Why switch to Lightning for your online travel booking tool?
Every modern travel program needs an online booking tool, but not all tools are created equal.
While some offer basic functionality that “checks the box,” others can frustrate travellers with slow load times, confusing workflows, and limited content that may even lead to lost savings opportunities.
At Corporate Travel Management (CTM), we knew there had to be a better way. That’s why we created Lightning, a next-generation booking platform designed to bring speed, savings, sustainability, and simplicity to the business travel booking experience.
Experience Lightning
Gain more hours in the day
Travellers have plenty to focus on besides booking travel, so efficiency is key. Lightning’s modern, user-friendly interface allows bookings in as little as 90 seconds, with fewer clicks than other tools. At-a-glance details like fare type, cabin class, refundability, and ticket credit options give travellers everything they need to make confident, informed choices.
Lightning also saves time by letting arrangers book up to nine travellers in one transaction. With paid seat selection and loyalty status recognition at the time of booking, there’s no need to switch between airline websites. This keeps travellers in the right booking channel for accurate payment, duty of care, and reporting.
Unlike many third-party tools that are slow to evolve, Lightning operates on two-week development cycles, incorporating client feedback into regular updates. CTM’s in-app feed shares release notes and serves as a direct feedback channel, ensuring our customers’ voices directly shape Lightning’s roadmap.
Need to book or cancel a trip and don’t have time to call someone? Located within CTM Portal, our intuitive new travel chatbot, CTM Scout, can help you book your next domestic or trans-Tasman trip or cancel a booking in just a few clicks. Booking through CTM Scout is exclusive to Lightning customers, which knows all your travel preferences and travel policy inside out, ensuring the most relevant, cost-effective, and compliant booking support at maximum speed, so you can get what you need to be done to get on with your day.
See more savings
Whether it’s time, money, or resources, Lightning is engineered to help businesses save.
- Comprehensive content: Access low-cost carriers and inclusive inventory without having to search multiple websites.
- Lower fees: Because CTM owns Lightning’s technology, clients benefit from reduced costs, no reseller or third-party licensing fees.
- Policy-driven control: Built-in policy settings guide travellers on what they can and can’t book, reducing out-of-policy spend.
For example, restricted fare classes or carriers can be displayed for visibility but blocked from booking, giving travellers transparency while ensuring compliance. Custom messages on Lightning’s home page or results pages allow companies to share timely travel policy reminders or updates.
Tracking unused ticket credits is simple with Lightning’s Unused Ticket Tracker, which automatically applies eligible credits at checkout, so no ticket, or budget, goes to waste.
Make sustainable choices
As companies set goals to track or reduce their carbon footprint, Lightning helps travellers make informed, sustainable decisions.
- Carbon transparency: Lightning displays carbon emissions estimates for air, hotel, and car rentals directly in search results.
- Partnership with RDC Aviation: CTM uses RDC Aviation’s verified data to display CO? estimates by cabin class, aircraft type, and fuel efficiency.
- Sustainable filters: Users can sort or filter car rentals by carbon output or choose electric and hybrid vehicles.
Lightning also displays Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) scores for more than 250 airlines, allowing travellers to sort by sustainability ratings alongside key details like price, policy status, and seat availability. CTM also provides SAF score data to travel managers upon request to support preferred airline reviews or RFP processes.
Keep it simple
We understand business travel booking doesn’t happen in isolation. Lightning integrates seamlessly with other CTM solutions including CTM Portal, CTM Approve, CTM Mobile, and CTM Data Hub, delivering a connected experience right out of the box.
Cherie Drummond, Head of Product, AU/NZ shares that “Lightning continues to evolve to support our clients’ travel program goals while making travel booking faster, more cost-effective, and sustainably conscious. Coupled with seamless integrations to our full travel technology suite, Lightning is a great foundation for business travel program success.”
Any good online booking tool would be incomplete without expert support from travel professionals. Lightning comes with proactive, reliable, and real human support for configuration, maintenance, and changes with a dedicated account manager and support team invested in your success based in Australia and New Zealand alongside the Lightning product development team.
Backed by real human support
Technology works best when it’s supported by people who care. Lightning comes with proactive configuration and maintenance support from a dedicated Account Manager and online product delivery team.
And because travel happens beyond the desk, CTM Mobile, powered by Lightning, allows users to make and modify bookings for air, hotel, and car rentals, anytime, anywhere.
Experience Lightning
Whether you’re new to online booking tools or have used one for years, it’s worth asking: is your current platform helping, or holding back your travel program?
If you’re ready for a fast, intuitive, and intelligent online booking experience, it’s time to explore Lightning and see how it can help your business save time, money, and more.
Witness the power and speed of Lightning
Witness the power and speed of Lightning
Book your demo with CTM today.
What is CTM Lightning?
Lightning is CTM’s proprietary online booking tool that enables businesses to book flights, hotels, and car rentals quickly and easily while maintaining travel policy compliance and cost control.
How is Lightning different from other online booking tools?
Unlike many third-party systems, Lightning is owned and developed by CTM, meaning updates are fast, fees are lower, and customisations are directly driven by customer feedback.
Can Lightning help us reduce travel costs?
Yes. Lightning consolidates booking channels, prevents out-of-policy spending, tracks unused tickets, and displays the best available fares, including low-cost carriers, to maximise savings.
How does Lightning support sustainability goals?
Lightning displays real-time carbon emission estimates and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) scores to help travellers make sustainable choices when booking.
Does Lightning integrate with other CTM tools?
Absolutely. Lightning connects seamlessly with CTM Portal, CTM Approve, CTM Data Hub, and CTM Mobile for a unified travel management experience.
Is support available for configuration and maintenance?
Yes. CTM provides a dedicated account management and product delivery team to assist with configuration, updates, and ongoing support.
