

In the second instance, you’re not dealing with cookie-cutter requirements – the size of the team travelling, how to transport them, and meal preferences can all vary greatly. And, inevitably, hiccups will arise. The hotel room that promised to have a shower now only has a bath. The breakfast buffet that was meant to have vegan-friendly options is a meat-lovers delight. The DStv bouquet leaves much to be desired in terms of channel selection. And so on and so on.

And although most travel agents are au fait with business travel requirements, an important question is this: Would a travel agent handle the hiccups on the ground? In most instances, this is where the responsibilities of the travel agent end, and it’s up to you (as a business traveller) to handle these upsets with your hotel directly. The same is true if you run into issues with your transport provider. If a shuttle is MIA to pick you and your team up at 8am, you’ll likely be the one picking up the phone, not the agent. Now we’re not saying a travel agent wouldn’t find you different accommodation options or even contact a different transport service provider, but what can they do to ensure smooth sailing from there? How much time can they really spend on you and your team’s needs and concerns?

Some of the biggest stresses for business travellers according to Travel Perk, are:

• risk management – how can travellers stay safe in the wake of covid-19 outbreaks and changing accommodation regulations, political protests and unrest, or if they fall ill?
• cost containment and spend reconciliation – this becomes a nightmarish paper trail, never mind trying to handle VAT

These stresses are on top of the general disruption that comes with working away from home – a change in people and personalities, work versus leisure routine, as well as diet. Something else business travellers lament is the lack of healthy food options when moving from hotel to hotel. And these are just some of the stresses and that excludes the day-to-day hiccups mentioned.

And what if we add another layer of complexity into the mix? You’re travelling for business with a team of 40. And of those 40, about half have special dietary needs. And it’s not a quick trip 200 km away and back, it’s a 1200 km trip…into the middle of the Karoo. Accommodation is few and far between, and the other services you’ll need like transport and meals are too. How would a travel agent handle that?

With iLodge you can take advantage of over a decade of experience in managing business transport, accommodation and meal bookings for medium to large projects, most of which are in remote locations. Our excellent relationships with Service Providers mean we can keep costs contained on top of dealing with problems promptly. Project managers check in on your needs regularly, both face to face and digitally.

Regardless of the time, our team is standing by to resolve any hiccups.