Online Travel Agency (OTA)
Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), such as Expedia or Booking.com, are third-party platforms for booking travel services, but they may lead to policy violations in corporate programs. Employees can submit OTA receipts, with OCR extracting details for review, though companies may restrict reimbursements to approved channels. The system flags non-integrated OTA expenses, requiring justification to prevent leakage. Flexible policies allow OTAs for specific scenarios, like last-minute travel. This ensures compliance while supporting employee needs, with real-time tracking enhancing financial oversight.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is an Online Travel Agency (OTA)?
An OTA is a third-party website or app like MakeMyTrip, Expedia, or Booking.com where users can book travel services such as flights, hotels, or cars.
Are OTA bookings reimbursable in a corporate travel program?
That depends on your company’s policy. Some allow it, while others require bookings to go through approved OBTs. The platform flags OTA bookings accordingly.
How does your system handle expenses from OTAs?
Employees can upload OTA receipts, and the system uses OCR to extract booking details. Admins can review and approve based on travel policy settings.
Can OTA bookings cause expense leakage?
Yes. Bookings outside approved tools may lack negotiated rates or necessary data for reconciliation, leading to untracked or out-of-policy expenses.
Does your platform flag OTA expenses automatically?
Yes. If an expense comes from a non-integrated OTA, the platform can flag it as “outside booking channel” and request justification or secondary approval.
Should companies block OTA usage entirely?
Not necessarily. Some allow OTA use for specific cases (e.g., last-minute travel or remote locations). Your platform supports flexible policy enforcement based on business needs.
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