As China’s economy grows and trade flourishes (aside from the current tariff tensions), more Western organizations find themselves having to manage corporate travel for remote operations in the Asian powerhouse.

The most common option, especially for those businesses with a global corporate travel contract, is to use a Western travel management company’s Chinese presence.

This requires deep-rooted experience in China and systems and processes suited to the market nuances. Corporations also need to ensure the local travel management company understands how to balance local needs with the global requirements of the multinational.

As more secondary cities become business travel powerhouses, local expertise has become vital for travel programs sending employees into China.

The corporate travel management market in China is something of an alphabet soup of joint-ventures, yet companies with longstanding operations within the country are at an advantage.

Other market peculiarities include difficult-to-understand local regulations, compliance, and the risk of fraud and misuse.

“Given the uniqueness and complexities of the Chinese market, the need for local expertise can’t be underestimated and we’re proud to have a highly knowledgeable and dedicated local team with decades of professional experience in corporate travel management,” said Albert Zhong, general manager of China for Carlson Wagonlit Travel.