6 Ways to Get the most Out of Your Account Manager

Are You Getting The Maximum Benefit From Your Account Manager?

Your travel management company (TMC) Account Manager is more than just a point of contact – they’re a strategic partner dedicated to helping you achieve your corporate travel management goals. Whether navigating complex services, optimising your budget, or looking for tailored solutions, a strong relationship with your account manager can be the key to success.

In this article, Dan Fido (pictured right), Enterprise Account Manager at Gray Dawes, explores the top 6 ways you can make the most of your account manager. 

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Set Joint Goals

Account Managers are invested in making their clients shine, ensuring their programs run smoothly, efficiently, and strategically.

However, to truly harness their expertise, it’s important to take a proactive approach. Start by defining your key objectives – whether it’s improving cost savings, enhancing traveller satisfaction, streamlining processes, or leveraging data insights to optimise decision-making.

Once you have a clear vision, engage in open discussions with your Account Manager about your goals and challenges. They have access to industry benchmarks, supplier relationships, and emerging trends that can help you craft a smarter travel program. By collaborating closely and aligning on strategic priorities, you can turn your Account Manager into a valuable extension of your own team – one that actively contributes to your success and helps you demonstrate tangible results within your organisation.

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Take Suggestions On Board When Making Decisions

Account Managers often bring a wealth of industry experience, making them invaluable partners in problem-solving and decision-making.

Their role puts them in the thick of the action and allows them to offer fresh perspectives on business travel that you might not have considered. It’s important to stay open to these suggestions – they can often lead to solutions that build on the original plan for the better. 

Additionally, Account Managers often have access to industry benchmarks and case studies from similar organisations, giving them a unique vantage point from which to identify what works best. Remember, a great Account Manager doesn’t just execute plans – they help shape them into something even more impactful.

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Consult With Your Account Manager on Travel Data & Reports

Account Managers are crucial in transforming travel data into actionable insights that inform business decisions and drive down costs.

While access to travel data reports is essential – such as those found in our YourData platform – additional value lies in the Account Manager’s ability to analyse, interpret, and provide strategic recommendations based on data trends. This expertise is particularly critical in developing company policies on things such as sustainability asnd corporate social responsibility, where the depth of data reporting, and the ability to make sense of it, can take your travel programme to new heights.

Account Managers are skilled at using data to analyse route efficiency, suggest negotiated rates, or identify opportunities for increased policy compliance. This personal, consultative approach to data ensures that travel managers can make smarter decisions for your company, right across the board.