Frequently Asked Questions

Coromandel SAS is a consultancy based in Bogotá, Colombia, established in 2013 and registered with the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce. It works with businesses worldwide in two areas: recovering the VAT they pay on international business travel, and advising them on managing their corporate travel spend. Read more about Coromandel SAS.

The company is based in Bogotá, Colombia, and serves businesses anywhere in the world. For VAT recovery, the location of the client does not matter. What matters is where the business travels and whether the destination country refunds VAT.

Coromandel has been in business since 2013. The company has been registered with the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce throughout, under VAT ID (NIT) 900.598.604-1.

The company is led by its principal consultant, Mano Chandra Dhas. He set up and ran the VAT recovery operation at dnata, the travel arm of the Emirates Airlines Group, and brings more than 50 years of experience in commercial air travel and corporate travel management. Earlier in his career he established BTI, later HRG (Hogg Robinson Group), across 14 countries in the Middle East and West Asia, and managed a Dubai travel business spanning 10 travel shops and 15 implant offices.

The company works in two areas. VAT recovery: recovering VAT paid on international business travel and on accounts payable invoices in VAT-refunding countries. Travel management consultancy: independent advice that helps businesses get more value from their travel and entertainment budget. You can also see a full list of our services.

Yes, through a separate brand, Coromandel Tours, which offers curated tours to Colombia, Peru, India, and Nepal. The tours operate under their own website at coromandeltours.com and are distinct from the VAT recovery and travel management consultancy work.

VAT recovery is handled on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront fees, the initial assessment is free, and the company is paid only from VAT it successfully recovers. If there is no recovery, there is no fee. Travel management consultancy is scoped and arranged separately based on the requirements.

The company recovers VAT from countries across the EU and beyond. We can put together a proposal depending on your specific requirements. Do get in touch with us for that.

Detailed country guides are available for the most common destinations if you’d like that information.

It is independent advice on the client’s side of the table. The work can include selecting the right travel management company, negotiating pricing, setting up service level agreements, choosing payment solutions, and creating and implementing effective travel policies.

No. Coromandel SAS is a consultancy. It advises businesses on managing and reducing their travel spend rather than acting as their booking agent. Its curated tours under the Coromandel Tours brand are a separate offering.

English and Spanish, though English is the easier language to work in. The website is available in both, and the team handles client communication in either language.

Begin with a free consultation with the principal consultant, Mano Chandra Dhas is the way to start. For VAT recovery, share sample invoices from recent business travel and an approximate annual spend by destination, and the company will estimate what is recoverable. There is no obligation.

By the contact form on the website, by email, or by phone. Colombia: +57 320 492 5300 (Bogotá). United States: +57 320 492 5300tel:+57 320 492 5300 (Atlanta, Georgia).