Why Every Business Needs an Online Travel Agency
Noya Shkolnik
•10 Jan 2025•
The way we travel has dramatically changed in the past two decades. Gone are the days when traditional travel agents stood as gatekeepers to booking flights, hotels, and transportation.
Today, online travel agencies (OTAs) have taken over the spotlight as digital concierges that offer unmatched efficiency, flexibility, and convenience for planning and managing travel.
In this article, we’ll explore what an online travel agency is, its benefits, and why it’s essential for modern companies. If you want to streamline corporate travel or simplify your next team getaway, you’ll also learn how to choose the right OTA.
What Is an Online Travel Agency?
An online travel agency is a web or app-based platform that allows individuals and businesses to research, book, and manage travel arrangements, including flights, accommodations, and car rentals. Think of it as a one-stop shop for all your travel needs, accessible 24/7.
Unlike traditional travel agencies, OTAs leverage automation and vast supplier networks to offer competitive pricing and a user-friendly interface.
The Benefits of Online Travel Agencies
Online travel agencies have revolutionized how we plan trips by adding unprecedented ease, efficiency, and affordability to the process. Whether you’re managing a corporate itinerary or booking your next vacation, OTAs offer many advantages that make travel planning a breeze.
Here’s a closer look at why so many travelers and companies alike rely on these platforms.
1. Convenience at Your Fingertips
You can compare thousands of options with online travel agencies and finalize bookings in minutes. Need a flight to New York and a hotel in the city center? It’s just a few clicks away.
2. Cost Savings Through Comparison
OTAs aggregate prices from multiple airlines, hotels, and service providers that allow the end user to compare options side by side. Many platforms also offer exclusive discounts and loyalty programs.
3. Personalized Experiences
Thanks to data-driven algorithms, OTAs can suggest tailored travel options based on preferences, previous bookings, and even industry trends.
4. Transparency
Most OTAs display detailed pricing breakdowns, telling you exactly what you’re paying for without hidden fees.
5. Global Reach
Need to organize travel for a conference in Singapore? Or a retreat in the Alps? Online travel agencies make it easy to manage international travel without complicated logistics.
Why Online Travel Agencies Are Essential for Business Travel
Business travel isn’t just about getting from point A to Point B — it’s about creating seamless, efficient experiences that support an organization’s success.
While online travel agencies (OTAs) offer great tools for booking travel, pairing them with a travel management company (TMC) creates a more robust solution.
Here’s why the combination of an OTA and a TMC is a game-changer for business travel:
1. Streamlined Booking Processes
OTAs centralize booking processes, making it easy to search and reserve flights, hotels, and more in one platform. But a TMC adds an extra layer by tailoring these options to meet your company’s unique travel policies and goals, ensuring every booking aligns with your business needs.
2. Policy Compliance
ome advanced OTAs integrate business travel policies directly into their platforms. Employees see which options meet company guidelines — an important step toward reducing the risk of unauthorized expenses. However, TMCs take compliance a step further by proactively managing adherence or flagging potential policy breaches — reducing the risk of unauthorized expenses.
3. Proactive Expense Management
Online travel agencies offer tools for tracking travel spend, but travel management companies allow businesses to monitor and control travel spending in real time. Many TMCs also provide detailed reports that simplify budgeting and allow for smart financial decisions for the future.
4. Scalability for Growth
As companies grow, managing travel can become challenging. OTAs can handle bookings, but when your company expands across regions or requires specialized arrangements, a TMC helps ensure everything runs smoothly. TMCs are designed to scale and can accommodate the needs of small and medium-sized companies and global enterprises alike without increasing complexity for your team.
5. 24/7 Support
Travel disruptions are inevitable, but with a TMC, you’re never stranded. The level of support that a TMC offers typically goes beyond what an OTA provides, including around-the-clock customer service to assist with last-minute changes or emergencies. With a TMC, travelers will receive dedicated assistance when it matters most.
Why Choose Both?
While OTAs simplify and speed up the booking process, a TMC adds the strategy, control, and personalization needed to optimize your business travel program. Together, they create a travel solution that’s seamless, scalable, and supportive of your organization’s success.
By integrating the strengths of OTAs with the expertise of a TMC, businesses can take their travel management to the next level — delivering cost savings, operational efficiency, and a better travel experience for everyone involved.
How to Choose the Right Business Travel Solution
For business travelers and companies seeking a travel management solution, pairing an OTA with a TMC is a game-changer. This powerful combination merges the booking convenience of an online travel agency with the comprehensive services of a travel management company, delivering unparalleled efficiency and support, which are essential for successful corporate travel.
Here’s what to consider when choosing a platform for your business:
1. Range of Services
Look for a platform that covers not just flights, hotels, and car rentals, but alsoexpense management capabilities. The broader the offering, the more streamlined your travel management.
2. Customizability
Does the platform allow you to integrate your company’s travel policies? Can you set spend controls? These features are crucial for corporate users and will help ensure that the platform is best aligned with your company’s needs.
3. Ease of Use
An easy-to-use platform designed with a user-centric approach will allow for a smooth integration and encourage employees’ adoption of the online travel agency.
4. Pricing Transparency
When choosing a corporate travel partner, make sure there is a transparent cost structure for the service fees to avoid hidden costs.
5. Customer Support
Read reviews to know whether the platform offers responsive and reliable support. Business travelers, in particular, need quick resolutions to avoid costly delays.
Read more on how Navan sets the standard for customer satisfaction, earning top marks in the Winter 2025 G2 rankings for travel and expense management.
6. Integration Capabilities
Does the platform integrate with your expense management software, HR systems, or communication tools? Seamless integrations can further simplify operations.
7. App Availability
Opt for a platform that seamlessly integrates travel and expense management across both desktop and mobile apps. With a business travel app, your employees can stay in control, accessing essential tools anytime, anywhere, to boost convenience and productivity on the go.
Discover How OneDigital Saves $500K on Travel with Navan
With Navan’s comprehensive travel and expense solution, OneDigital — a leading HR, employee benefits, and financial services provider — enjoys a simplified T&E management experience while saving $500K on flights and hotels.
Navan achieved high adoption rates among employees thanks to its intuitive design. Dan Strickland, Vice President of Finance, highlights that the platform is “easy to use and efficient. It provides instant reporting and a centralized platform for employees to book travel and view policies.”
The Future of Online Travel Agencies
The online travel agency market is thriving and shows no signs of slowing down. By 2033, it’s projected to grow from $465.1 million in 2023 to a staggering $1.69 trillion (Future Market Insights). This growth is driven by advancements in AI, mobile apps, and consumer demand for personalized travel experiences.
For companies, choosing the right corporate travel partner is about keeping up with trends and strategic moves to boost efficiency, reduce costs, and provide employees with a smoother travel experience.
Read all about The State of Corporate Travel and Expense 2025.
The Navan Advantage: More Than an Online Travel Agency
Navan takes things to the next level by combining an online travel agency, travel management, and expense management into a single solution.
Why Choose Navan?
- AI-powered tools: From booking recommendations to policy compliance, Navan leverages artificial intelligence to optimize every step of the process.
- Real-time reporting: Get real-time insights into travel spending, trends, and cost-saving opportunities.
- Sustainability features: Track and reduce your company’s carbon footprint with built-in tools for eco-conscious travel.
- Dedicated 24/7 support: Navan’s experts are always on standby in case of flight changes or any other travel disruptions.
By embracing tools like Navan, companies can go beyond the capabilities of a basic online travel agency, achieving a seamless, scalable, and future-proof travel program.
Looking to simplify your business travel? Schedule a demo with Navan today.
This content is for informational purposes only. It doesn't necessarily reflect the views of Navan and should not be construed as legal, tax, benefits, financial, accounting, or other advice. If you need specific advice for your business, please consult with an expert, as rules and regulations change regularly.