business travel companies

Corporate travel just got better.

Imagine a world of travel management where tech and people work collectively. Where you can look, book and report, all in one platform. 

Your business travel matters. Make it count.

Book a demo     Watch Video

Helping companies travel the globe simpler, faster, easier. 

Meet Melon.

A travel management platform that makes business travel a breeze.

Melon is everything you need to manage all the pieces of your business travel program, quickly, and easier than ever.

• Ultra-intuitive design
• 5-minute bookings
• On-point reporting for smarter decisions
• Access the best rates, no debates
• Live-chat with a travel consultant

Melon is the ultimate travel management solution that covers all your bases from booking, safety, reporting, policy, and expense.

Ready to see it in action?

book a demo

Our business? Getting you there.

More savings? Yes please.

Travel expertise? Anytime.

Latest tech? Always ahead.

The best fares and rates? Of course.

What our customers say about us, “corporate traveler provides a level of service that’s both thorough and anticipatory. we’re an incredibly fast-moving business and to have a partner as nimble as us managing our travel needs is invaluable.”, caroline roche, chief of staff @ bumble, “working with corporate traveler allows us to get key personnel there on time and most importantly, safely. it’s been seamless; they understand our business, conscious of costs and are an instrumental part of our operations.”, stephen cochrane @ rotech subsea ltd, “our booking fees have fallen and we’re now capturing more travel spend and have greater overall visibility, allowing us to really pinpoint where there are further savings to be made. ”, vicki mann, executive assistant @ new era.

Upgrade to effortless

Business travel is an investment, and it should feel simple. Take your business travel to the next level with exceptional service every step of the way.

With a blend of knowledgeable travel experts and seamless digital experiences, we’ve got you covered from door to door. Every experience, every interaction, every trip should feel simple, worry-free, effortless.

unparalleled service

Industry expertise? We know the ins and outs.

We make knowing how your business travels our business. The result? A travel management solution that perfectly balances adaptability and reliability. Trust us to expertly guide your business travelers – while catering to your company’s unique needs. 

Whether it’s meetings, events, or industry- specific travel requirements (and all their quirks), consider it covered.

industry experts

Supercharged savings & deals

Unlock exclusive negotiated rates to keep your costs down. With our vast global network, corporate travel deals are at your fingertips.

Looking for amazing value and choice for your next flight? Consider it done. How about rates at your preferred hotels? Of course! Our robust business travel management approach, fueled by powerhouse partnerships, means unrivaled value, sterling service, and a business travel experience that saves you time and money.

start saving

Are you a decision maker, travel booker or corporate traveler?

I make the big calls

I book the big trips

I hit the road

The right travel policy?

It's a game changer..

Let your corporate travel policy work for you. Think of it as your go-to playbook, guiding each trip, from important meetings to long-term projects.

Dive in with us, craft a policy that’s unique to your business, and transition from travel turbulence to clear, confident skies.

Stay in the loop.

The world of corporate travel is always changing.  Sign up and never miss a beat. 

Select your preferred language

• Deutsch English English (Australia) English (China) English (India)
• English (United Kingdom) Español (Latinoamérica) Español (España) Français Italiano
• Português (Brasil) Suomi Svenska 中文

Business Travel Management

Deliver more for your employees and your business

Managing a business travel program can seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. When you work with CWT, one of the world’s leading travel management companies, we make it easy for you to deliver valuable employee travel services to help you get the job done right.

Keep your workforce focused

Your travelers are employees first. You need to keep them safe, engaged and productive with travel services that work for them and your organization. CWT has a wide array of business travel services available to help keep your workforce focused on your business goals.

Unique Solutions

Not all business travel is the same; some industries have truly unique requirements that demand specially-trained teams to look after their travelers.

At CWT, we understand that managing travel in industries such as energy , resources and   marine,   life sciences,  or  media and entertainment can be extremely challenging and you have to work with a TMC you trust.

We have the experience you need and our people have the skills that matter.

Explore unique solutions

Keep employees moving

Give your employees booking tools and travel services that keep them moving and productive even during inevitable disruptions. CWT can help make their travels easier with digital touchpoints and a great experience.

Hotel offering

When your employees stay overnight on a trip, you need them to get a business-quality hotel room at the best price, no matter how they book. CWT’s hotel offering, powered by RoomIt delivers all this and more.

Managing risk

CWT can help you meet your legal and ethical responsibility to care for travelers and also help reduce risk for your company. We know you need to keep both your employees and their data safe, while predicting and managing safety and security concerns like a pro.

It’s what CWT does every day for our clients

Delivering ROI

We can help your business travel management efforts deliver real ROI. Using powerful tools we can help you crunch complex data, and with supplier management expertise we can help you design and negotiate an effective travel management program.

Drive action and innovation

Take travel management to the next level with innovations and insights helping you track trends, adapt to industry changes, and take action.

Get started with CWT

Changing your travel management company doesn’t have to be hard. CWT will help you design a program that fits your employees’ needs and stand with you to drive adoption of it. We’ll also deliver key metrics and reports to help you show your organization you made the right choice.

Our unique travel solutions

Energy, resources and marine travel

Getting people to remote parts of the world can be complex. Whatever your business–oil and gas to mining; marine to renewable energies–we’re here to help handle your travel needs. Since 1980, we have delivered our clients efficient, safe and connected travel programs using the global power of CWT and our local knowledge in locations around the world.

Life sciences and pharma travel

A complex and highly-regulated industry, life sciences is one that demands a high-touch and tailored travel program for health care professionals and people traveling to participate in medical trials. CWT has been trusted with pharma, biotech and biomedical companies over the past 30 years. 

Media, entertainment and sports travel

Need to move film crews, television equipment, news teams, or sports squads? No problem! Dedicated and highly specialist teams provide confidential and secure travel services, including white-glove VIP service, 24 hours a day.

Ready for professional travel management services?

If you’re ready to talk about how we can help you and receive communications about our products and service, please fill out the contact form. You can unsubscribe from our mailing list at any time using the ‘unsubscribe’ link on our emails.

Traveler help

Help me manage my travel

Careers at CWT

Explore career opportunities

Careers @ CWT

Learn more about travel management

Contact CWT

Learn more about our travel management offering

Travelers: manage your travel here . The below form is for inquiries about our corporate travel management offering.

To reach out to CWT to learn more and also receive communications (email or phone) on our products and services, please complete the form below. You can unsubscribe at any point in the future from our mailing list using the ‘unsubscribe’ link on any of our emails.

Thank you for your interest in CWT, we will contact you soon.

Thank you for your interest in CWT. Unfortunately, CWT cannot offer services in your home country at this time. Your contact request has not been submitted.

With kind regards,

Business travel made personal

Christopherson offers dynamic technology and exceptional customer service to connect your business to where it needs to go.

Get to the future—faster

Your trusted partner

We’d be honored to serve you among our 1,000+ organizations, providing you and your teams with our signature, tailored experience to help your business reach its goals.

An elite travel platform

We have a lot packed

Learn about our other services and how we can help your business take off.

Get more out of your travel budget and boost cost savings through our knowledgeable travel expertise.

Experience the luxury of smart travel technology with the trust of an experienced partner.

Our integrated booking, gives your travelers policy-compliant choices, all the while saving time and money.

Program management

Our travel program management services give you the tools and support to move upward and forward.

Know before you go

Connect with our team of experienced travel experts to learn how Christopherson can help your business travel with ease.

Pick the plan that takes your company places .

KAYAK for Business

Thrifty travel for small companies and solo business travelers looking to maximize their miles.

Biz+ Coming soon

$20 flat fee per trip

One-stop shop booking and oversight for midsize companies and scale ups. No subscription needed.

Custom pricing

Comprehensive travel management for large corporations with bespoke requirements.

Not sure which plan is right for your business? We can help. Contact us

• Go to 1 testimonial
• Go to 2 testimonial
• Go to 3 testimonial

• Set up policy and approval flows in minutes and keep on top of travel spend
• Integrate tools like Slack and Expensify to make your company travel even easier
• Use the award-winning KAYAK app for on-the-go booking and itinerary changes

• Manage last-minute bookings and travel disruption with 24/7 agent support
• Access advanced booking options like booking for colleagues and guests
• Enhance duty of care and track travel metrics with enhanced reporting

• Eliminate expense reports by booking via project code with supplier direct billing
• Get real-time data visibility with next generation ERP-integrated reporting
• Benefit from dedicated account management to help maximize your travel program

Detailed comparison

• No subscription
• No commitment

* Trips can include multiple bookings like flight and hotel. The fee is included in the final price but charged as a separate transaction for easier expense tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Top International Flight Routes .

Cheap flights, hotels , rental cars and travel deals:

KAYAK searches hundreds of other travel sites at once to find the best deals on airline tickets, cheap hotels, cheap cruises, vacations and rental cars.

Not what you’re looking for? Find thousands of other hotels , flights , car rentals and trains and buses with KAYAK.

Service unavailable in your location

Unfortunately Booking.com for Business is currently not offering its services in your location

Discover the alternative in business travel

Welcome to the place where clients are truly partners. As an extension of your team, FCM Travel is the travel management company that brings agility to your corporate travel program, driving value and creating simplicity.

With a unique approach to building technology and talented teams that go above and beyond, together we can do more than tick boxes and book tickets.

How we add value to business travel programs

Consistent experience

Data that influences

Best-in-market content

A collaborative partner

Explore what we do

Collaborating on travel programs with

Technology built with you in mind

Craving a smoother way to book and manage business trips, with quick access to support, 24/7? Yearning to easily search and pull reports for travel insights, and view safety & risk alerts in one place?  

Our customers felt the same way. That’s why we built the FCM Platform, a business travel platform that’s designed to transform travel programs.  

With the FCM Platform, you get: 

• Global consistency  
• Personalized user experience 
• Alternative approach to innovation 
• Actionable insights  

Explore FCM Platform

Corporate travel services that work for all

Travel Managers

Travel Bookers

Business Travelers

Company travel strategy that keeps everyone….

Safe & Productive

Thinking ahead

Resources hub.

From The Th!nk Series to FCM Consulting’s Quarterly Trends Reports, to practical travel advice and insights to elevate programs. Explore the Resource Hub .

Challenge accepted: Strategies to ace corporate travel innovation

From tiny shampoos to takeout cups: Beat plastic waste one hotel stay at a time

FCM at GBTA Convention 2024

“Not only did FCM provide comprehensive, customized materials and sessions, they consistently took the time to listen and understand our culture, and then flexed to align with our needs”.

That's what the travel manager of a well-known Fortune 100 insurance company said about implementing FCM Travel, after 10 years with their incumbent TMC. Discover how agility and partnership-focused goals were a perfect match for this global business travel program.

Read case study

Services and culture, certified

Discover the awards and accreditations we’ve collected as a travel management company over our 20-year history.

View our trophy cabinet

Ready to discover a new travel management company? Let’s talk.

• Travel management Toggle submenu Egencia Overview Travel management solutions Amex GBT Neo1 Amex GBT Neo Amex GBT Select Amex GBT Ovation Manage your corporate travel program Corporate travel policy Travel risk management Travel expense management Reporting Travel management consulting Industry Solutions Legal Transportation & Logistics

Egencia reviews

See how Egencia works

• Customer center Toggle submenu Travelers Help center Business traveler center Download the app Travel arrangers Help center Travel arranger center Training resources Travel managers Connect community Product updates Customer training
• Watch a demo
• Request a demo
• About Egencia

Small & Medium Sized Business (SME) Travel Management Solutions

Small and medium-sized business travel solutions

No matter where in the world your business takes you, we make travel management simple.

Carousel content with 4 slides.

A carousel is a rotating set of content. Use the tabs or the previous and next buttons to change the displayed slide.

Proven and trustworthy

Our tech origins mean that we deliver. Not just in quality but in configurable options that make sense to your business and travelers alike.

The best travel inventory

No matter how they travel, we’ve got your travelers covered. With the best rates and extensive inventory from both Egencia and Amex GBT, Egencia is the premier choice for air, car, rail and hotel bookings.

Happy customers

Businesses of all sizes and industries consistently rank us at a 95% customer satisfaction or higher due to our easy-to-use platform and commitment to service.

Data that delivers

Your feedback matters. And we’re constantly seeking to improve based on real-time data from our platform and cutting-edge technology that enhances your travel and travel management experience.

Build your business with a scalable travel management program

Face-to-face business travel helps your business grow - especially with an established travel management program that saves your team time and money. Manage your travelers, internal policies, and expenses all in an easy-to-use platform with 24/7 support.

Taking care of your business travelers, any time, any where

Small companies know successful business trips start with confident employees. One way we help you make travelers feel secure is with Traveler Tracker, which lets you easily find and support them when they need it most.

When your travelers need answers, our travel experts speak their language - we have consultants fluent in more than 30 languages. Convenient self-help options are also available on the web and mobile app.

Travel risk management solutions

Travel with confidence

Make the most of your travel budget.

Find cost savings and improve your bottom line. Manage your travel budget, save with Egencia Preferred Rates, track unused air credits, and gain visibility into your travel spend with ready-to-use dashboards.

Simple to set up, use and manage

We make implementation easy, so you’re ready to start using our business travel solutions in a week.

Centralize your corporate travel booking and management. Save time and access all your booking travel options and information when you need it, whether you’re online, offline or on the mobile app.

Our mobile app lets travelers book business trips on the go and travel managers can easily approve last-minute travel plans. Make immediate adjustments to your corporate travel policy. In-policy options and your preferred suppliers are prominently displayed to help travelers make the right choice.

Fast and effective implementation

Good company matters. See how we help the world’s top companies get to where they want to go.

Recommended for you

Request a demo to see what Egencia travel management solutions can do for you.

Already a customer? Contact Egencia customer service .

• English (UK)
• English (CA)
• Deutsch (DE)
• Deutsch (CH)

The 2024 guide to corporate travel management

What is corporate travel management, what does a corporate travel manager do.

• Booking trips for travelers (not only c-suite executives, but employees in any role).
• Helping individual departments track their travel spend so they can stay under budget.
• Providing travel support to travelers before, during, or after their trip.
• Selecting and managing any travel vendors or travel tools used.
• Working to negotiate corporate rates on hotels that the company uses often.
• Booking group travel.
• Organizing ground transportation like rental cars or rail
• Analyzing company travel spend, or delivering travel spend reports to the CFO for analysis.

What does a travel buyer do?

Stakeholders in the travel management process.

• In-house corporate travel manager
• Office manager or office team
• Head of operations / COO
• CFO and finance managers
• Panel of frequent employee travelers
• Current corporate travel agency or company

What solutions are companies using to book their business trips?

Consumer booking sites, traditional travel agencies, travel management software.

Save your company time and money on business travel

What are the drawbacks of each solution.

• Need to compare various websites and pay out of pocket in order to secure the best price
• Many hidden costs, with fees for cancellations and changes
• Many back-and-forth emails when booking for companies
• Need to pay upfront
• No support for issues on the road
• Time-consuming manual reimbursing and expense tracking
• Impossible to ensure compliance with company travel policy
• Online booking tools are typically buggy, with bad UX
• Employees end up calling support or book, when they’d rather save time by booking for themselves, with the options they want
• Costly service
• Above-market transport/accommodation prices
• Company policy compliance is difficult to guarantee
• Lack of travel inventory and options
• Clunky user experience that travelers don’t enjoy
• Offshore customer service, typically ranked as the top frustration in customer reviews
• Often overly complicated and feature-laden
• Impossible to control travel when travelers can’t or won’t use the tool
• Lacks low-price flights and hotels available online
• Impossible to guarantee company policy compliance

The pillars of modern travel management:

• Trust – Trust travelers to book using the approved process and policy, and make it easy for them
• Transparency – Let travelers see what they’re allowed to spend and choose accordingly, and let finance and administrative teams see what is being booked and why.
• Simplicity – Create a process that works and meets everyone’s needs.
• Impact – Measure the impact of business travel on the company and reduce unnecessary trips that leave travelers exhausted and businesses with needless expenses.
• Duty of care – Ensure a thorough duty of care strategy is in place to mitigate risks for employees when traveling
• Sustainability – Being aware of the impact of travel on the environment and adopting good practices to reduce the effect

How can a good corporate travel program help companies to save money?

Ensuring compliance with company travel policy, access to more affordable flight options, stay on top of travel spending trends, six steps to managing corporate travel effectively.

• Choose a smart booking tool
• Assure 24/7 travel support
• Create policies and approval workflows
• Organize and utilize travel spend data in real-time
• Improve collaboration between admin and finance
• Reduce your company’s carbon footprint

1. Choose a smart booking tool

• Self-booking within policy – Trust your travelers to book what they need, and set up policies and parameters
• Consolidated invoicing – The ability to get one monthly invoice for all travel from one vendor, instead of having it spread across the web
• Travel spend reporting – Easy access for all finance and administrative team members who need to track travel itinerary details and spend by cost centers, tags or labels
• Easy booking process that travelers love – Invoice consolidation and accurate reporting are impossible if employees want to cheat on the approved tool, so choose a tool that’s easy to use with consumer-grade UX. Make their entire travel experience, from booking to coming home, as easy and smooth as possible. Introducing a mobile app is just an added bonus!
• Great inventory – Inventory is not a side note. Make sure the platform you use has every available option you can find online and that the company is committed to adding more inventory
• Travel support – You need travel assistance that’s available 24/7 in your native language so that employees can get help even when the internal admin team is unavailable

2. Assure 24/7 travel support

Here are the requirements to look for in travel support:.

• Available 24/7
• Easy to reach a real human
• Guaranteed follow-up and follow-through
• Native language support
• Fast escalation for big issues

3. Create policies and approval workflows

• Maximum cost of airfare
• Maximum cost per hotel per night
• Minimum amount of days booked in advance
• Hotel star rating
• Flight class allowed

Travel Management: The Ultimate Guide

Approval workflows.

• No approval required for any trip
• Approval required for some trips
• Approval required for every trip

4. Organize and utilize travel spend data

• Cost centers – Does your company use different payment accounts for different geographical regions? How many cost centers does the company have? Make sure that travel spend is getting charged to the right accounts and that you're making accurate expense reports.
• Tags and labels – Beyond cost centers, are there any important filters that the finance team would have to have when viewing travel spending reports? For example, would they like each trip tagged by team or by project? Decide upfront so that the tagging system can be implemented clearly from the get-go.
• Keep all travel in one place – to get accurate travel data, you need to keep all travel in one place—whenever possible. Work with a travel management solution that integrates with providers that matter to your company, such as budget airlines, AirBnb or European train lines. If your company has negotiated hotel rates, you want your corporate solution to be able to book those rates for you, so you don’t lose the travel data by booking directly.

5. Improve collaboration between admin and finance

• Streamlined approvals process – If your approval process requires action from the admin and the finance team, try to make this as seamless as possible.
• Easy access invoices – The finance team needs to grab all invoices quickly so they can reconcile expenses and set clear reimbursement processes. The best way to do this is to use a platform that consolidates travel spend into one monthly invoice.
• Ability to track spend instantly – Consolidate all travel spend into one platform so that they can generate reports on what is being spent, by who, and why (when using tags and labels). Same as with the invoices, determine whether you need to send them a monthly report, or if they want to download it themselves.
• Cost savings on trips – Fixing travel isn’t just about saving time. Many businesses are still using travel booking platforms that were built in the 80s and 90s. This means that they markup the inventory so that the company is paying more than a consumer would! Impress the finance team by reducing travel costs and introducing consumer-grade prices for trips.

6. Reduce your company’s carbon footprint

• Work out your starting point by calculating your company’s travel carbon footprint
• Design a green business travel program, which creates data-driven strategies to increase employee commitment
• Choose economy class
• Reduce your fuel consumption where possible
• Pick low-emission airlines and avoid layovers
• Vet your accommodation for sustainability practices
• Utilize green travel tax breaks

The bottom line: it's time to upgrade your travel management

Let’s bring it all together.

• Choose a smart booking tool – Meet everyone’s needs
• Share the burden of travel support – Don’t try to do this alone
• Set up cost centers and labels – Let the tool reflect the business
• Create policies and approval workflows – Put the policy inside the booking process
• Improve collaboration between admin and finance – Grab invoices and reports

Make business travel simpler. Forever.

• See our platform in action . Trusted by thousands of companies worldwide, TravelPerk makes business travel simpler to manage with more flexibility, full control of spending with easy reporting, and options to offset your carbon footprint.
• Find hundreds of resources on all things business travel, from tips on traveling more sustainably, to advice on setting up a business travel policy, and managing your expenses. Our latest e-books and blog posts have you covered.
• Never miss another update. Stay in touch with us on social for the latest product releases, upcoming events, and articles fresh off the press.
• Business Travel Management
• Offset Carbon Footprint
• Flexible travel
• Travelperk Sustainability Policy
• Corporate Travel Resources
• Corporate Travel Glossary
• For Travel Managers
• For Finance Teams
• For Travelers
• Thoughts from TravelPerk
• Careers Hiring
• User Reviews
• Integrations
• Privacy Center
• Help Center
• Privacy Policy
• Cookies Policy
• Modern Slavery Act | Statement
• Supplier Code of Conduct

Top Washington DC, Travel Companies (21)

Don't see your company?

Moving America Where it wants to go. We are not just a railroad; we are a company that moves people. With 21,000 route miles in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces, Amtrak operates more than 300 trains each day – at speeds up to 150 mph – to more than 500 destinations. We move customers where they want to go by responding to their wants and needs. And by doing so, we connect communities, economies and families that make our nation great. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the Unites States. Our mission is to provide safe transportation in the most efficient way possible, while ensuring that our customers get a consistent, high quality experience. Carrying out this mission, and ultimately achieving our vision, hinges on our employees. The future rides with us.

CLEAR transforms what is uniquely you – your fingerprints, your face, your eyes – into a secure, biometric key to frictionless experiences. CLEAR currently powers customer experiences in nearly 40 U.S. airports and venues. With over 3 million members so far, CLEAR is the identity platform of the future, today.

MGM Resorts International

The resorts and casinos of MGM Resorts International™ are some of the most famous in the world. Our 28 destinations are renowned for their winning combination of quality entertainment, luxurious facilities, and exceptional customer service. We are actively expanding our presence globally, with potential developments in a number of domestic and international markets. At MGM Resorts International, we are all striving together to deliver an enticing blend of entertainment to every corner of the world. Many of our resorts are located in Las Vegas. Las Vegas features three of the largest convention centers in the U.S., spectacular entertainment, attractions, shopping, ​and world-famous resorts. Whether dancing fountains, incredible stage productions, casino action, museums or natural attractions such as Lake Mead, Vegas offers something for everyone. A stroll down our streets takes you around the globe, with recreations like climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower or taking a Venetian gondola ride. From shimmering resort pools and spa rejuvenation to nonstop nightlife, Las Vegas promises an unforgettable career destination. With all of our unique and spectacular resorts and casinos, MGM Resorts International has a world of opportunities for you to discover excitement and rewards as you provide our guests with a wonderful and memorable experience. Take a closer look at our properties. We think you'll find an opportunity that's right for you. The 81,000 global employees of MGM Resorts are proud to be recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies®.

La Bodega is a daily event in the life of the Spanish culture.

RoomToday was a start-up company engaging in online 'last minute' hotel booking. The company was acquired in late 2016.

Space Adventures

All Space Adventures' spaceflight clients have flown on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station where they have lived for up to 12 days. In total, our clients have spent over 100 days in space, and traveled over 40 millions miles. Our previous spaceflight clients include e-commerce entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte, Microsoft software architect Dr. Charles Simonyi, and famed computer game developer Richard Garriott. We also have a mission planned to fly two private citizens around the far side of the Moon. If you dream of one day flying to space yourself, Space Adventures is the company you should contact now!

Read transportation reviews from top travelers, track your travel, and discover new routes. Did you enjoy the staff on your last flight, or did you miss your meeting because the train was late? Voice your opinion on Arrively

Atlantic Services Group, Inc.

Atlantic Services Group is a facilities services company specializing in valet parking, parking garages, and bus rental services.

WhyHotel is a hospitality platform and operator with a focus on multifamily buildings. It operates pop-up hotels out of the vacancy of newly built luxury apartments during the initial lease-up process. WhyHotel's curated spaces in hand-picked neighborhoods can be booked like a hotel for one night or for hundreds of nights, allowing guests the chance to truly settle in and spread out. #ThisIsWhyHotel

Poppy's Stuffed Bagel Holes

Poppy's Stuffed Bagel Holes offers gourmet bagel holes.

American Airlines

We’re hiring thousands of new team members in 2022. Will you be one of them? Here at American Airlines, we care for people on life’s journey — whether that’s connecting customers to the people and places they love or providing our team members development and leadership opportunities to build new skills and explore their potential. With more than 1,300 aircraft in our mainline and regional fleets combined and an extensive route network that touches six continents, we’ve got a place for you to start — or continue — your career. Whether you’re stationed at one of our hundreds of airports, working out of our state-of-the-art headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, or serving customers over the phone from your home office, there are endless opportunities for you to grow and lead at American. From our humble beginnings as a mail plane piloted by Charles Lindbergh through consolidations with other carriers big and small, we’ve become the world’s largest airline, and our future includes you. Interested in joining us for the journey of a lifetime? Sign up for job alerts by creating an account on jobs.aa.com and clicking the Create Alert button while browsing careers.

bAbsorbed is a technology that enables a business to create immersive experiences while interacting with physical objects in the world.

TheCarShareGuy

The CarShare Guy is a digital content-based resource and media website dedicated to sharing the power of the CarSharing community • Fall 2017 • Stay Tuned.

Kidventurous

Kidventurous is a family travel planner, helping moms and dads plan family travel adventures that are both educational and fun.

TripsCommerce

TripsCommerce simplifies the complex enterprise class bookings management to small and medium travel business operators. One of our main goals is to minimize the cost of starting a new travel business. You can open your own travel ecommerce website, customize your site's design without any need of techie know how, create automated travel product inventories, accept credit cards, use your own domain and everything is hosted in the cloud.

Brilatta delivers an innovative mobile solution for hotel supervisors, housekeeping and maintenance staff.

The Trip Tribe

Now tweeting @triptribe

Marriott International 

Marriott International, Inc. is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,500 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 132 countries and territories. Its heritage can be traced to a root beer stand opened in Washington, D.C., in 1927 by J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott. Marriott International is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. Marriott International does not discriminate on the basis of disability, veteran status or any other basis protected under federal, state or local laws. Community Guidelines: We reserve the right to remove without any notice content that we determine in our sole discretion is offensive or illegal, contains personally identifiable information, trademarks or copyrights belonging to a third party, advertises a third party’s products or services, or is otherwise inappropriate. Application Tips: We encourage job seekers to protect themselves from email and recruiting scams. Please note: 1) We do not accept applications via email or fax; 2) We never ask for money as part of the application process; 3) We only contact job applicants from approved email domains. Please find more information about Marriott International’s job application process and approved email address domains here: http://www.careers.marriott.com/tips-for-applying/

Routespring, Inc.

Routespring is business travel without personal credit cards. Routespring empowers your company with realtime visibility and controls that helps your team #GoFurther. Beyond technology, Routespring truly cares for people whose jobs require them to be traveling. Finding them safe, clean hotels and best flights that are cost-effective and in company budget; with a customer service that is better than the best out there.

mygola is a travel planning service that helps you create custom trip plans in minutes. With the help of thousands of curated itineraries, you can quickly find something you like and tweak it as much (or as little) to create a beautiful, custom trip plan for yourself. We're structuring the travel web to make it more comprehensible and actionable for the traveler. Raw content flows through our Robocop style (90% tech, 10% human) process to emerge as high quality, structured data. Aiming to disrupt the travel industry by capturing deep, detailed intent from travelers and becoming the gateway to all travel transactions.

Work Your Passion. Live Your Purpose.

Browser not supported

This probably isn't the experience you were expecting. Internet Explorer isn't supported on Uber.com. Try switching to a different browser to view our site.

Business traveler dos and don'ts

Traveling for work can be many things: exhilarating and productive, or exhausting and stressful. Sometimes it’s all of those rolled into one. If you’re looking for more of the former and less of the latter, some universal tips will help you when you’re on the road for business.

Here are our top 8.

Do familiarize yourself with company travel policies

There’s nothing worse than finding out that a ride to your hotel or a restaurant meal is going to cost you your own hard-earned money because it was noncompliant. Luckily, if you educate yourself before booking travel and starting your journey, it can help you get what you need and stay within policy.

Did you know? With Uber for Business , traveling employees gain access to the business hub. This lets those who are linked to their company’s account see all their sponsored travel benefits in the Uber and Uber Eats apps. View workplace programs, like business travel or meals, manage business profiles, change payment methods, and contact Support all in one place.

Do pack lightly and efficiently

Picture this: you arrive at your destination after a long travel day. You head to baggage claim, wait patiently as the suitcases drop onto the carousel, and daydream about dinner. Soon it becomes clear that your bag is nowhere to be found, and now you’re stuck without your clothes the night before a big presentation. Avoid this scenario by packing strategically and using only a carry-on. If you must check a bag, make sure you bring essentials with you on the plane.

Do plan some bleisure activities

Business travel doesn’t have to be all work and no play. If your company and your personal schedule allow for it, build in an extra day or 2 to explore your destination. Take in some sights, try some local cuisine, and make some memories that’ll last well beyond your work trip.

Do take advantage of travel perks

The savviest road warriors know how to get the most out of a business trip. Many companies have partnerships with major hotel brands or airlines, meaning business travelers can earn perks that they can put toward future personal trips. Don’t let those points or miles go to waste.

Did you know? Traveling employees can use Uber for Business to make work trips work for them. By connecting Uber and Marriott Bonvoy TM accounts, they can earn points redeemable for personal travel when they request eligible rides and order eligible meals on the road.

Don't book at the last minute

When it comes to business travel, good things don’t come to those who wait. Securing airline tickets, hotel rooms, or conference passes at the last minute can mean fewer options, less flexibility, and higher costs. Booking your travel and accommodations as early as possible can save you a potential headache and your company valuable dollars.

Did you know? With Uber Reserve, travelers can request a ride up to 90 days in advance. They can also choose from a variety of ride options, get up to 15 minutes of wait time, and cancel up to one hour before the ride at no charge. 1 Don’t get stranded without transportation, and never be late to that important meeting again.

Don't neglect health and wellness

Being on a work trip means being out of your routine, which can negatively affect sleep, diet, and fitness. It’s easy to get caught up in the hecticness and excitement, but don’t sacrifice your physical and mental well-being. Prioritizing sleep, eating nourishing meals, and getting consistent exercise are great ways to feel good not only while you’re on the road but also when you return.

Don't forgo local customs

Part of a successful trip, whether it’s for fun or for work, means operating respectfully within local culture. This is especially important for international travel, in which customs may be quite different from those of your home. Avoid faux pas by brushing up on your destination—like knowing the standards for dress, greetings, tipping, taboo topics, and cuisine—before heading out.

Don't forget to reconcile post-trip expenses

Work trips aren’t just about what happens during the booking process or at the destination. An important final step is reporting on business expenses. Make sure you’re keeping track of ground transportation, meals on the road, or other eligible expenses, and submit them within your company’s allotted deadline.

Did you know? Uber for Business expense integrations streamline the expense process for employees. Travelers’ ride and meal receipts will automatically flow directly into the company’s expense provider dashboard, saving time and cutting down on human error.

1 Wait time varies based on the vehicle option you select. Go to Uber Reserve Terms for details.

The platform

Get the best of Uber, for business—including improved cost controls and compliance.

Expense integrations

Save time with automatic expense reconciliation

Sustainability

Get clear climate metrics such as total low-emission trips and average CO₂ per mile.

We make your health and safety top priorities.

Employee benefits

All the advantages of Uber your employees already love, for business.

The dashboard

It all starts here - manage travel and meal programs with easy to set cost controls and more.

Business profiles

Help your employees connect with your company’s Uber for Business account.

Delegate booking

Enable executive assistants to arrange work transportation for executives with a delegate profile.

Request rides and deliveries on behalf of customers.

Purchase Uber gift cards in bulk for simplified giving.

Uber Health

Reimagine the way patients access care.

Offer business-class perks with an Uber One company membership.

Cover the cost of rides and meals, and pay only when used.

By use case

Holiday gifting

Celebrate the holidays with vouchers and gift cards

Business travel

Oversee your travel program with the flexibility and reporting you need.

Employee commute

Set up a stress-free commute program for your employees.

Event transport

Get attendees to and from your next event.

Employee shuttles

Offer group transportation for daily commutes, cross-campus dashes, and more.

Courtesy rides

Request rides for customers and guests with ease, even if they don't have the Uber app.

Meal programs

One platform gives you the control to provide meals in multiple ways.

Recruit, retain, and reward your employees with Uber perks they want.

Corporate gifting

Exec management

Request rides and meals for leaders.

By industry

Elevate customer service with on-demand rides.

Improve health outcomes and the patient experience by enabling better access to care.

Hospitality

Delight your guests with rides and meals.

Financial services

Keep your employees moving and your clients happy.

Offer rides and meals to employees and constituents.

Customer support

Customer service

Get in touch with us or quickly find answers to top concerns.

Help Center

For admins and coordinators to browse tips and topics.

Product updates

Check out recent updates we’ve made across our platform.

Learning hub

Explore product education, case studies, and industry insights.

Customer stories

See how innovative companies work with us.

Get the latest news from Uber for Business.

• Contact sales

Travelsoft Acquires Three Travel Tech Companies 

Justin Dawes , Skift

May 23rd, 2024 at 6:00 AM EDT

The CEO of Travelsoft said earlier this month that more acquisitions were coming.

Justin Dawes

Travelsoft said Thursday that it has acquired three tech companies. France-based Travelsoft is primarily focused on providing tech to travel agents and tour operators that streamlines the process of selling and marketing travel packages. 

The three companies Travelsoft acquired offer business-to-business services in that space:

• Spain-based TravelgateX offers a tech platform that connects lodging suppliers with sellers. 
• UK-based Atcore Technology offers a reservation and inventory platform for tour operators as well as tech to package, price and distribute travel packages.
• Romania-based Travel Connection Technology offers a tech platform to integrate contracting, inventory management, sales channels, booking management, and financial accounts.

Each of the companies will maintain autonomy, Travelsoft said. That includes keeping brand names, leadership teams, and their tech platforms.

The acquisition prices were not disclosed, but here are a few other details:

• The deal nearly triples Travelsoft’s employee base to 600.
• Travelsoft says its platforms now facilitate bookings worth a total of €35 billion ($37.9 billion). Before the deal, that number was €5 billion ($5.4 billion).
• The company said it now has recurring revenues totaling €100 million ($108.3 million) annually, up from €43 million ($46.6 million).
• Travelsoft now has 400 major clients, up from 300, as well as 1,000 travel suppliers, up from 600

An Acquisition Spree

This is the sixth acquisition for Travelsoft since 2022 – there are now seven companies under the group’s umbrella.

Travelsoft earlier this year acquired Eventiz Group , which owns three publications and hosts events geared toward the French tourism and business travel industry. The company had been struggling financially and was following a court-supervised restructuring process and a plan to pay back its creditors.

Travelsoft’s first portfolio company was Orchestra, and then it acquired Germany-based Traffics in 2022 and Spain-based Travel Compositor in 2023 . 

Private investment firm Capza invested in Travelsoft in 2023 and became a minor shareholder. That investment has enabled Travelsoft’s acquisition spree, the company said.

Industry experts are saying that the industry is ripe for consolidation, and that’s been showed with multiple deal announcements over the past few weeks alone. Hotel tech startup Mews, for example, made its ninth acquistion this month.

Investment bank AGC Partners is among those that believe merger and acquisition activity is on the rise. The company published an analysis on the topic last month that said the pieces are in place for more deals.

Those pieces include an improving funding environment and the fact that tech private equity firms have about $300 billion to deploy, AGC said. “The real action is yet to come,” AGC stated.

Among their strategies, those firms are investing in companies like Mews and Travelsoft to finance their growth via acquisition.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: mergers and acquisitions , the prompt , travelsoft

Photo credit: Travelsoft has acquired three companies. Pixabay

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

How to Get the Best Car Insurance

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

For a lot of people, buying car insurance is like buying sliced bread. It’s not the most exciting purchase, and the options all seem similar. So thrifty shoppers might simply reach for the cheapest thing on the shelf. But like cheap bread, cheap car insurance may leave you wishing you spent a little more on quality.

“The cheapest is not always the best,” warns Jessica McNally, an agency owner with Goosehead Insurance in Dallas. That’s because there are lots of factors that make up a car insurance company. And while price is one of them, it’s best to look at the bigger picture.

Here’s what to look for when picking the best car insurance company.

1. Choose a financially stable company

The best car insurance companies have plenty of money on hand to pay for customers’ claims. It’s important to check an insurer’s financial stability before buying a policy, especially if it’s a smaller insurer you’ve never heard of.

There are several independent agencies that evaluate the financial strength of insurance companies. One example is A.M. Best. You can use its online search tool to find an insurer’s financial strength rating. Companies with a rating of A or higher are considered to have an excellent ability to pay out customer claims.

2. Check customer satisfaction ratings and reviews

Not every insurer is customer-first. That’s why it’s important to research the customer satisfaction of insurers you’re considering.

You can turn to surveys from companies like J.D. Power to find insurers with the best customer satisfaction scores [0] J.D. Power . Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Plummets as Rates Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds . Accessed May 21, 2024. View all sources . Or, if you don’t mind doing a little detective work, you can compare customer complaints against insurers by using the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ website . But take other people’s emotionally charged comments about companies or agents you might read online with a grain of salt, McNally advises.

3. Look for convenience

A great auto insurer should offer multiple ways to manage a policy. For example, some insurers allow customers to use a mobile app to file and track claims. But it’s hard to tell how simple it’ll be to file a claim or perform other essential tasks, like paying your premium, before becoming a customer.

Some telltale signs that an insurer will be easy to work with are high mobile app ratings, flexible customer service hours and an easy-to-use website with helpful content. Consider asking a company representative to walk you through the claims process to learn what you’ll need to do if you have to file a claim. And pay attention to how the company communicates with you. "If they don't properly communicate, well, that's a warning sign," says Michael DeLong, a research and advocacy associate for the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America.

4. Pick an affordable company

Car insurance premiums are stretching to record-breaking heights [0] U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS . Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) . Accessed May 21, 2024. View all sources , and almost half of U.S. consumers shopped for a new car insurance policy in the past year, according to an April 2024 report by J.D. Power [0] J.D. Power . Half of Auto Insurance Customers Currently Shopping for New Policies, J.D. Power Finds . Accessed May 21, 2024. View all sources . The best car insurance companies offer competitive rates and a variety of potential discounts.

It’s not hard to get car insurance quotes online from many companies. Make sure you compare the same coverage options throughout the quote-gathering process. And don’t forget to look for car insurance discounts, like breaks for being a good driver, paying your premium in full or driving a new car.

More tips to find the best car insurance

When shopping for the best car insurance, keep the following tips in mind.

Assess your needs. Before buying car insurance, take a moment to reflect on what’s important to you and your family. For example, maybe you prioritize affordability and a well-polished mobile app, but don’t need accident forgiveness .  

Consider small insurers. There are lots of small insurance companies you’ve probably never heard of. These regional insurers may provide lower rates and better customer service than the big companies you see advertised on TV.

Work with an independent agent. While it may be easy to get quotes yourself, independent car insurance agents and brokers can streamline the process. These experts vet companies and compile quotes from small and large insurers on your behalf. Independent agents and brokers can especially come in handy if you have a less-than-perfect driving record and can’t find insurance on your own.

Do your research. Search online for recent mentions of a company in the news before buying a policy, recommends DeLong. If you find a company has lots of recent lawsuits against it, you may want to think twice about signing on the dotted line. “And if they've had to pay out settlements, that's an even bigger red flag,” DeLong says.

Shop around once a year. Make a practice of shopping for car insurance every year — especially if price is important to you. Insurers adjust car insurance rates regularly, so what might have been the most affordable option last year may no longer be a bargain.

On a similar note...

Free car insurance comparison

Instantly compare top auto insurance companies.

• My View My View
• Following Following
• Saved Saved

Viking gains after wave of bullish Wall Street coverage initiations

• Medium Text

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

What does the street say.

Sign up here.

Reporting by Granth Vanaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

Thomson Reuters

Granth reports on the North American Consumer and Retail sector, covering a broad range of companies from consumer packaged goods and restaurants to department stores and apparel retailers. Granth's work on the website usually appears on the Retail & Consumer page of Reuters Business section. He holds a post-graduate degree in international relations and area studies and has previously worked as a research analyst.

Business Chevron

Yen's relentless slide revives Japan's interest in structural reforms

Japanese policymakers are turning their attention to more structural economic factors behind persistent yen declines, convinced that market intervention is limited in its ability to reverse the currency's broader slide.

Small Business Trends

Don’t miss techspo washington dc for the latest in tech.

Explore exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge technology and innovation at TECHSPO Washington DC, a two-day expo on July 1-2, 2024. Discover how these advancements can drive your business growth and network with tech enthusiasts, developers, and industry leaders.

This event includes DigiMarCon America, a limited-attendance conference for digital marketing, media, and advertising. Register today to learn, network, and engage with the latest in tech evolution.

Register Now

Featured Events, Contests and Awards

More events.

• Risks and rewards in investing in apartments May 30, 2024, San Jose, CA
• TECHSPO Washington DC 2024 Technology Expo (Internet ~ Mobile ~ AdTech ~ MarTech ~ SaaS) June 01, 2024, Online
• San Francisco Design Week 2024 June 03, 2024, San Francisco, CA
• Marketing Analytics Summit 2024 June 06, 2024, Phoenix, Arizona
• TECHSPO Detroit 2024 Technology Expo (Internet ~ Mobile ~ AdTech ~ MarTech ~ SaaS) June 06, 2024, Detroit, Michigan
• GGBA 50th Anniversary | Power Connect 2024 June 07, 2024, San Francisco, CA
• DigiMarCon New England 2024 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition June 10, 2024, Boston, United States of America
• TECHSPO Boston 2024 Technology Expo (Internet ~ Mobile ~ AdTech ~ MarTech ~ SaaS) June 10, 2024, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
• Immersive Training & Networking for Digital Marketers June 10, 2024, Denver, Colorado
• TECHSPO Philadelphia 2024 Technology Expo (Internet ~ Mobile ~ AdTech ~ MarTech ~ SaaS) June 17, 2024, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• TECHSPO Atlanta 2024 Technology Expo (Internet ~ Mobile ~ AdTech ~ MarTech ~ SaaS) June 20, 2024, Atlanta, Georgia
• TECHSPO San Francisco 2024 Technology Expo (Internet ~ Mobile ~ AdTech ~ MarTech ~ SaaS) July 08, 2024, Online
• DigiMarCon Silicon Valley 2024 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition July 08, 2024, San Francisco, California
• DigiMarCon Texas 2024 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference & Exhibition July 11, 2024, Dallas, Texas
• LEAP TA: Retail 2024 July 17, 2024, Nashville, United States
• DigiMarCon Hawaii & Pacific 2024 – Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference July 18, 2024, Honolulu, Hawaii
• Advancing Construction Cybersecurity 2024 July 29, 2024, Dallas, Texas
• Strategic Staffing in Life Sciences July 30, 2024, Online
• Immersive Training & Networking for Digital Marketers July 31, 2024, Alexandria, Virginia
• Immersive Training & Networking for Digital Marketers August 14, 2024, Minneapolis, Minnesota

More Contests

This weekly listing of small business events, contests and awards is provided as a community service by Small Business Trends .

You can see a full list of events, contest and award listings or post your own events by visiting the Small Business Events Calendar .

Image: Envato

© Copyright 2003 - 2024, Small Business Trends LLC. All rights reserved. "Small Business Trends" is a registered trademark.

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Prepare to feel smug — this is the world’s cleverest city

Share this with

What makes a city clever? Is it the number of museums , the books people read on the underground, or their formal educational attainments ? And does it really matter?

New data has ranked the world’s cleverest cities , and Londoners, prepare to feel smug: our city is the smartest in the world.

It’s no secret that London is home to an array of hotpots that are relatively good indicators of human capital, from museums to universities.

In fact, the Big Smoke houses around 40 educational institutions in and around London, including the prestigious London School of Economics and Imperial College London, as well as more than 200 museums and 800 art galleries.

The data was produced by Oxford Economics , assessing global cities and their economic index and ranking on economics, human capital (AKA, cleverness), quality of life, environment and governance.

Meanwhile, Tokyo came in second place (92.3) and Riyadh third (91.4). But surprisingly, one US hotspot is further down the list than you might expect.

With a population of 6.4 million, Washington DC might be the political capital of the United States, but it only ranks as the seventh cleverest city in the world. However, there are two other US cities in the top 10, with New York City coming in fourth and Boston at number 10.

Bordering Maryland and Virginia, Washington DC is famous for the three iconic political buildings that house the federal government ’s branches: the Capitol, White House and Supreme Court.

It’s also home to the largest library in the world, as well as an impressive number of universities (17!), including George Washington, Georgetown and Howard – all factors which contribute to its human capital scoring, which takes into consideration educational attainment, universities, corporate headquarters, population growth, age profile and percentage of foreign-born population.

Likewise, when it comes to employment, there are a high number of well-paid government roles boosting levels of income per person, as well as numerous foreign diplomats that are stationed in the capital, all of which boost both the city’s educational attainment level, income and GDP, which per person works out at $110,300 or an overall figure of $706 billion.

Elsewhere, the research concluded that New York is the best city in the world purely based on ‘important economic contributions to the global economy,’ as well as being a ‘hub for education and business innovation, invest[ing] in the infrastructure necessary to maintain a high quality of life.’

On that front, our beloved London came in second place. And though it scored as 7 th in the world in terms of economics, it ranked 292 nd for quality of life, 197 th for environment and 72 nd for governance. Eek.

Your Daily Horoscope

Daily horoscope today: May 30, 2024 astrological predictions for your star sign

So, the next time you’re on the tube, have a look around to see what everyone’s reading, because we’re the cleverest city in the world (at least, for now). Go forth and prosper, bookworms.

The cleverest cities in the world, according to Oxford Economics

• London, United Kingdom: 100.0
• Tokyo, Japan: 92.3
• Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 91.4
• New York, United States: 89.4
• Seoul, South Korea: 86.7
• Paris, France: 85.9
• Washington DC, United States: 83.8
• Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: 83.4
• Sydney, Australia: 81.3
• Boston, United States: 81.2.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing [email protected] .

MORE : Conjoined twins share never-before-seen wedding photos

MORE : Mother killed diabetic daughter, 4, by feeding her mostly Mountain Dew

MORE : Trump ‘promised to throw pro-Palestinian protesters out of the country’

Get need-to-know travel news, inspiration and advice from Metro every week.

Sign up here....

Privacy Policy

Mixed-race, dark hair in a ponytail, light-blue denim type jacket, white…

To the pretty lady in yoga pants, a T-shirt, sneakers and shades, pulling…

Enter your birthday for your free daily horoscope sent straight to your inbox!

Get us in your feed

Advertisement

Supported by

Why Is Car Insurance So Expensive?

Soaring premiums have become a prominent driver of inflation, and insurers say that more increases could be on the way. How did it get like this?

• Share full article

By Emily Flitter

If your car broke down two years ago, it probably became a bigger problem than you bargained for.

A confluence of forces were to blame: The Covid pandemic disrupted supply chains, pushing used car prices to record highs and making spare parts hard to get; out-of-practice drivers emerging from lockdowns caused more severe wrecks; and technological advancements like motion sensors made even the simplest parts, like a fender or a rim, expensive to replace .

Things have since improved for car owners — except when it comes to insurance bills. Car insurers are still raising prices steeply: The price of motor vehicle insurance rose more than 22 percent in the year through April, the fastest pace since the 1970s, according to a report the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday. According to calculations by the Insurance Information Institute, a trade group, the average 12-month premium for car insurance was $1,280 in 2023, the industry’s most recent figures.

That has made car insurance a prominent factor preventing overall inflation from cooling more quickly, which could force the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates higher for longer even as the prices for many other essential goods and services have slowed.

Geico recently reported a big jump in quarterly profit on higher premiums and lower customer claims. The share prices of other big auto insurers, like Allstate and Progressive, have beaten the rise in the overall market this year.

That has attracted scrutiny from economists . A key reason car insurance costs are rising so fast right now has to do with how the industry is regulated.

How does insurance regulation work?

Insurers are regulated by the states, not the federal government. In all 50 states, insurance companies must follow specific rules about how and when they can raise the price on their policies.

Each state’s laws are broadly similar, and require insurers to ask regulators for permission to raise prices. Insurers have to make a case — with data to back it up — that the increase is necessary and that they will not make too large a profit on the re-priced policies. This application, known in the business as a “rate filing,” involves complicated paperwork that may take weeks or months to resolve.

The data has to include an analysis of loss trends from the past couple of years, as well as projections for replacement costs and profits. If insurers are deemed to profit too heavily, regulators can make them return money to customers.

The threat of returning money is not an idle one. At the height of pandemic lockdowns in 2020, when many cars sat idle, insurers returned almost $13 billion to customers through dividends, refund checks and premium reductions for policy renewals, according to the insurance ratings agency AM Best.

California was one of the most active states: Insurers there returned $3.2 billion to customers in 2020.

Ricardo Lara, the state’s insurance commissioner, “directed the department to do a very close analysis to make sure that drivers weren’t overcharged,” said Michael Soller, a spokesman for the California Department of Insurance. But starting in late 2021, the state became the poster child for a new problem: an epic backlog of insurers’ requests to raise prices.

How a massive paperwork jam explains rising prices.

When the pandemic shut down most economic activity, it messed up insurers’ ability to use the past to predict the future. For months, they were frozen. They did not submit new rate filings to regulators for a spell — until they did, all at once, in the second half of 2021.

The prices of cars and parts were jumping and drivers were back on the roads and crashing left and right after a hiatus behind the wheel.

“You went from this period of incredible profitability to incredible losses in the blink of an eye,” said Tim Zawacki, an analyst who focuses on insurance at S&P Global Market Intelligence. No companies were willing to stick their necks out by offering lower premiums in the hope of winning new business, he said.

“Everyone was together in significantly pushing for rate increases.”

In California, the most populous U.S. state, insurers were getting creamed by expensive claims.

But the state’s regulator did not start approving insurers’ requests to raise rates until near the end of 2022. The backlog grew so large that the average wait time for approvals was longer — by several months — than the six-month policies that insurers wanted to sell.

“When state regulators delay or prevent companies from accurately pricing insurance, insurers may not be able to absorb the costs,” said Neil Alldredge, the president of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, a trade group that represents many home and auto insurers. The squeeze can lead insurers to leave some states or stop some business lines, he added. “Inefficient regulatory environments in states like California, New Jersey and New York, combined with inflation and increased catastrophic losses, have left consumers with fewer choices of insurers and higher costs,” he said.

California is still the slowest state in the continental United States for auto insurance rate filings, taking an average of 219 days to approve a price proposal for a personal auto policy, according to S&P data provided by Mr. Zawacki.

“We fight for consumers by analyzing all of the data, not just what insurance companies spoon-feed us,” Mr. Soller, the California Department of Insurance spokesman, said.

The S&P analysis showed that New Jersey, the 11th-most populous state, had the sixth-longest wait time, while New York, with the fourth-largest population, had the 7th-longest wait times.

“The department performs a comprehensive review of requests to amend rates or rating systems to ensure compliance with New Jersey law,” said Dawn Thomas, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance.

Ms. Thomas said the regulator needed to ensure that each proposed premium increase was “reasonable, adequate, and not unfairly discriminatory,” and that sometimes the insurers’ requests needed to be challenged or denied.

A spokeswoman for New York’s regulator declined to comment.

When will the jam clear?

Shortly before the pandemic, the umbrella organization for state insurance regulators, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, formed a team of data scientists to help regulators deal with their rate filings, which has gotten more complicated in recent years.

The data team became fully operational in 2021 and its mission is now to help speed up the review process: 37 states have signed up to use it.

This month, during a call with analysts to discuss Allstate’s earnings, company representatives said they had recently reopened their California auto insurance business after getting permission to charge higher rates. The company still wanted to raise prices in other states.

In New York and New Jersey, for example, “even with the rate approvals that we got late last year, we still don’t feel like we’re at the appropriate rate level to want to grow in those two states,” said Mario Rizzo, the president of Allstate’s property-casualty business.

How much higher will premiums go?

In 2021, insurers’ personal auto businesses started recording losses. According to David Blades, an analyst for AM Best, the industry lost $4 billion in 2021, $33 billion in 2022 and roughly $17 billion last year.

According to Dale Porfilio, the chief insurance officer at the Insurance Information Institute, the trade group, many companies still need to raise prices to make up for those bad years.

Last year, insurers raised auto premiums by 14 percent, the biggest increase in over 15 years. Mr. Porfilio’s best guess is that premiums this year will rise another 13 percent.

“It’s going to take time for every company to get their rates to where they want to be,” he said.

Emily Flitter writes about finance and how it impacts society. More about Emily Flitter

Virginia-based tech firm settles allegations over whites-only job listing

The Associated Press

May 28, 2024, 12:03 PM

• Share This:
• share on facebook
• share on threads
• share on linkedin
• share on email

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — A northern Virginia tech company is paying $38,500 to settle claims that it discriminated by posting a job listing seeking white, U.S.-born candidates for an opening as a business analyst.

The Justice Department announced Thursday that it had reached a settlement agreement with Arthur Grand Technologies, an information technology firm in Ashburn, Virginia.

The company listed the business analyst job online in March 2023, specifically seeking “Only Born US Citizens (White) who are local within 60 miles from Dallas, TX (Don’t share with candidates).”

“It is shameful that in the 21st century, we continue to see employers using ‘whites only’ and ‘only US born’ job postings to lock out otherwise eligible job candidates of color” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s civil rights division in a statement. “I share the public’s outrage at Arthur Grand’s appalling and discriminatory ban on job candidates based on citizenship status, national origin, color and race.”

In the settlement agreement, the company said the ad was “generated by a disgruntled recruiter in India and was intended to embarrass the company,” and that it never intended to dissuade non-citizens from applying.

Arthur Grand did not return a call and email Tuesday seeking comment.

The settlement includes a $7,500 penalty to settle a Justice Department investigation and $31,000 as part of a settlement with the Labor Department to compensate individuals who filed complaints alleging they were discriminated against by the advertisement.

The agreement also requires Arthur Grand to train its personnel on the requirements of the federal hiring and discrimination laws and revise its employment policies.

In 2019, another northern Virginia tech firm, Cynet Systems, apologized after posting an online ad seeking “preferably Caucasian” applicants for an account manager job in Florida.

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

Related News

Power outages could linger for days after storms batter Texas again, leaving 1 dead

Michigan willing to spend millions to restore Flint properties ripped up by pipe replacement

Jury deliberations begin in trial of Idaho man charged in triple-murder case

Recommended.

Culpeper family describes being picked up and thrown by tornado

DC Council considers naming city's official amphibian

‘Gateway to culture’: How Rasa owners are using their experiences to make Indian food more accessible

Related categories:.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

House signs off on FAA bill that addresses aircraft safety and the refund rights of passengers

FILE - A Federal Aviation Administration sign hangs in the tower at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, March 16, 2017. Congressional negotiators have agreed on a $105 billion bill designed to improve the safety of air travel after a series of close calls between planes at the nation’s airports. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

• Copy Link copied

Congress gave final approval Wednesday to a $105 billion bill designed to increase the number of air traffic controllers, add more safety inspectors at aircraft factories, and require airlines to automatically pay refunds to travelers whose flights are canceled or significantly delayed.

The House passed the measure to reauthorize Federal Aviation Administration programs by a 387-26 margin and sent it to President Joe Biden. The Senate passed the measure last week .

Supporters called the provisions of the legislation a key step in improving aviation safety after a number of close calls between planes at U.S. airports in the last two years.

“This bill recognizes while our aviation system is safe, we have to continue raising the bar for safety,” said Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., chairman of the House Transportation Committee, which produced the first version of the legislation 10 months ago.

The Republicans and Democrats who lead the key aviation committees in the House and Senate negotiated over the bill’s final shape last month, then fought off amendments that might have slowed the measure’s passage.

One of the most contentious issues turned out to be the addition of 10 long-haul flights a day to and from Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C. Lawmakers from Virginia and Maryland tried to kill the provision.

Rep. Donald Beyer, D-Va., said the extra flights would “aggravate dangerous conditions” and cause more flight delays at the busy airport across the Potomac River from the nation’s capital. But lawmakers from Western states, including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, fought for the flights, as did Delta Air Lines.

The final version of the law authorizing FAA and National Transportation Safety Board programs for the next five years checked in at more than 1,000 pages. Congress has been critical of the FAA since it approved Boeing 737 Max jets that were involved in two deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019.

The bill’s major provisions include directing the FAA to hire more air traffic controllers and safety inspectors, to increase the use of collision-avoidance technology at airports and to improve access for passengers with disabilities.

It also bans airlines from charging fees to let families sit together and requires them to issue automatic refunds when flights are canceled or delayed for several hours.

Airlines are suing the Biden administration to block a new Transportation Department rule on the automatic refunds , and inclusion of the provision in law could help the administration’s legal case. Graves said the issue could lead to higher fares or result in refunds to travelers who would prefer being booked on another flight, but it didn’t prevent him from supporting the bill.

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

Government sues Ticketmaster owner and asks court to break up company's monopoly on live events

The Justice Department has sued Ticketmaster and its parent company, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department sued Ticketmaster and its parent company Thursday, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America and asking a court to break up the system that squelches competition and drives up prices for fans.

Filed in federal court in Manhattan, the sweeping antitrust lawsuit was brought with 30 state and district attorneys general and seeks to dismantle the monopoly they say is squeezing out smaller promoters, hurting artists and drowning ticket buyers in fees. Ticketmaster and its owner, Live Nation Entertainment, have a long history of clashes with major artists and their fans, including Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen.

“It’s time for fans and artists to stop paying the price for Live Nation’s monopoly,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said. “It is time to restore competition and innovation in the entertainment industry. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster.”

The government accused Live Nation of tactics — including threats and retaliation — that Garland said have allowed the entertainment giant to “suffocate the competition” by controlling virtually every aspect of the industry, from concert promotion to ticketing. The impact is seen in an “endless list of fees on fans,” the attorney general said.

GET CAUGHT UP Summarized stories to quickly stay informed

How a paperwork glitch is hurting student loan borrowers’ credit scores

Babies exposed to peanuts less likely to be allergic years later, study says

Lawsuit says American Airlines kicked 8 Black men off plane, citing body odor

Most D.C.-area sports fans dislike or hate Commanders’ name, poll finds

“Live music should not be available only to those who can afford to pay the Ticketmaster tax,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division.

Ricky Palitti and Jacob DeLong of Detroit said they recently spent about $1,200 for three tickets to a Shania Twain concert using Ticketmaster and about $370 to see RuPaul’s Drag Race Live.

“I think tickets have definitely gone up in price, but I also think that all the different fees that Ticketmaster places on an order definitely hikes the price up, for sure,” Palitti said.

DeLong said that while he respects an artist’s work, the added fees make the costs to see a show “ridiculous.”

“Where can we get a break?” he said.

Live Nation, which has for years denied that it is violating antitrust laws, said the lawsuit “won’t solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices, service fees and access to in-demand shows.”

“Calling Ticketmaster a monopoly may be a PR win for the DOJ in the short term, but it will lose in court because it ignores the basic economics of live entertainment,” Live Nation added. It said most service fees go to venues and that outside competition has ”steadily eroded” Ticketmaster’s market share. The company said it would defend itself against the “baseless allegations.”

The Justice Department said Live Nation’s anti-competitive practices include using long-term contracts to keep venues from choosing rivals, blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers and threatening venues that they could lose money if they don’t choose Ticketmaster.

In 2021, the concert giant threatened to financially retaliate against a firm if one of its portfolio companies didn’t stop competing with Live Nation for artist promotion contracts, the Justice Department alleged. Live Nation has also scooped up smaller promoters it viewed as a threats, officials said.

Michael Carrier, a professor at Rutgers Law School who specializes in antitrust litigation, said the Justice Department has a strong case. He expects Live Nation to “try to cast blame elsewhere,” such as arguing that prices are set by artists or venues, but he said those explanations are weak.

“The DOJ showed how Live Nation really has its tentacles in each element of the supply chain, which means that it has a lot more control than it is letting on,” he said. “And, in terms of justifications, there is really very little that (Live Nation) can offer in terms of how they’re helping the consumer.”

The complaint said a breakup between Live Nation and Ticketmaster is on the table. That, combined with other remedies such as preventing some exclusive deals that shackle competition, could potentially help fans see lower ticket prices, give artists more agency in choosing venues and boost smaller promoters’ success in the long run, Carrier said.

Ticketmaster, which merged with Live Nation in 2010, is the world’s largest ticket seller across live music, sports, theater and more. During its annual report last month, the company said Ticketmaster distributed more than 620 million tickets through its systems in 2023.

Around 70% of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster, according to data in a federal lawsuit filed by consumers in 2022. The company owns or controls more than 265 of North America’s concert venues and dozens of top amphitheaters, according to the Justice Department.

Live Nation’s footprint has grown substantially over the past 10 years, according to the company’s annual financial reports. Between the end of 2014 and the end of 2023, Live Nation reported a worldwide increase of more than 136% in terms of venues the company “owned, leased, operated, had exclusive booking rights for or had an equity interest over which we had a significant influence.”

The ticket seller sparked outrage in November 2022 when its site crashed during a presale event for a Taylor Swift stadium tour . The company said the site was overwhelmed by both fans and attacks from bots, which were posing as consumers to scoop up tickets and sell them on secondary sites. The debacle prompted congressional hearings and bills in state legislatures aimed at better protecting consumers.

The Justice Department allowed Live Nation and Ticketmaster to merge as long as Live Nation agreed not to retaliate against concert venues for using other ticket companies for 10 years. In 2019, the department investigated and found that Live Nation had repeatedly violated that agreement. The government then extended the prohibition on retaliating against concert venues to 2025.

“It’s a failure of past antitrust. And it’s something that rips customers off every day,” said John Kwoka, a professor of economics at Northeastern University who was also a consultant for the states that ran a 2009 investigation in parallel with the Justice Department into Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s original merger.

Kwoka, who is among those who have long advocated for a breakup, notes that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have remained “largely unchecked” over the last 15 years.

Ticketmaster’s clashes with artists and fans date back three decades. Pearl Jam took aim at the company in 1994, years before the Live Nation merger, although the Justice Department ultimately declined to bring a case. More recently, Bruce Springsteen fans were enraged over high ticket costs because of the platform’s dynamic pricing system.

Live Nation has maintained that artists and teams set prices and decide how tickets are sold. The company’s executive vice president of corporate and regulatory affairs, Dan Wall, said in a statement Thursday that factors such as increasing production costs, artist popularity and online ticket scalping are “actually responsible for higher ticket prices.”

The Justice Department lawsuit filed Thursday is the latest example of the Biden administration’s aggressive antitrust enforcement. The effort has targeted companies accused of engaging in illegal monopolies that box out competitors and drive up prices. In March, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Apple alleging that the tech giant has monopoly power in the smartphone market . The Democratic administration has also taken on Google, Amazon and other tech giants.

Grantham-Philips reported from New York. Associated Press reporters Michelle Chapman and Maria Sherman in New York, Christopher L. Keller in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and video journalist Ty O’Neil in Las Vegas contributed.