Starting July 1, 2025, University of Michigan employees are required to use Collegiate Travel Planners, the university’s designated travel partner, to book flights for UM-related travel.
The university community was advised of the new requirement in an April email to deans, directors and department managers from U-M senior leadership and an article in the Record.
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Moving to exclusive use of CTP for airfare booking will streamline U-M’s travel booking process and ensure that the university takes advantage of specially negotiated rates and options.
Given the overall number of flights taken by U-M employees on an annual basis, the collective savings to the university will be considerable. On a local level, booking airfare via CTP is expected to save units between 2% and 10% on most flights, with the average savings being 4%.
“Since the announcement was made in April, the U-M Travel Program Team has held eight training sessions with over 600 attendees across the university to help units — many of which were already using CTP — get ready for the move to exclusively use CTP,” said Tally Thrasher, assistant vice president and chief procurement officer. “And I’d really like to thank members of the university community for supporting the exclusive use of CTP for airfare booking.
“Their feedback, questions and suggestions have been invaluable in helping us enhance our training program and educational materials, which will go a long way in ensuring this transition is as seamless and easy as possible.”
Beyond significant savings to U-M, CTP offers a number of additional benefits, includingthe ability to earn airline loyalty points, easily transfer unused tickets and access to 24/7 customer support.
“The savings to the university are certainly important, but equally significant is CTP’s commitment to offering exemplary customer service. Our employees travel around the globe on behalf of the university and their plans can be adversely impacted due to any number of unforeseen circumstances,” Thrasher said. “To minimize any disruption, CTP is keenly focused on providing fast, easy and personal service so our employees can quickly return to the business of supporting U-M’s missions of teaching, research, and patient care.”
The U-M Travel Program Team continues to hold regular training and Q&A sessions to help travelers and travel arrangers make the best use of CTP and its online booking tool. Information about the sessions, along with training materials, can be found on the Travel Program webpage.
