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Traveling on University Business? Look for Changes in Travel Policy

Traveline Inc. will be the university's single-source travel provider with an on-campus office and a Web site for online booking of hotels, air reservations and other business travel-related arrangements.

Beginning this fall Kent State faculty and staff traveling on university business will have new guidelines to follow when scheduling trips. The university has revised its travel policy to clarify certain provisions. The changes include the establishment of a travel service provider. Effective Sept. 1, Traveline Inc. will be the university’s single-source travel provider, with an on-campus office and a Web site for online booking.

Traveline was selected as the single source travel provider through a competitive bid process administered by a cross-divisional university selection committee. According to Matt Fajack, executive director of financial affairs at Kent State, the committee felt Traveline offered the best combination of hands-on service coupled with the latest in travel technology.

“With almost 50 years in business and a history of working with universities, corporations and individuals, Traveline seemed like the best fit for Kent State’s travel management program,” says Fajack. “They currently have a full-service office on the campus of Youngstown State University and also provide travel service to Case Western Reserve University and Mount Union College.”

At Kent State, Traveline will operate under the name “KSU Travel Services,” offering the following:

• Travel profile management
• 24-hour emergency and after-hour service
• International travel support
• Airline group discounts, team travel arrangements
• Coordination of hotel rooms and corresponding meeting space
• Ground transportation arrangement and negotiation
• Visa and passport processing
• Leisure travel services for employees
• Urgent traveler communication

Although the policy does not formally take effect until September, the Kent State travel office and Web site are operational, and reservations for university travel may be made through either venue.

The on-campus office is located in Room 189 Michael Schwartz Center on the Kent Campus. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and you can contact the staff at 330-672-7300 or traveline@kent.edu. You can also visit the online booking system Web site, on which travelers can create a profile indicating special meal requirements, seat preferences, phone numbers, airline mileage programs, medical considerations and other specific information.

The use of a single-source provider is expected to lower travel costs for the university. Dr. David Creamer, vice president for administration, says that “as all state-sponsored institutions struggle with reduced funding, it is vital that the university create and manage a single source purchasing program for travel. This will allow us to monitor travel data, as well as negotiate volume-based discounts with travel suppliers, including airlines, car rental firms and hotels.”