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Lower travel costs with PartnerPlusBenefit

Lower travel costs with PartnerPlusBenefit

Effortlessly lower travel costs and much more – isn't this exactly the bonus programme you're looking for as an entrepreneur or travel organiser?

Get to know PartnerPlusBenefit. The free and powerful Lufthansa corporate bonus programme offers small and medium-sized enterprises new opportunities to save on travel costs for business trips and to motivate employees. With free flights, upgrades and vouchers for excess baggage, for example.

Find out more and benefit now

Background information on the topic

Travel costs – a key success factor

The biggest cost factor for SMEs, after personnel costs, are travel costs, especially for travelling abroad.

The advocacy group for the global business travel industry - Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – expects expenses of 137 billion euros for business trips in 2014.1 In Germany, domestic business trips amount to 46.6 billion U.S. dollars.2 In 2015, with a view on the global expenditures on travel, additional growth of 6.5 percentage points is projected.3 Of these expenses, flights and accommodations comprise about half of the costs.4

Rising travel costs along with more global business relationships

The reason for the rising expenditures is found in the increasing internationalization of business relationships. Clients and partners are scattered worldwide. Since discussing business via teleconferences or videoconferences is often not enough, mobility is quickly becoming a critical success factor. Being there on-site and personal conversations around the conference table are indispensable in some situations.  In addition, the personal meeting strengthens the relationship with existing clients and helps build new business relationships.

An interesting determining factor: lowering travel costs

To remain competitive and to resist the pressure of costs, entrepreneurs must optimize their travel costs. However, these cannot be lowered at the expense of passenger comfort and safety. Surveys show that, above all, safety and speed are the key criteria when planning business trips. These factors significantly affect employee motivation and thus also business success.5 Studies show that business trips must be understood as an investment in the company's growth and can translate into a competitive advantage.6

PartnerPlusBenefit – the ideal partner on business trips

The corporate bonus programme PartnerPlusBenefit offers companies savings on business travel without compromising on travellers' safety and comfort.  Thus, the BenefitPoints collected while travelling can be redeemed for free flights or credits for excess baggage, for example. And premiums, from notebooks to coffee makers, are also available to target employee motivation.  In addition, upgrades offer the possibility of flying in a higher travel class, which allows employees to enjoy more comfort and appreciation.  And this, in turn, positively influences their motivation.

Efficiently planning and utilising travel times

Because travel times are also working times from a business perspective, they must be kept as short as possible and should be used in the best possible manner for business purposes. The indirect costs incurred due to potentially unused travel time should not be disregarded. Thus, flying becomes an effective form of business travel.

During a flight, passengers can prepare for upcoming appointments or lean back and relax in order to arrive at their destinations well-prepared and focused. Internet access on board long-haul flights allows passengers to work on business e-mails or access the company network. Lufthansa helps its guests make the most of their travel time with numerous products and services as well as offering assistance with any problem that should arise and a first class treatment at all times.  For example, online check-in shortens the time spent at the airport, and a Fast Lane allows travellers to board the aircraft more quickly.

Footnote

1 See  School of Tourism, online at: http://www.schule-tourismus.de/presse/archiv/2014/03/25/ausgaben-fuer-geschaeftsreisen-steigen-enorm (as of 22.07.2014)
2 See The GBTA predicts the largest annual growth in spending on business travel in Western Europe since the global recession, online at:  http://www.presseportal.de/pm/108583/2563088/die-gbta-prognostiziert-das-groesste-jaehrliche-wachstum-von-ausgaben-fuer-geschaeftsreisen-in (as of 22.07.2014)
3 See School of Tourism, online at: http://www.schule-tourismus.de/presse/archiv/2014/03/25/ausgaben-fuer-geschaeftsreisen-steigen-enorm (as of 22.07.2014)
4 See Manhart, Dr. Klaus: Lowering travel costs for SMEs, online at: http://www.tecchannel.de/software/finanzen/2053568/reisekosten_senken_im_mittelstand/ (as of 22.07.2014)
5 Business trips: safety and speed take priority, online at: http://www.drv.de/fachthemen/business-travel/detail/geschaeftsreisen-sicherheit-und-schnelligkeit-haben-prioritaet.html (as of 22.07.2014)
6 See Business trips provide sales growth, online at: http://www.businesstraveller.de/News-Magazin/Top-News/Geschaeftsreisen-sorgen-fuer-Umsatzplus (as of 22.07.2014)