What are the most innovative ways to incorporate creativity into your corporate travel policy?

1 Gamify your travel program

One way to inject some fun and motivation into your corporate travel policy is to gamify it. This means using elements of game design, such as points, badges, leaderboards, and rewards, to encourage and recognize certain behaviors and outcomes. For example, you can reward travelers for booking in advance, choosing eco-friendly options, staying within budget, or completing certain tasks or challenges during their trip. You can also create friendly competitions among teams or departments, and offer incentives such as gift cards, vouchers, or extra vacation days. Gamifying your travel program can increase employee engagement, satisfaction, loyalty, and performance, as well as reduce costs and environmental impact.

2 Offer travel allowances

Another way to foster creativity and autonomy in your corporate travel policy is to offer travel allowances. This means giving your travelers a fixed amount of money that they can spend on their trip as they wish, instead of dictating every aspect of their itinerary and expenses. For example, you can give them a daily or weekly allowance that covers their accommodation, transportation, meals, and other needs, and let them choose how to allocate it according to their preferences and priorities. This way, they can opt for cheaper or alternative options, such as Airbnb, Uber, or local restaurants, and save money for other activities or experiences that they value more. Offering travel allowances can empower your travelers, increase their satisfaction and well-being, and encourage them to be more responsible and creative with their spending.

3 Encourage bleisure travel

A third way to enhance creativity and flexibility in your corporate travel policy is to encourage bleisure travel. This means allowing your travelers to combine business and leisure in their trips, by extending their stay, inviting their family or friends, or exploring the destination beyond their work obligations. For example, you can allow them to add a few days before or after their business meetings, cover some of their personal expenses, or provide them with information and recommendations on the local culture, attractions, and activities. Encouraging bleisure travel can boost your travelers' morale, productivity, and creativity, as well as improve their work-life balance and retention.

4 Implement a travel feedback system

A fourth way to improve creativity and quality in your corporate travel policy is to implement a travel feedback system. This means soliciting and analyzing the opinions and suggestions of your travelers on various aspects of their trips, such as the booking process, the travel policy, the suppliers, the destinations, and the overall experience. For example, you can use surveys, polls, interviews, or online platforms to collect and evaluate their feedback, and use it to identify areas of improvement, best practices, and new ideas. You can also share the results and actions with your travelers, and recognize and reward those who provide valuable feedback. Implementing a travel feedback system can enhance your travelers' satisfaction, loyalty, and involvement, as well as optimize your travel policy and performance.

5 Promote a travel culture

A fifth way to foster creativity and collaboration in your corporate travel policy is to promote a travel culture. This means creating and communicating a vision, values, and goals for your corporate travel program, and engaging and inspiring your travelers to align with them. For example, you can define and convey the purpose, benefits, and expectations of your corporate travel program, and how it relates to your company's mission, vision, and values. You can also showcase and celebrate the achievements, stories, and learnings of your travelers, and encourage them to share and exchange their insights, experiences, and best practices with each other. Promoting a travel culture can increase your travelers' commitment, pride, and innovation, as well as strengthen your company's brand and reputation.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?