Relationship with TMC Key to Travel Manager’s Success

Why is the relationship with your Travel Management Company the key to success?

As travel services manager for a 4000-employee business and personal insurance provider, Jenna Joswick thought she knew everything her online booking tool offered. It wasn’t until the mutual insurance company contracted with Fox World Travel as their travel management company that she became aware of some lesser known, but extremely helpful, features of the tool.

 

“During the implementation process with Fox, I was asked in-depth questions about our travel program and specific traveler needs,” remembers Joswick. “Fox helped us uncover how we could get exactly what we needed from our booking tool.”

 

That was just the beginning of the proactive assistance Joswick receives from the relationship with Fox. She says she didn’t have a permanent contact at the previous TMC and finds her connection with Fox’s Client Solutions Manager, Jennifer Terpstra, to be the biggest game-changer. “She’s always willing to share new tools and tricks to help better our company’s travel program,” says Joswick.

 

That proactivity is especially beneficial to Joswick who not only leads the company’s travel program, but also works with procurement to analyze travel program contracts, manages a team of flight attendants and schedules aircraft all out of the organization’s corporate hangar. “With my varied responsibilities, I know I can rely on Jennifer and Fox,” says Joswick. “We meet every other week to review any issues. If Jennifer doesn’t have the answer, she acts as a conduit to other Fox experts to find a solution.”

 

In addition to uncovering some new booking tool configurations, Jennifer and the Fox team have assisted the insurance provider in building airline programs, adding a flight monitoring service and streamlining credit card reconciliation. With credit card reconciliation, the organization spends days manually calculating via an Excel spreadsheet.

 

“Fox came forward with a solution,” says Joswick. “We will literally get days back in our month thanks to Jennifer’s suggestion.”

 

For Joswick, the positive travel manager experience she’s had with Fox comes down to the support she’s received from Terpstra and the entire Fox team. “I have a lot going on, so knowing Jennifer is always there is very reassuring,” says Joswick. “The open lines of communication and constant support helps us deliver a better travel program for our travelers.”

Learn more about our business travel management team. We want you to expect more from your travel management company, and we are here to help!

 

 

Fox Supports Strong Customer Experience at Provisur

Insight from Marie Hodges: Travel & Expense Manager for Provisur Technologies

When it comes to traveler experience, Provisur Technologies Travel & Expense Manager, Marie Hodges has high expectations of Travel Management Companies (TMCs). That’s because she spent the first 10 years of her career in operations at some well-known TMCs before transitioning to corporate travel program management. In 2020, she began leading the travel program at Provisur, an industrial food processing equipment manufacturer, just as Fox World Travel was being implemented.

“I really do have high expectations because I know how it’s supposed to work,” says Hodges. “From my experience with all parts of the organization, I can tell that Fox is customer and traveler service driven.”

She sees that through all aspects of the relationship, whether it’s a VIP traveler experience with Fox’s VIP360, a reservation with a Fox agent, or service from Fox’s Client Solutions Manager assigned to Provisur. Fortunately, it’s been rare that Provisur’s C-Suite travelers have experienced in-depth issues triggering VIP services, but Hodges says it’s reassuring just knowing Fox agents are monitoring every piece of the reservation.

“I love that the agents are so hands-on and fast in responding when needed,” she says. “One of our VIPs travels out of a Utah location that often has weather. The agents keep him in the loop and deal with him directly to rearrange when issues do arise.”

Outside of VIP services, Provisur travelers make use of all the booking methods available to them—online booking, calling an agent, or starting a chat.

“It’s great that our travelers have so many options available to them,” says Hodges. “I’m always surprised how many people actually call an agent, but it’s great they can get personal attention from an experienced agent who knows our program.”

Hodges pays attention to traveler feedback to fully understand the traveler experience.

“I know my travelers appreciate Fox World Travel,” she says. “They can book any way that’s comfortable to them and get it taken care of quickly.”

She feels the same about her experience as a travel manager with Fox.

“I really like that Fox has the one-stop-shop for me as a travel manager,” Hodges says. “I know I can go to my Client Solutions Manager and she will get any issue handled with the other experts at Fox.”

 

 

Fox World Travel promotes Jeff Saydah to director, global client solutions

OSHKOSH, Wis. (Dec. 8, 2022) – Fox World Travel is pleased to announce the promotion of Jeff Saydah to director of global client solutions. In this role, Saydah will be responsible for leading the client solutions team by delivering exceptional service without boundaries using our innovative technology services, customer support and leading industry expertise for Fox customers.

Jeff has 20 years of travel industry experience and joined the Fox family in 2017 as an integral member of the client solutions team. In 2019, Jeff was promoted to Global Client Solutions Manager recognizing his depth of multinational experience and success.

He has expertly managed and grown many of Fox’s most significant and complex global customers. Jeff’s analytical skills have supported many cover the years and helped elevate the team’s approach with quarterly business reviews, business consultation and data analysis.

Since joining Fox, Jeff has maintained an incredible 100% account retention rate.

“I believe that the client solutions team at Fox is the strongest in the travel industry.  I am honored to lead this team, with a goal to help each team member continue to develop in our key role of providing our customers the information and consulting advice needed to successfully manage and strengthen their travel programs.” said Saydah.

“Jeff’s dedication and drive to continuously deliver creative solutions and innovate with our customers has strengthened our client solutions team. I am excited to collaborate with Jeff as he leads the continued elevation and growth of our team,” shared George Kalka, vp of business travel at Fox World Travel.

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About Fox World Travel

Fox World Travel’s commitment to both business and personal travel has made them one of the top travel companies in the country. Recognized on the Travel Weekly Power List, Fox World Travel provides customers personalized travel service that stems from a team of experts. Based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Fox World Travel employs more than 200 associates averaging more than seven years of service.

 

Media Contact:

Raquel Lamal

Red Shoes Inc.

(920) 574-3253

raquel@redshoesinc.com