Concur Links With HotelTonight And Lyft On Travel Expenses

Business travel, especially for those who are constantly on the go or in need of last-minute reservations, may be getting a little easier.

Travel and expense management provider Concur announced yesterday (July 27) its new strategic partnerships with Lyft and HotelTonight in order to meet business travelers’ needs for on-demand services.

Concur’s all-in-one platform allows users to book and be reimbursed for business travel expenses while also maintaining the visibility finance and travel managers have into business expenses. Now users will be able to utilize Concur’s services when hailing a ride through Lyft or booking a last-minute hotel room through HotelTonight while traveling for business.

“Bringing more on-demand mobile applications into the Concur business travel ecosystem is in line with our vision of helping our customers and partners experience The Perfect Trip,” Tim MacDonald, executive VP of travel at Concur, said in a company release.

“Our data shows half of business trips are booked less than two weeks out, which fuels the need for on-demand travel apps. By partnering with companies like Lyft and HotelTonight, we’re advancing our commitment to innovation and extending the instantaneous benefits of on-demand services to business travelers, all while making that spend visible to travel managers wherever it happens,” MacDonald said.
According to a recent survey of travel managers, Concur found that more than 50 percent said the top trend impacting travel programs is on-demand and sharing economies. The company also reportedly saw the amount of money its customers spent on Lyft expenses increase sevenfold.

“Business travelers flock to anything that makes their lives easier, which is why Lyft’s affordable rides within minutes have quickly become a go-to ground transportation option for many companies,” Lyft’s Director of Enterprise Amit Patel explained. “By partnering with Concur, we are giving business travelers who choose Lyft even more convenience and efficiency.”

Data from HotelTonight showed more than 40 percent of people who have made reservations with the app have used it for business travel, Concur confirmed. The HotelTonight app is now available to Concur customers via the Concur App Center.

“Our business is built to meet the needs of the last-minute traveler,” said Sam Shank, cofounder and CEO of HotelTonight. “Integration with Concur will further our ability to serve this audience and provide our business customers a streamlined booking and reporting experience, simplifying the process of finding a hotel from seven days out up to the eleventh hour.”

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