Whether looking to work in a business travel company that hires its services to large corporations, or as an implant handling travel requirements within a corporation, you will find that the specifics of the roles on offer (and their salaries) depend on experience. While different companies will probably use different titles, generally speaking there are four types of business travel jobs for different levels of experience: consultant, senior consultant, team leader, and travel manager.
Consultant
The travel consultant's role is to arrange travel for those in the company: booking transport, be it long-haul plane journeys or a taxi across the city; acquiring visas where necessary; organising accommodation; and typically remaining on-call to aid the client or colleague should their plans change mid-travel or they face disruption. This business travel job's requirements include problem solving skills, attention to detail, an efficient and pleasant customer-facing personality, and the ability to work well in a team.
Although this is a low-level position, previous work experience is always regarded favourably. However, those looking for their first business travel jobs will find it possible to enter a consultancy role, provided they have experience using a computer reservations system like Galileo, Amadeus or Sabre. This can be obtained through a relevant course or university degree.
Senior Consultant
In many cases, the job of a senior travel consultant is very similar to that of a consultant. They also make travel arrangements: transport, hotel bookings, and so on. However, they will have years of experience at this role; you cannot expect to enter a senior consultancy role without having previously been a consultant. Some people are promoted to this role within their company, while others seek out new business travel jobs to reach this level.
Team Leader
This role requires the individual to manage a team of consultants. While it is possible to progress to this position based purely on the skills displayed as a consultant and senior consultant, any prior management experience will be regarded very highly and in some cases is essential. Some specific aspects of this business travel job's role include meeting and liaising with key clients, helping with team rotas and appraisals, and leading by example on a day-to-day basis; team leaders also handle bookings, and as such absolutely require experience in a travel consultancy role.
Business Travel Manager
The manager is, as the title suggests, a predominantly managerial role. They will manage a team of consultants in a hands-on manner - responsible for tasks like arranging the rotas and recruiting new employees. They will also be required to manage client accounts. Previous experience in a senior consultancy or team leader position is necessary.