travelnews: Travel Management Services RFP Completed

[BAO news for travel administrators]

Hello UO Travelers and Travel Delegates

The Travel Office in Business Affairs is happy to announce that we have completed a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to determine the university's next travel management services partnership. After a thorough process (see details below) Direct Travel has been selected as the sole provider of travel services to all academic and administrative units on campus.

Through the RFP process we sought to identify a single best-in-class and best-in-value provider to meet the travel management needs for all University of Oregon academic and administrative units. We engaged personnel from financial service centers across campus representing the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Design, School of Journalism and Communication, College of Education, research institutes and Finance and Administration units to serve on the RFP evaluation committee. We solicited bids, held virtual presentations, and ultimately selected one of our incumbent travel agencies, Direct Travel. The UO has worked with Direct Travel for more than a decade and many departments and UO business travelers have established trusted relationships with Direct Travel's dedicated University of Oregon travel agent team. Further, Direct Travel has vast experience with other higher education institutions, including our peers in the Big 10 Conference.

Transitioning to a single travel management company to serve our travelers' needs will create greater consistency for end users whether they choose to work with a travel agent or elect to utilize Concur's online booking tool. By focusing on a single travel management company, the Travel Office team will no longer need to divide time and resources to manage two separate configurations in the online booking tool, two reporting entities, and separate travel agent teams, fee structures, and account managers.  Instead, we will be able to improve our online booking tool configuration, quickly identify any issues that arise, and apply solutions. By providing a consistent booking tool experience to campus, more travelers are likely to try the booking tool, allowing departments more control over their costs.

Working solely with Direct Travel will bring:
*       Access to an increased number of dedicated travel agents to meet the needs of UO business travelers.
*       Access to a technologically superior Global Distribution System (GDS), Sabre. This will allow UO travelers access to New Distribution Channel (NDC) content, such as specially discounted fares, that was previously only available directly with the airlines.
*       New reporting and messaging capabilities that will allow better management of unused ticket credits, safety and risk notifications, and dissemination of general travel guidance to active travelers.
*       Consistent booking tool experience and data feed into Concur so travelers have consistent access to their itineraries and receipts.
*       Additional customer tools such as "Invoices on Demand" and a suite of reports aimed at improving tracking of UO travel assets, and assistance negotiating with travel vendors to gain deeper discounts for UO business travelers.
As we move forward with this transition, more information will be shared with departments regarding the general timeline and unused ticket credits held with UO's other currently-contracted travel management company.

Ultimately, the evaluation committee agreed that moving forward with Direct Travel will provide the smoothest transition for travelers while offering the best value and service, create efficiencies in UO's Travel Program, result in an enhanced and consistent booking tool experience, offer campus trusted travel agents, and allow departments greater control over costs. We are excited to move forward into FY26 focused and refreshed.

Kind regards,


Brooke Millett Montgomery
Travel Manager
University of Oregon Travel Office
(541) 346-3445
bmillett at uoregon.edu<mailto:bmillett at uoregon.edu>

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Travel Office/Concur Help Desk: Phone: 6-3100/Email: travel at uoregon.edu

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