Some travel companies specialise in business travel services. This has become a very lucrative business – it is estimated that, in large corporations, business travel is often the third or fourth biggest expense. Especially now, with additional business markets like India, Russia and China opening up, business travel is on the rise.

Travelling executives are becoming globetrotters of note as the world is getting a smaller place, and a good many travel companies have become experts of meeting the needs of such travellers.

Many top business executives who do not travel by personal jet make use of Business Class or First Class on the long intercontinental hauls. Business travel services can often negotiate a better price for their clients due to the large number of Business and First Class tickets they buy from airlines. In fact, many airlines now offer business travel services like quick check-in or online check-in for executives travelling in the upper classes. In addition, lounges with broadband Internet connections are often offered. More and more hotels are starting to offer the same type of connectivity services.

It is true that more travellers than ever before make use of online airline reservations, but many executives have found that it still serves their needs better to use a competent business travel service. This is especially true in cases where the travel arrangements are extensive, with more than one stop in different places or countries, and where an itinerary must be set up. And of course, the potential cost saving due to airfare negotiating leverage of the travel service cannot be ignored, in pressing times like these.

In fact, some business travel services offer very useful business services such as consultancy, tracking of travellers and policy advice. In such cases, they perform the role of a Travel Management Company, over that of mere business travel services.