Plain answers about hiring the people who run corporate programs on the ground. What the roles actually cover, what they take, and how to build a bench you can call on next time.
A Travel Director is the person who makes a program run once everyone has landed. Here is the full scope of the role, how it differs from a meeting planner and a DMC, and how to tell how many you need for your program.
HiringVetting a Travel Director comes down to three checks before you commit: they have run your kind of program, their onsite habits fit how your team works, and they have a plan for when things go wrong.
PlanningThe day a big program lands, write a one-page staffing brief before you call anyone.
PlanningHire freelance for spikes and full-time for continuity.
HiringA meeting planner job description should say what the person will own, what they must already know, and what good looks like in their first month.
Use software to search for talent yourself when you know the role and want direct control. Get help from a specialist when time is short, the role is hard to define, or the hire is senior. Some MICE teams use both.
What drives a Travel Director's day rate, how lead roles price against support roles, and what to budget per person per day. In progress.