Authorization
Define who may approve travel, required supporting documentation, approval thresholds, and timelines for pre-trip authorization to prevent unauthorized bookings and ensure budget control.
A written Business Travel Policy reduces inconsistent spending, speeds approvals, and documents taxable treatment of reimbursements. It supports duty-of-care, simplifies audits, and sets expectations for employees and managers handling bookings, expenses, and cross-border compliance.
HR, finance, travel managers, and legal teams typically collaborate to create, approve, and maintain the Business Travel Policy.
Procurement and legal should review vendor contracts, insurance coverage, and cross-border rules to maintain compliance and update the policy as needed.
Define who may approve travel, required supporting documentation, approval thresholds, and timelines for pre-trip authorization to prevent unauthorized bookings and ensure budget control.
Specify preferred vendors, class of service, advance-booking windows, and procedures for using corporate booking tools or travel management companies to capture negotiated rates.
List reimbursable items, per-diem rules, maximum nightly rates, and guidance on meals, ground transportation, and incidental expenses to ensure consistent processing.
Describe travel insurance requirements, emergency contacts, security advisories, and protocols for incidents, evacuations, or medical needs while traveling domestically or internationally.
Detail receipt requirements, allowable submission formats, timelines for filing expense reports, approval routing, and timelines for payroll or AP reimbursements.
Document how to request exceptions, who may grant them, temporary overrides, and recordkeeping for approvals to support auditability and consistency.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Booking portal integration | Connect corporate TMC or preferred booking tool |
| Approval routing | Set multi-step approvals by cost threshold |
| Notification rules | Email or SMS alerts for pending approvals |
| Expense categories | Map allowed categories to accounting codes |
Define required file types, authentication levels, and integrations before deploying an online travel approval form.
Ensure the chosen platform supports audit trails, PDF export, and integrations with systems such as SAP, NetSuite, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and travel management providers.
Submit requests at least 14 calendar days before travel
Managers respond within 3 business days
Book flights and hotels within policy windows to retain rates
File expense reports within 30 days of trip end
Payments processed within next payroll or AP cycle
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |