With travel on the increase, travel managers are expected to manage more travelers, more bookings and more expectations.
Large TMCs and online tools are great at handling high volumes of simple, point-to-point trips. But as every travel manager knows, not every journey is simple. Some trips demand a level of care and precision that big providers simply aren’t built to deliver.
This is why a growing number of travel managers are moving towards a split or hybrid model. Instead of relying on a single provider for everything, they keep the bulk of travel with their large TMC or online platform and outsource high-value or high-risk travel to a specialist boutique TMC. It’s a practical way to balance cost, control, and service quality without overhauling your entire setup.
More volume, less nuance
With business travel predicted to continue to rise, it’s easy to see why the split model is gaining traction.
At Take2Eton, we see this increasingly often. Travel managers continue booking most of their travelers through an online platform because it’s efficient, familiar and keeps costs predictable. But when it comes to C-suite travel, board trips, investor meetings or multi-stop itineraries, travel managers hand those over to us. It’s usually a small share of the total volume, yet it’s where the stakes are highest. A missed connection or poor service isn’t just an inconvenience, it can undermine meetings, deadlines and relationships.
This hybrid model also helps travel managers deliver a level of service that’s nearly impossible for large TMCs to offer consistently. High-impact travelers want someone who knows their preferences, understands their schedules and can resolve issues without forcing them through call queues or chat bots. Travel managers know these are the travelers who notice when things go wrong, and appreciate when things go right. They need a TMC that offers a boutique-style service with the personal touch and agility.
Cost control is another major reason travel managers adopt this approach. Premium service across the entire workforce isn’t realistic or necessary. Most travelers are perfectly fine using online tools and standard service levels. By reserving specialist support for those who genuinely need it, you keep the program efficient without sacrificing quality where the business cares most.
One of the biggest advantages for travel managers is the minimal disruption. You don’t have to rebuild your whole travel infrastructure. You can maintain your main platform, reporting structure and compliance processes for most travelers, and simply layer in specialist support where it’s required. It’s a way to elevate your program without reshaping it from the ground up.
For SMEs, this model is often a perfect fit. Smaller organizations want more control and structure but aren’t ready for full outsourcing. A specialist partner for VIPs gives them access to expertise without heavy overheads. As their travel grows, they can expand the partnership naturally, adding more support as needed.
Even larger organizations appreciate the flexibility. Travel managers can keep the day-to-day travel of the majority of their workforce under a straightforward service option, while using a specialist TMC to elevate the traveler experience for senior leadership. It’s a model that acknowledges the reality travel managers face every day: different travelers need different levels of support.
So, if you’re finding that your current provider handles everyday travel just fine but struggles with complex or VIP trips, you’re not alone. A split model—routine travel with a large TMC, specialist support for those that need it—can give you stronger control, better traveler satisfaction and more breathing room. It’s a practical, modern approach that helps travel managers deliver exactly the right level of service to the right travelers, without blowing the budget or rebuilding the entire program.
ctical, modern approach that helps travel managers deliver exactly the right level of service to the right travellers, without blowing the budget or rebuilding the entire programme.
