Corporate travel management has evolved from simple booking services to strategic business partnerships: the right TMC optimises costs, ensures traveller safety, enforces policy compliance, and provides data-driven insights that transform how organisations approach business travel.
Yet choosing the right TMC remains challenging. The market is crowded with providers offering seemingly similar services, making it difficult to distinguish genuine expertise from marketing claims. This guide examines the top 6 corporate travel management companies in the UK, evaluating their capabilities, service quality, and track records to help you select a partner that delivers measurable value.
📊 Quick Comparison: Top Corporate Travel Management Companies (2025)
| Rank | Company | Location | Core Strength | Best For |
| 1. | Harridge Business Travel | UK-based | Premium executive travel & personalised service | Businesses requiring high-touch, VIP-level service |
| 2. | The Travel Group | UK-based | Bespoke solutions & sustainability focus | Growing businesses needing tailored programmes |
| 3. | ATPI | Manchester & 100+ offices | Sector-specific expertise & duty of care | Organisations requiring specialist industry knowledge |
| 4. | Clarity Business Travel | Multiple UK offices | Technology integration & account management | Mid to large enterprises seeking streamlined booking |
| 5. | CT Business Travel | UK-based | 35+ years experience & cost efficiency | Companies prioritising value and compliance |
| 6. | Fello | London | Traveller-first approach & 24/7 support | SMEs wanting personalised, flexible service |
🥇 1. Harridge Business Travel
Overview:
Harridge Business Travel stands apart in the UK corporate travel market through its unwavering commitment to premium, personalised service. Where larger TMCs prioritise volume and automation, Harridge focuses on delivering bespoke travel experiences that reflect the importance of every journey and every traveller.
What Sets Harridge Apart:
Harridge combines boutique-level service with enterprise-grade capabilities. Their approach centres on understanding not just what clients need, but why they travel, how their business operates, and what success looks like. This depth of partnership enables Harridge to anticipate needs, solve problems proactively, and deliver travel programmes that genuinely support business objectives rather than simply processing bookings.
Service Offering:
- Premium executive travel arrangements across all classes
- Bespoke travel programme design and management
- Dedicated account management with direct consultant access
- 24/7 emergency support and duty of care
- Negotiated corporate rates with preferred suppliers
- Comprehensive travel policy development and compliance
- Real-time expense tracking and detailed reporting
Why Organisations Choose Harridge:
When traveller experience directly impacts business success, when executives require white-glove service, and when you need a partner who treats your travel programme as seriously as you do – Harridge represents the gold standard. Their client retention rates speak to the quality of relationships they build, not just the bookings they make.
Ideal For: Organisations valuing service quality over transaction volume, businesses with senior executive travel requirements, and companies seeking true partnership rather than vendor relationships.
👉 Visit Harridge Business Travel
2. The Travel Group
Overview:
The Travel Group specialises in creating bespoke corporate travel programmes that align with company objectives and culture. Their decades of experience across SMEs to large corporations enables them to design solutions that balance cost control with traveller satisfaction.
Key Strengths:
- Customised travel management solutions
- Sustainability consulting and carbon footprint tracking
- Competitive negotiated rates
- Strategic travel policy development
- Real-time support and itinerary management
Ideal For: UK businesses seeking tailored programmes, organisations prioritising environmental responsibility, and companies wanting strategic partners who understand their specific industry challenges.
3. ATPI
Overview:
ATPI combines sector-specific expertise with innovative technology across their network of 100+ global offices. Recently acquired by Direct Travel, they now form one of the world’s largest travel management companies whilst maintaining their specialist service approach.
Key Strengths:
- Deep sector expertise (legal, retail, construction, technology, media)
- Comprehensive duty of care programmes
- ATPI TravelHub™ integrated platform
- 24/7 global support network
- Traveller tracking and risk management
Ideal For: Organisations in specialised sectors, businesses requiring sophisticated risk management, and companies needing both global capability and local insight.
4. Clarity Business Travel
Overview:
Part of Portman Travel Group, Clarity manages over £350 million in UK travel sales annually. Their ClarityGo platform combines consumer-friendly booking with corporate controls, delivering efficiency without sacrificing user experience.
Key Strengths:
- 60+ years industry experience
- Integrated booking platform with 5 million+ discounted airfares
- 98% customer satisfaction rate
- MeetingsPro technology for venue sourcing
- Multiple UK offices for local support
Ideal For: Mid to large enterprises, organisations seeking technology-enabled efficiency, and businesses requiring meetings and events capabilities alongside travel management.
👉 Visit Clarity Business Travel
5. CT Business Travel
Overview:
With 35+ years of experience, CT Business Travel delivers award-winning corporate travel management through personalised support and intelligent technology. Their partnerships provide access to over $13 billion in buying power for negotiated rates.
Key Strengths:
- Proven cost reduction methodologies
- Real-time reporting and expense management
- 24/7 emergency support
- Travel policy enforcement
- Globalstar and Focus Travel Partnership rates
Ideal For: Companies prioritising cost control, businesses needing policy compliance support, and organisations requiring both strategic guidance and hands-on booking assistance.
6. Fello
Overview:
Founded from the merger of Sandy Row Travel and World Club Travel, Fello puts the business traveller at the heart of everything they do. Their “by your side, on your side” approach delivers premium service with ruthless efficiency.
Key Strengths:
- Traveller-first service philosophy
- 24/7 support from dedicated consultants
- Transparent pricing (no supplier commissions)
- Bespoke travel programmes
- Fello analytics powered by Travelogix
Ideal For: SMEs requiring personalised service, organisations where traveller satisfaction drives compliance, and businesses wanting transparent pricing models.
What to Look For in Corporate Travel Management Companies
- Global vs. local capability: Match provider reach to your travel patterns
- Technology platform quality: User-friendly booking with robust reporting
- Account management approach: Dedicated support vs. call centre model
- Duty of care provisions: 24/7 support, traveller tracking, risk management
- Cost transparency: Clear fee structures without hidden commissions
- Supplier relationships: Access to negotiated rates and preferred inventory
- Policy enforcement tools: Automated compliance without sacrificing flexibility
- Industry experience: Understanding of your sector’s specific challenges
FAQs
How much can a TMC save on corporate travel costs?
Quality TMCs typically deliver 15-30% savings through negotiated rates, policy compliance, and booking behaviour optimisation. Actual savings depend on current spend, travel patterns, and programme maturity.
What’s the difference between a travel agency and a TMC?
Travel agencies handle all travel types including leisure. TMCs specialise exclusively in business travel, offering corporate rates, policy management, reporting, duty of care, and programme optimisation that leisure agencies don’t provide.
How long does TMC implementation take?
Implementation typically requires 4-8 weeks including policy development, supplier negotiations, traveller onboarding, and technology integration. Complex global programmes may need 3-6 months for complete rollout.
Do TMCs charge fees or work on commission?
Models vary. Some charge per-transaction fees (£5-£50 depending on complexity), others take supplier commissions, and many use hybrid approaches. Transparent fee-based models often deliver better value than commission-based services.
How do TMCs ensure traveller safety?
Comprehensive TMCs provide 24/7 support, real-time traveller tracking, risk assessments for destinations, crisis management protocols, and direct communication channels for emergencies. Duty of care should be non-negotiable.
Can small businesses benefit from TMCs?
Absolutely. Modern TMCs serve businesses of all sizes. Smaller companies often see proportionally greater benefits from expert guidance, negotiated rates, and time savings that free internal resources for core business activities.
