FAQ: Corporate travel management Services with loyalty programme integration
For frequent business travellers, loyalty programmes remain an important part of the travel experience. For employers, however, unmanaged loyalty usage can conflict with cost control and policy compliance. Corporate travel management services sit in the middle, helping organisations balance traveller preference with programme discipline.
Most established corporate travel management services support loyalty programme integration in a structured way, rather than leaving it entirely to individual travellers.
How loyalty integration works in practice
When travel is booked through a corporate travel platform, frequent flyer numbers, hotel loyalty accounts and rail cards can be stored in the traveller’s profile. This allows points and benefits to be accrued automatically without the traveller needing to re-enter details each time.
Corporate platforms commonly support:
Airline frequent flyer programmes
Hotel loyalty schemes (e.g. Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards)
Railcards and loyalty schemes where applicable
Platforms such as Amadeus Cytric, SAP Concur Travel, Navan and Amex GBT Egencia all support traveller profile management, including loyalty information.
Loyalty versus policy: Where companies draw the line
Most UK organisations allow loyalty accrual as long as it does not override policy. For example:
Travellers may earn points on approved flights
Loyalty status does not justify selecting a higher fare or cabin class
Preferred suppliers take precedence over personal loyalty where costs differ
Corporate travel management services help enforce this balance by embedding policy logic into the booking process, so loyalty benefits are retained without driving unnecessary spend.
The role of the travel management company
Travel management companies play an important role in managing expectations around loyalty. Meon Travel Management, for example, configures traveller profiles within Cytric to ensure loyalty details are captured correctly, while also advising clients on how to frame loyalty within their travel policy.
This avoids common issues where travellers assume loyalty gives unlimited flexibility, while still recognising its value for traveller satisfaction and retention.
