Guide to Saving Money on Your Business Travel

Travel can cost your biz a bundle. Here's how to rack up big travel savings.

By Betty W. Stark, Business travel consultant and columnist, Stark Consulting

Savvy small business road warriors know there are tricks of the trade that can whittle down the many costs business travel. Money-saving ideas and internet resources can help trim the fat out of your travel budget. Add a few of these to your carry-on and watch the savings add up.

Do your homework before you hit the road and you'll be able to:

1. Score free tickets, upgrades and more by tapping into airline "soft dollar" programs
2. Maximize hotel discounts and build loyalty benefits
3. Capitalize on rental car tie-ins
4. Bump up bonuses with business-focused credit cards.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Tap into airline perks

First, pledge your loyalty to just a few airlines that fly the most extensive routes AND go where YOU need to go. Then tap their perks programs specially designed for small businesses. Snag free tickets, upgrades, airline club memberships and more. You'll earn frequent flyer miles on qualifying flights in addition to business bonus points.

I recommend: Most airlines offer special benefits to business travelers. United Airlines does it through its “PerksPlus” program. Look for Northwest’s BizPerks, Delta’s SkyBonus, American’s Business ExtrAA. The discount carriers do it too: check out AirTran’s a2B, Frontier’s Business Travel Program (BTP) and JetBlue’s TrueBlue frequent flyer program.

Choose hotel partners and then stick with them

Loyalty is the key to maximizing benefits from hotel stays. If your annual room nights warrant it, negotiate a chain-wide contract with a national sales account manager. Otherwise, cut your deals locally where you stay most frequently.

I recommend: Look for volume-driven programs at Best Western's Best Business Worldwide, Intercontinental Hotels Group Priority Club Rewards, (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Staybridge Suites among others) and the Marriott chain's Marriott Rewards program

Maximize benefits from your rental car programs

Choose one or two car rental companies that serve more of your locations and offer special programs for small business.

I recommend: Check out Budget Rental Car's Budget Business Program , the Hertz Business Account Program, the Avis Corporate Awards Program, Enterprise's Corporate Class Business Rental Program and Advantage Rent a Car's Easy Corporate.

Pick credit cards that offer the most

You've pledged your loyalty to a few airlines, hotels and rental car companies. Now you need a credit card that gives you a competitive interest rate, miles and points, and is widely accepted.

I recommend: Check out these websites for card programs offered by airlines (apply if you want to rack up miles on a single carrier) or cards offering points that can be redeemed on multiple carriers (this will give you more flexibility and options), like the Chase Travel Plus Platinum Visa Card and the Capital One No-Hassle Card for Small Business.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Book your air travel as far ahead as possible and then don't make changes. If you do change, most airlines will charge you a $100 fee plus any fare increase.
• •  Booking fewer than seven days in advance can cost as much as 152% more than fares booked at least seven to fourteen days out.
• •  Check fares from alternate airports within an hour or two from your home base. Fare savings can be significant.
• •  Schedule meetings with your client at airport conference rooms to save the cost of overnighting at an airport hotel. Make sure the room is OUTSIDE the secured area.
• •  Introduce yourself to the manager at hotels you frequent. This can get you reduced rates and no-cost upgrades for future visits.
• •  Check over your rental car for dings and dents before you leave the lot AND when you return it. Otherwise, you might get charged for damage you didn't cause.