Navigating the complexities of university travel can be challenging. From adhering to specific policies and budgets to ensuring the safety and comfort of travelers, institutions need a streamlined and efficient approach. This is where expert Travel Planners step in, offering tailored solutions designed to simplify every aspect of university-related trips. For Ithaca College employees, Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP) provides a dedicated service focused on the unique needs of higher education travel.
Key Advantages of Utilizing Travel Planners for University Travel
Choosing to use designated travel planners like CTP offers a multitude of benefits, ensuring a smoother and more cost-effective travel experience for Ithaca College and its employees:
- Policy-Driven Fare Pricing: Travel planners implement pre-defined policies directly into the fare pricing structure. This ensures that all travel bookings automatically comply with university guidelines, eliminating potential errors and streamlining the approval process. This built-in policy adherence saves time and resources while guaranteeing fiscal responsibility.
- Specialized Higher Education Focus & Savings: CTP specializes in serving higher education institutions. This focused expertise means they understand the specific requirements and budget constraints of universities. By concentrating on higher education, CTP can negotiate favorable rates for airfare and hotel accommodations, providing significant savings for Ithaca College.
- High-End Duty of Care: Ensuring the safety and well-being of travelers is paramount. Travel planners prioritize duty of care, offering robust support and resources to assist travelers in unforeseen circumstances. This includes real-time travel alerts, 24/7 emergency assistance, and proactive monitoring to ensure traveler safety and peace of mind throughout their journey.
- Transparent and Cost-Effective Fee Structure: CTP offers a clear and competitive fee structure, starting from just $4 for online bookings and $35 for agent-assisted services. This transparent pricing model allows travelers to choose the level of support they need while remaining budget-conscious. The fees are structured to be economical, ensuring value for the services provided.
- Enhanced Group Travel Solutions: Universities frequently require group travel arrangements for conferences, research trips, and departmental outings. Travel planners offer enhanced group travel options, simplifying logistics and coordination for larger parties. This includes streamlined booking processes, group discounts, and dedicated support to manage complex group travel itineraries efficiently.
Getting Started with Collegiate Travel Planners
To begin leveraging the benefits of CTP’s travel planner services, Ithaca College employees can easily self-register through the following steps:
- One-Time Self-Registration: Visit the ONE TIME ONLY SELF REGISTRATION portal. It is crucial to use your legal name and your official Ithaca College email address during this initial registration. This step is exclusively for employees and not for student registration.
- Profile Activation: After submitting your registration, CTP will process your profile within 24 to 48 hours. You will then receive a welcome email containing an activation link. It’s important to activate your account within five days of receiving this email, as the link will expire for security reasons. If you miss the activation window, simply use the “Forgot Password” option to reset your link.
- Profile Completion & Booking: Once you activate your account, you can access the CTP Booking Tool to complete your profile. This includes adding essential information such as credit card details, your department number, and any frequent flyer preferences. After your profile is updated, you are ready to start booking your university-related travel arrangements directly through the platform.
For employees who need to arrange travel on behalf of others, such as other employees, students, or guests, becoming an “Arranger” is a straightforward process. After completing your self-registration and profile setup, send an email request to [email protected] to initiate the Arranger role setup. Please ensure that the individual you are booking for has also completed their profile within the CTP system.
Ithaca College also provides a training webinar for employees to learn more about utilizing CTP effectively. If you missed the live session, you can access the recorded training webinar here: https://media.ithaca.edu/media/CTP+Training+Webinar-20240226/1_ijfc1tr2. This resource offers valuable insights and guidance on maximizing your use of CTP’s travel planner services.
Dedicated Support for All Your Travel Inquiries
The CTP Travel Team is readily available to provide assistance and support. You can reach them directly at 888-538-3796 or 402-267-2473, Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 7 pm EST. For after-hours emergencies, the phone line automatically redirects to their emergency support team from 7 pm to 9 am EST on weekdays, as well as during weekends and holidays.
For email inquiries, you can contact the CTP team at [email protected]. For technical support related to the online platform, please reach out to 877-208-1396 or via email at [email protected].
In conclusion, utilizing specialized travel planners like Collegiate Travel Planners offers significant advantages for Ithaca College, streamlining travel arrangements, ensuring policy compliance, and providing robust support for employees. By taking advantage of these dedicated services, Ithaca College can optimize its travel processes and ensure efficient and safe travel experiences for its community.
