Business Travel

Besides domestic travel, our specialty is international, especially with business and first class.

Shadyside Travel’s goal is to provide service and communicate the best options available at the lowest possible cost to our clients.

Why should you choose Shadyside Travel?

• Same continual ownership for 36 years.
• A veteran staff that ensures reliability of information and increase of service levels and cost savings.
• Our focus is entirely on you, our valued customer, on both the service and cost savings aspect.  We check consolidator and Internet sites as well as our computer system to achieve savings.  This extensive search will find additional savings beyond those fares published by the airlines.
• Why spend a lot of time researching fares and still have unanswered questions?

There is a lot more than just finding a low fare.

• Is the fare refundable?
• What if I have to make a change and what would be the cost?
• Are there different routings that would be more convenient and that can save money?
• Are certain fares refundable?

These are just a few of the questions that can arise, and just try to find all the answers on the Internet.  We are always there for you to call us with questions or changes.

It is important to remember that Shadyside Travel can offer more than International airfares, we are a full-service travel agency providing the best personalized travel service to both business and leisure clients.  We are looking to build long-term relationships with our clients and would welcome the opportunity to work with you.

Thank you,

Joe Weigler
Shadyside Travel
President
(800) 227-9843 EST

Why Companies should Book with a Travel Agency and Not on the Internet

For a number of years various travel research firms have done comparisons of booking business travel on Internet websites versus booking with travel agencies.  Year after year the results are similar, travel agencies reduce companies cost of travelling.

Here is a synopsis of the last four years:

Year	Agency fare	Online fare	Average Agency	Average Internet	Difference
2007	94.85%	5.15%	$422	$498	$76
2008	91.56%	8.44%	$483	$558	$75
2009	90.94%	9.06%	$511	$585	$74
2010	91.02%	8.98%	$527	$601	$74

Even with a travel agency fee, companies can still save a substantial amount of money over booking on the Internet.  The savings notwithstanding, the studies are not considering the many benefits a company receives from a travel agency such as reports, credit card reconciliation, 24-hour toll free service, and in some cases the ability to void tickets more than 24 hours after issue.

One important common theme from all researchers is that the worst case scenario is for a company to allow their employees to make their own reservations online.  This is where the biggest abuses occur and the likelihood  a company’s travel expenses will increase.

As the economy continues to recover in 2011 it is predicted that business travel will increase 10% but airline capacity will only increase 3%.  This factor along with the ever-escalating oil prices will make business travel more expensive thus increasing the value of travel agencies and most assuredly make the Internet more expensive for companies to do business.

Sources of information TRS Consulting Research, Topaz International, Travel Team Consulting

Let Shadyside Travel help you with your firm’s business travel. For our business travel management service, discount air travel and international airline tickets call us toll free at 1-800-227-9843. Our office is on the East Coast and we are open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Or you can email us at info@shadysidetvl.com or contact us by using the quote or contact form on the tabs above. We look forward to working with you!