Category Archives: Travel Business
Guide to Business Travel Etiquette – United Kingdom
About the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is located in Western Europe, northwest of France between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. It is not very large, about the size of Oregon and is home to over 60 million people.
The UK is made up of four distinct regions – England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, making it very culturally and ethnically diverse. It may seem that everyone in the UK could be called English, but many people in the UK, especially those in Wales and Scotland may be offended by this. The term “English” refers to natives of England and “British” to citizens of Great Britain.
Language
The majority of people in the UK speak English, but many areas have strong local accents and even dialects which may be difficult to understand. In Wales, Welsh is the language of choice – a Celtic language similar to Gaelic. Welsh is also spoken in some areas of Scotland.
Business Dress
Business dress in the UK is very conservative – dark colors, such as black, navy blue and charcoal are very popular as are heavier fabrics such as wool.
Tips for Men
o Avoid dress shirts with pockets and if they do have pockets, they should be kept empty. The only exception to this is a handkerchief.
o Ties with stripes should not be worn as the pattern may “belong” to a club, military regiment or school of which you are not a member.
o Wear shoes that lace, not those that slip on such as loafers.
Tips for Women
Business dress for women in the UK is not as limited as men’s but a conservative appearance is still important.
Business Hours
Most offices in the UK are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. However, most employees work longer hours as they prefer to complete their work at the office instead of bringing it home.
Government offices are open from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm and are closed for lunch from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.
The best time of day to make an appointment is in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Breakfast and lunch meetings tend to be rare – outside of major cities.
Holidays
The UK has only eight national holidays a year, the lowest number in Europe. Most families with children will take annual vacations in July or August and the majority of businesses are closed between Christmas and New Years.
Conversations and Behavior
Many people in the UK are private and reserved – finding it difficult to engage in small talk with strangers. Beginning a meeting with a handshake is customary and a formal greeting is viewed as a sign of respect.
The English have very good manners and they view Americans as too casual, especially in speech. Be sure to speak clearly, in complete sentences and keep your speech at an even tone. Avoid animated conversations and a lot of hand gestures.
A New Era In Travel
First, I want to get right to the meat and potatoes and show you a very logical opportunity that just makes sense not matter how you slice it. Here are some important facts:
The travel industry is by far the largest industry in the world. It accounts for about 7 trillion dollars a year world wide and about 1.3 trillion in the US alone. In the US that calculates to about 2.4 million dollars a minute or 40 thousand dollars a second. The travel industry is growing 23% faster than the world economy and will continue historical growth for the next 18 to 20 years. This of course is because of that group of people born between 1946 and 19 64 known as the almighty baby boomers. This group has changed every industry they have ever touched and they are entering retirement at the rate of 1 person every 8 seconds for the next 18+ years. When people retire, they want to travel. That is why the industry is expected to double in the next decade. The industry size and growth capacity is enormous. If we took telecom, health and nutrition and financial services, all of which generate billions of dollars in the direct marketing industry, and you combine them, it wouldn’t come even close to the size of the travel industry. It is always a smart move to be positioned in front of a growth industry and there has never been anything of this magnitude in the entire history of American business.
Barry Diller, the owner of Comcast bought Expedia.com for 5.1 billion dollars. Some holding company that I am not familiar with recently bought Orbitz.com for 5.6 billion dollars and Donald Trump has invested I don’t know how many millions building his online travel company from scratch. To me, that is a clue. They know its coming and they want to be in front of it. But the beauty of this opportunity is that those companies can’t compete with us. We are going after the prize of being the largest internet travel company in the world and create 10,000 millionaires inside of 10 years. I know that might sound grandiose, but stay with me because once you understand our business model, it will be very clear as to why it is not only realistic but very probable.
Right now, about 82% of the US population already books their travel online. The travel agency community has shrunk by 200,000 + travel agencies in the last 10 years because everyone is adopting the internet as their travel agent. It’s convenient. That is why Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline etc…have all be trying to brand themselves to grab a piece of the market as this transition occurs from brick and mortar travel agencies to click and order travel agencies. Not only do they want a piece of the existing market, more importantly they want to get in front of what is to come. Expedia.com for example is spending about 5 million dollars a week for marketing. About 80% of the revenue that comes in the door is being reinvested into their branding efforts. But, 20% of a whole lot is still a whole lot. It’s a great business model. But there is one problem; people are booking their travel with faceless corporations and there is no relationship in the equation anymore.
With YTB, you own a full service online travel agency with more extensive features than anyone else. From airline tickets, hotels, all inclusive vacation packages, cruises, golf tee times, Broadway show tickets, sporting events, ski passes, concert tickets, amusement park admissions, travelers insurance, buy foreign currency, just about anything travel and entertainment related and with every major travel provider in the world. We don’t sell something kind of like Carnival, Disney, Sandals, Frontier Airlines, Alamo etc…that is exactly what we sell. As a matter of fact, last year we booked over 10,000 weeks on Carnival Cruiselines making us the #3 booking agent in the world for Carnival. They treat us good!
All we have to do is point people to our website and YTB pays us 60% of the commission. The competition can not compete with this distribution model and here is why: We are bringing relationships back to an industry that the internet has been taking away. The convenience of online booking is still the same; it’s just that people can now put a face to the website. They book their travel as usual. They get to stay in the same hotels, the same all inclusive vacations, the same cruises, the same car rentals and they pay the same price, maybe even a little better. The difference is you. Here is a good example; my Mother will never go to another travel site because I’m her son and since nothing changes except for who gets paid, she books with me. It’s not like the telecom industry where Travelocity or Orbitz is gonna send my Mom a check for $50 bucks if she switches back. And, if one of my buddy’s books their travel with someone else, they can forget calling me the next time they need help moving. This is a perfect business model for the travel industry because over 80% of all vacations are already booked through a recommendation.
Now about YTB and why I have made a life-long commitment to this company: YTB is a 6 year old publicly traded company. They are seeing a 400% growth rate, eclipsing 1 billion dollars in travel bookings this year and have recently made it in the top 50 travel agencies in the world. The industry is taking notice because we came out of nowhere. The first few years was putting it all together. It was just in this last year that we moved into a perfect position to dominate the industry. YTB has also acquired a bank and 3 car dealerships, with many other auto manufactures coming soon. This part of our business goes live on June 1st. Just as travel has migrated to the internet, so are auto sales. When people purchase a vehicle, they usually go to the internet to research it. Because of the internet, many consumers know what the dealer cost is and suggested retail price before they even walk onto the car lot. And some people know more about the details of the car that they want than the sales person does. The dealerships are turning into nothing more than showroom/service centers because of the internet. It’s just heading that way. People are now going to be able to purchase a car, new or used from their local dealerships and you get paid because they were recommended from your website. There is a $500 commission paid for every purchase and we get 60% of that commission. We simply point people to our website and everything is done for us. Just as YTB is in front of the internet travel trend and is quickly and undeniably becoming the largest travel agency in the world, they are doing it with cars as well. There is a whole lot more coming with this company!
One of the things that I was taken back by was the fact that YTB has protected those of us in the field. They are the first company in the history of direct marketing that has filed a bill of rights with the SEC along with other state and federal regulatory agencies that insures our income for life. They can’t change our pay or take it away. If by chance they merge with another company, that company has to honor our income or the merger can not take place. Too many times people have invested years of hard work only to have a company change things up and either decrease or even eliminate their income. With YTB, that can’t happen.
Another thing that they did was issue a 100% no risk written guarantee to earn no less than $6,000 in the first year of following their system or they’ll pay you the difference. So if by some crazy chance you only earned $2500 in your first year of following their system, not only would you already be profitable, YTB would still write you a check for the $3,500 difference.
Right after I went out to St. Louis to see the company, I met up with a friend in Chicago who has been working with this company for close to 3 years. His income that month was a little over $125,000 and growing by at least another $5,000 each month. Now we both know it is not common to hit checks like that but it does happen when people are in the right place at the right time and ready for the opportunity. $125k a month is almost an impressive income but what really got me was that more than $73,000 of that was purely residual. I have seen quite a few checks like that being passed out in direct marketing over the years but I have never seen that kind of ratio. Typically, money like that is mainly derived from one time bonuses.
Every once in a while a phenomenon occurs in the direct marketing industry and there is no doubt that YTB is one of them. The industry has stood up and taken notice. And the interesting thing is that most people are not really aware of what is being done behind the scenes right now. But, it is almost a cliché in this industry to hear about how companies are going to be the next billion dollar giant and how the company owners are great business people with impeccable integrity. I was almost to the point of jumping up and strangling the next hypester who told me that. With YTB, you only need to allow yourself to see it for what it is and the rest of the story unfolds itself.
Now, here is the benefit. By owning an online travel agency, you are engaged in the travel profession. This gives you access to a side of travel that the average consumer never gets to see. You are allowed insider vacation packages that are deeply discounted, courtesy upgrades only available to those in the travel business, not to mention that since you are in the travel business, you get to write off your leisure vacations as well. And, you also get paid 60% of the vendor commission back on your own travel.
So to sum this up:
1. We are in an industry that people are already sold on.
2. We are in the largest industry in the world that is doubling in size.
3. We get to create additional tax write offs.
4. We get to travel like an insider.
5. We have a no risk guarantee to make a profit.
6. We have a bill of rights to protect our income forever.
The total cost is a one time $449.95 and a monthly licensing fee of $49.95 to maintain the hosting and back office functionalities of our travel business. We a have over 300 + people at the home office working for us on a full time basis. There will be close to 1,000 employees by the end of the year. We just point people to our site and YTB does the rest. YTB is also building a 130,000 square foot facility in Greater St. Louis and you are more than welcome to visit the home office. Almost every Tuesday, they have what is called the Red Carpet event. Every week, between 800 to 1200 people fly out to take a look at the company. The day starts with a tour of the facilities and meeting the employees. Then they charter everyone over to the convention center where they lay out a huge buffet lunch. Shortly after everyone eats, they give a presentation on the business model. It is a very dynamic event but the impressive thing is that they don’t hype it up. They give people a very objective look at why this makes sense. I haven’t had one person visit the company and not get involved.
As questions come up, don’t hesitate to call me anytime day or night. I am passionate about this business. We are showing people how to travel a lot better for less money, be able to write it off on their taxes and get paid to do it. It’s pretty much that simple. For those of us who are a little more entrepreneurial, there is a much more significant opportunity available. We are riding a trillion dollar market through an 18 to 20 year growth spurt and then binding it all together for sustained success through relationships. It just makes sense.
Successfully Yours,
The Pros and Cons of Discount Travel Clubs
If you love to travel, but can’t seam to do it as often as you would like, you should consider looking into a good travel club.
My wife LOVES to travel the world as I am sure many of you do, but it was always so expensive. I am here to tell you, it does not have to be.
This is how travel clubs work.
When you think about it owning a resort property is just like any other business. They need a steady flow of customers to be profitable. Their unique challenge is, they also need a consistent flow of customers preferably evenly spaced throughout the entire year otherwise many issues start to become problems for them. To many customers all at once is lost business, probably to your competition. Not enough customers means empty rooms and lost business and revenue, which makes staffing as well as many other things VERY difficult.
The challenge is to keep a steady flow of customers, preferably evenly spaced all year long. But how do they do that?
One way resort owners have discovered to help with this is by affiliating with travel clubs to offer club members unreserved rooms at deep discounts. This helps keep a steady flow of customers all year long, and helps the owner keep a properly staffed business running.
Think about it from their perspective, would you rather have an empty room and NO income, and have a staff to pay with no customers to serve or income being produced? Or, to keep a good quality staff busy, have customers that may only be paying enough to cover your expenses with little or no profit?
It does not take long as a business owner to figure out that “when possible” you sell at full price, when necessary you take a discount and less profit, and when push comes to shove at least cover expenses to avoid taking a loss.
Even taking some loss is acceptable if it helps with staffing issues, inventory, food shelf life, advertising, budgeting, exposure and many other business issues. As long as it is not the norm, obviously.
Now, keep in mind, all travel clubs are NOT created equal.
The owner of the travel club is also doing business. He wants to provide his members with an attractive offer to build membership, but also wants to make money in HIS business, which IS the travel club. If the owner is more concerned about profit, than they are about giving value to their members, that club has a limited future.
The saying that just popped into my head was “It is better to have a little bit of something, than a whole lot of nothing.”
The resort owners are constantly negotiating deals (level of discount) with hundreds of travel club owners.
The owner of a particular travel club may have negotiated with the resort owners the best prices for his club, but if he is trying to make to much profit with his travel club, his members would NOT be getting the best deals!
It is very hard to negotiate however, without something the other party wants. Therefore, the more members you have in your club the easier it is to negotiate great deals. But getting lots of members is no easy task in itself.
The most successful travel club owner has figured out how to build a large following (with minimal cost) so they have the leverage to negotiate great deals other clubs can’t, but because of their low overhead they can pass most of the savings along to their members.
We all know that the BEST form of advertising is, word of mouth. As luck would have it, it is also the least expensive. (free) So, if you (as a club owner) were to pay your current members (for new memberships) to advertise by word of mouth or however they choose, and generate members for you just by telling potential members about your club and the huge savings they had received, you would have a growing membership with minimal expenses, therefore, you could pass dramatic savings on to your members which in turn would help generate more members more easily and get better discounts.
As I stated earlier, not all travel clubs are created equal, just as with any other business. You must do your research to find a club that offers a large inventory of locations, at deep discounts to its members, without charging too much for their membership. That travel club will continue to grow in size and value, and provide you with a lifetime of deeply discounted travel for minimal cost so you can travel the world and enjoy what the world has to offer.
Travel clubs can be a great opportunity to save your hard earned money. Just make sure you do your research and find the right one, otherwise you are not going to get the most value possible for your money.
Good luck, and I’ll see you on the beaches of the world.
Travel Agents – Dependable Planners For Your Holidays
In the present age of globalization, distance from one corner of the world to the other has shrunk a lot. The availability of many transportation facilities and attractive tour packages have attracted the tourists in the recent times. A lot of tours & travels companies are offering lucrative packages to the travelers these days. Travel agents are the persons who arrange all kinds of transportation and accommodation facilities for the tourists. The sale & purchase of travel and other related services are arranged by a tours & travels agency.
The travel industry has flourished in the recent times and it has become one of the largest businesses in many countries. Since the corporate world is expanding leaps and bounds, the travel business is expected to grow more rapidly in the coming years. The professionals visit different places all over the globe for their business activities. Also, people go for holidays, long vacations, honeymoon, etc., and avail the services of travel agencies.
Travel agents play very important role in bringing business for their companies. The agents need to have good communication and interpersonal skills so that they could fulfill the requirements of their clients. They should be detail-oriented and able to convince the customers about the services offered by their respective companies. The travelers look for the right advices and agents can suggest them about the popular destinations, hotels and other facilities. They can also tell about the weather conditions, local customs, nearby places, exhibitions, etc.
The travel package that excites tourists and allows them to enjoy their holidays becomes popular in a short span of time. The deals offered these days are customer oriented and bring a lot of benefits to the visitors. One can find the agents at various places like nearby markets. Though, the low-cost airlines and big travel agencies provide all the required information on their websites, many travellers still prefer to contact the agents for arranging their trips. However, scenario is changing rapidly and the concept of online booking is flourishing these days. One can find a lot of attractive tour packages on the online portals. Various kinds of gifts and incentives are given to the customers on these sites. Moreover, the travelers can directly book the tickets and avail the benefits provided on these portals. A lot of information on tourism industry, details about various places and different attractive packages are provided on such websites.
The online travel agencies are very popular in the UK markets. They provide some of the most lucrative deals and schemes to customers. It is always better to directly visit the travel websites. You might end up wasting your time in searching the lucrative tour packages on the internet whereas the travel websites provide accurate information to the visitors. The agents in travel industry prove to be the right persons who can suggest their clients how to cut the extra cost and expenses.
The world of online travel companies has become very effective source for planning the tours and trips. One can choose his or her own travel routes and get the most attractive & comfortable arrangements. The best and most suitable travel package can be availed on these places at affordable price. Convenience and fast services are other facilities offered on such portals. One can get several quotes of different travel planners within few seconds that allow him or her to choose the best available deal. Due to rising completion, the planners quote the best price so that they could attract maximum number of customers.
Travel agents provide the most suitable information to their clients. One can get the best value for money spent on them as they suggest about the right location to visit, weather conditions, international flight timings, travel insurance, etc. The tourists need to know about these factors before going for the trip. All the formalities are taken care by the travel companies so that the travellers could enjoy their tour.
EMR Pollution and The Business Traveller
An article about Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) published in Townsend Letter, The Examiner of Alternative Medicine (November 2014) highlights the new environmental landscape we find ourselves and the insidious impact EMR is wreaking on health. The article serves as a reminder of a real and present danger of our time and the role EMR could play in the health picture of anyone facing illness. The article’s value lies in alerting us to a developing consensus in certain parts of the scientific community and our ability to read between the lines of what is known about this new landscape and where the trend is heading. This article hopes to draw your attention to the fact that there are certain workers in the general populace who are more vulnerable to the effects of EMR than others. In this instance I am referring to business travellers and anyone who has global travel as part of their job description.
In the latter part of the twentieth century we began a large-scale experiment by making use of artificial electromagnetic radiation waves to drive technology and industry which gave us some very nifty advantages. The upside has been the accelerating rate of globalisation of the world and the world economies. The downside is that we have become more out of touch with our innate health supporting environment. As the world has globalised it mobilised; Technology is an enabler of a mobile world and EMR is a necessary feature. The Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw our society transform from an agrarian one to an industrial one. Now we have transformed from an industrial society to a technologically driven society with some not so desirable consequences. Artificial EMR waves we use in daily life to power our gadgets and connect globally are disruptive to human health because they severe our link to the natural geomagnetic wave profile that has nourished Man from time immemorial.
The article goes on to describe the author’s health challenge with Lyme’s disease and the role EMR played in it. It is the research material quoted in the article,which is of more interest to us in terms of what it says about the risks of EMR pollution to business travellers. The most detailed research quoted was the BioInitiative Report compiled by scientists and researchers of ten nations. It notes thousands of studies which demonstrate the damaging effects of EMR from cell phone radiation and other sources. It is damning because it shows the depth of the problem across various fields of study.
Digging into the details of some of the other research used we find a quote from the late Dr Professor Neil Cherry a pioneer in environmental health who said, “EMR confuses and damages the cells signalling system, which produces symptoms such as headaches, concentration difficulties, memory loss, dizziness and nausea, and long-term diseases such as Alzheimer’s dementia, brain tumours and depression.”
In a quote from an interview published in 2009 with Dr Thomas Rau of the renowned Paracelsus clinic in Switzerland he says ” … cultures of normal human endogenous bacterial cultures grow much less when exposed to EMR”. Rau’s comments are a reflection that our immunity is compromised in the presence of EMR. Herein lies the problem. EMR messes with immunity which has harmful effects on long-term health.
The article also quotes a Lynn Quiring (RPh, CCN, NMD) paper titled “The Cell Phone Poisoning of America.” In it Lynn cites over 66 scientific references proving the relationship between prolonged EMR exposure and a host of health conditions including hormonal imbalances, low sperm count, immune system disorders, memory loss and sleep disorders.
Not only are we changing the environment externally, but its influence on our internal environment is what is most worrying. Our ability to control and determine our internal environment is our ability to maintain health. It is our first line of defence against stress and the challenges we face on a daily basis.
Business travellers have many challenging scenarios to negotiate in pursuit of a successful business trip. They can include anything from the geopolitical nature of the world, the weather, industrial action, personal security while on the road and more. The constant shift in any of these variables is enough to cause stress, especially when you can’t control them. For the most part we brush them off and get on with the business in hand however, being able to do this is reliant on our stress coping mechanism. Yet here we have evidence that one of the tools that enables our functionality in the global economy is the very thing which is eroding our much-needed resilience. If this seems a bit too far-fetched take a look at the following Infographic from PC Housing – Mobile Dependence.
Where is this heading? To zero in on what one kind of future scenario could look like we only have to look at a group of people who are now being diagnosed as Electro-sensitive. Electro-Sensitives cannot be in close proximity of or endure long periods of time in the vicinity of EMR or gadgets using them. Electro-Sensitivity and Electro-Smog have entered the popular lexicon. In the face of EMR ruling our airwaves and environments our immunity is taking a battering. When you put this in perspective with figures from the American Autoimmune Related Disease Association (AARDA) you get a sense of where the trend is headed and how EMR is a factor we should reckon with. See their document “A Briefing Report on Autoimmune Disease and AARDA: Past, Present and Future”. To get an even more specific take on how stress is affecting Business Travel see the industry specific white paper by AirPlus called “Traveller Productivity: How to tailor your travel policy to improve traveller performance.”
How is this affecting the global economy now? It is serious enough to get a mention at the open forum at the World Economic Forum in 2011 in a talk titled Burnout – The Latest Fashion? While the talk didn’t directly mention EMR as a causative factor its role as an enabler of efficiency in the workspace makes it a contributing factor.
The Business Travel industry and business travellers need to lighten the stress of business travel for the sake of all involved. The Carlson Wagonlit metric the Travel Stress Index (TSi) puts the hidden cost of business travel at over $600 per trip. For companies with large mobile workforces making multiple trips a year that is a big financial incentive. Mitigating costs takes a combined approach, which involves acknowledging the environment we find ourselves working and living in and a sense of individual responsibility towards our health that supports health and therefore productivity.
References
BioInitiative Report: A Rationale for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard for Electromagnetic Radiation, December 31, 2012.
Cherry N. Evidence that Electromagnetic Radiation is Genotoxic: The implications for the epidemiology of cancer and cardiac, neurological and reproductive effects. Neil Cherry, Extended from a paper to the conference on Possible health effects on health of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields European Parliament, Brussels, 2 March 2001.
Rau T. Transcript interview with Dr Thomas M. Rau of the Swiss Paracelsus Clinic – online article, accessed – 01/11/2014.
Quiring L. The cell phone poisoning of America [online article] 2008, accessed 01/11/2014.
Where to Find Airline Deals on Business Class Seats
Air travel can be costly and, of course, tiring. Flying business class, however, offers the opportunity to make the most of the journey-a great way to travel and to reach the destination invigorated and stress-free. Business class flights are pampered with top-notch lounges, multi-course meals, Internet accessibility, private screens and entertainment systems. Getting expert advice and travel tips can therefore worth the effort in finding airline deals to make flying experience the best it can be. Flying in business or first class, especially, at a price of an airline deal on a business class seat is very well the Holy Grail of air travel. And there are ways to work the upgrades deals on business class seats.
Airlines’ Own Websites
Airlines’ own websites offer great possibilities to find the lowest available fares on business class seats and they may show many fare options. One of the advantages of finding an airline deal on a business class seat on the airlines sites is that the sale s established directly with the airline. It becomes swell more so when flights are cancelled for it will be easier to negotiate an alternative with an airline agent when ticket is purchased directly with them.
Frequent Flyer Miles Program
The frequent flyer miles program with an “elite” status member offers a better chance with more options and better odds at getting that upgrade for a deal on a business class seat. Using frequent flyer miles for an upgrade to a business class seat offers better value for the miles used compared to using miles to purchase a coach award ticket. Upgrade inventory, though, can be limited. It is best to book as far in advance as possible and be flexible about mid-week travel, if possible. Further, upgrades can be doable days and hours before departure-by being on the waiting list.
Travel Agents
The professionals in air travel are the travel agents with the relevant experience about the nuances of air travel. A good and reputable travel agent may well worth the help to find airline deals on business class seats, especially for foreign travel with complex itineraries. Helpful agents do all the work and help eliminate the stress and inconvenience of plodding through endless discount-air fare websites. Also travel agents often have access to special consolidated fares that are not offered directly by the airlines. And knowing all the conditions and restrictions associated with a consolidated fare ticket is key to getting that good value.
Airline-Independent Sites
Airline-independent sites are a good resource for surveying all the airline offerings at once. Among the most popular airline-independent sites where to find deals on business class seats include sites such as:
- Expedia: one of the world’s leading online travel companies using leading technology-websites, mobile apps and Facebook page to discover destination ideas, get information about flights, hotels, care rentals, cruises, and more. Expedia also offers member rewards program with hotel price guarantees, earning points booking for others, and VIP access hotel room benefits.
- Orbitz for Business: offers a full service and fully integrated approach to travel and expense management by combining leading technology with expert support to achieve savings in travel expense needed.
- Travelocity: offers the most comprehensive guarantee in the travel industry. The Travelocity Guarantee is key in Travelocity’s business model, guaranteeing the best prices in air travel-that matches lower prices online or will refund the difference if a lower price is found elsewhere.
- Kayak: a tech company co-founded by Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz, with a different approach in air travel and focus on making airline travel better. At Kayak.Com website and Kayak mobile apps on any SmartPhone or tablet, one can compare hundreds of travel sites in one comprehensive, fast and intuitive display and choose where to book.
- Cook Travel: offers negotiated first class airline tickets and exclusive business class airfare discounts. Cook Travel offers airfare savings of 10 to 60 percent off, as well as 2 for 1 airfare discounts worth pursuing.
- WholesaleFlights: a boutique travel agency specializing in discount business and first class flights. WholeSale.Com offers customer service with the personal touch of a friendly travel concierge helping with the research and providing several discount flight options in both business and first class.
- OneTravel: offers a wide selection of business and first class flights with a low fare promise subject to terms and conditions, good for website bookings only.
- CheapOair: also offers opportunities to explore cheap business class flight deals.
Other Ideas
Taking advantage of what is known as fare buckets is also a great way to gain savings in air travel. The further in advance a ticket is purchased the more fare options there are. On some flights there may be over a dozen different fares for coach, business or first class seats. However, it is often the case, that the cheaper the fare, the more restrictions and conditions there are attached to that bucket. And the few ways to find a cheaper fare bucket seat may be to change the time of departure or leaving a day earlier or later.
Further, there is also the website, ExpertFlyer.Com, an airline-independent website that does not sell tickets; rather, the site lists all the fares and rules for all flights. ExpertFlyer.Com is designed to meet needs of the frequent flyer, the airline mileage program “elite-tier” passengers, professional travel managers, and the occasional air traveler looking for the best values. ExpertFlyer.Com is a 24/7 real-time powerful air travel information service and offers information on seat maps on specific flights that show which flights are occupied or not.
Generally, the cost and rigors of air travel can be daunting. Ways these rigors can be minimized is to travel smart. Other useful resources worth taking a look at when making travel plans are websites such as SeatGuru and SeatExpert-sites with proven technology that offer designs of the cabins and graphical layouts of seats and the pros and cons for the various seats on the planes.
Coworking Spaces for Business Travelers
Travelling is a very basic component of every business institution. Meeting with the partners and remote coworkers every now and then is crucial to intensify the growth of the business. Generally, the business executives prefer meetings in person. For countless reasons you may have to travel to different cities or countries and host business meetings.
However, the work ethics has changed significantly in the world, making things more digitalized but there are not enough ideas in the world that can put an end to business travelling. While hotel conference rooms are always a pick for the business travellers, the meetings can also be held in the coworking spaces.
Hotel conference rooms charge immensely to arrange meetings. And since these meetings are quite frequent, you always look for an outlet that can save you some money. So today, we will be discussing some of the choices that you have to hold meetings or presentation for your business-
Business Centers- To begin with, we would like to introduce Business Centers as your initial choice of holding business meetings. This alternative does not require any former investment. The presentation rooms and business meeting rooms are rented on hourly basis or for days. You can rent the room as per your needs. Most of these places are equipped with internet, printers, workstations, meeting tables in different sitting capacities, projectors, etc. The Business Centers are designed to give you real-life office experience on a remote location.
Business Hotels- As we were discussing earlier, Business Hotels is the common-most choice of every business traveller to host business meetings. These hotels usually have meeting rooms, classrooms, private office, individual desks etc. The ambience is amazing and you can also quickly arrange lunch for the clients. The Business Hotels are usually equipped with all the major amenities that you may need to hold meetings. The rent however is a troublesome element. You will find business hotels to charge massively for the services delivered. You can rent it for hours or days, as per your needs. Of course, you can also stay at the same hotel and make arrangements for the meeting.
Coworking Spaces- One of the most pragmatic option that is available on an affordable rate are the coworking spaces. Coworking spaces are still creating their market as not many business people know about it. These offices are available at low prices and can be rented for hours or days. They have fine suitable for different kinds of professionals. The amenities that you get at coworking spaces are internet, projectors, meeting rooms, etc. You can also conduct meetings in the dedicated coworking places and meet new people. This will also help you to connect with professionals that may help you with your business as well. It is a perfect choice for the professionals with budget constraint.
Can Virtual Reality Help Eliminate Your Corporate Travel Expenses?
All of those things are perfectly valid arguments – for now. But putting supplier and customer in the same room has no long-term sustainable future. Technology is making it redundant. Not today, perhaps not tomorrow, but soon.
Of course, it’s fair to say that some companies like to show how much power they have over suppliers by summoning them for a 15-minute meeting a three-hour drive away, keeping them waiting for no other reason than ‘because they can’, and then sending a deputy to do the face-to-face part. That’s mere arrogance, and that kind of company won’t change. The time spent, of course, will be reflected in the bill…
But for more enlightened customers there is a recognition that time is not only money, but is also finite. Sure, a personal connection is vital. Before a contract is awarded, it’s good to see the whites of their eyes; to see if they’re the kind of people you’d like to do business with. But after that, meet once a year, perhaps, and for the rest of the time rely on technology. And why wouldn’t you. We’re living on a technology timeline, where the once-novel is now the mere commonplace. Who would have thought we could communicate electronically via email? But we do. Who remembers that now old-fashioned ‘please allow 28 days for delivery’ on goods bought by mail order. But we did.
Careful use of travel expense management software will show just how much money a company is spending to put its representative in the same suit as a client. But the time spent on regular travelling is a drain on the individual jammed into the metal tube at 50,000 feet, a drain on a company’s productivity, for if they’re travelling they’re not being as productive as they might be, and for the planet, we’re just sucking away the fossil fuels and fouling up the atmosphere. Comparisons of the relative CO2 emissions between cars and planes are a red herring; both dump more greenhouse gas than not making the journey at all.
And does that mean there has to be some kind of personal connection; some feeling that a supplier puts before you dismiss it out of hand, perhaps now would be a good time to take the long view; and from that different perspective, perhaps see the concept in a different light.
Squinting into the past, it would once have been unheard of to exchange correspondence electronically, batting messages back and forth more quickly than can be explained – but we take it for granted today.
Customized Travel Adapters – The Ideal Corporate Gifts
Most professionals, executives, business owners, office workers, e.t.c, have embarked on travel from one country to another for business transactions, meetings, seminars, workshops, and other business-related functions at one time or the other. As they embark on their different journeys from country to country, their phones, laptops and other electronic gadgets are always with them to keep in contact with business partners and get up-to-date with work.
Phones, laptops are also essential gadgets are a must-pack when embarking on business journeys. There is nothing more frightening than seeing your phone or laptop with a low battery and about to go off when you have important business phone calls to make, you want to navigate your destination with Google Map or have other very important things that you need to do with your phone. This is why a Travel Adapter is a must use when you want to embark on a journey.
What is a Travel Adapter
A travel Adapter is not an electrical converter; it is a connector that allows electrical devices of different plug shapes to be used in different countries. It simply connects different plug shapes to the wall outlet of different countries. This means that with this, you can plug in electrical devices with different plug shapes into the wall outlet of another country.
Different countries and regions have different wall outlets and plug types, which is why a travel adapter is recommended to take along with you whenever you are embarking on a journey to another country. Some of them also have USB Ports where you can charge your phones, tablets and some other USB enabled devices.
Why Travel Adapters are Ideal Corporate Gifts
Company owners, business owners, executives, and other professionals travel most times from one country to another. They need to charge and plug in their different electronic devices and because of this reason, they are ideal corporate gifts that companies and businesses can give out as gift items.
Travel adapters come in different shapes and colors, hence it is best you get the ones that have plug sockets that are compatible with your different electronic devices. Different countries and continents have different plug types such as A, B, C, D, and so on. For example, America has plug type A, Canada has plug type A, European countries have plug type C.
Customized Travel Adapters
Adapters can be customized to suit your needs and make it look different from the other adapters around. This is to give it a unique look and to personalize it for your personal use and satisfaction.
Assuming you have two phones and two tablets that you need to charge at the same time, there are customizable adapters that perfectly suit your need. These are adapters that allow you to simultaneously charge your two phones, two tablets, and other electronic devices at the same time. Charging all your devices at the same time may reduce the distribution of electrical power to each device which will prolong the charging time.
Benefits of using Customized Travel Adapters
1. To charge your phones while traveling – Allows you to charge your phones while traveling regardless of the country you are traveling to. You do not need to worry about whether the wall outlet in the country you are traveling to will be compatible with the country you are coming from. With a customized travel adapter, you can charge your different phones all at the same time thereby saving time.
2. To charge your Laptop while traveling – Allow you to charge your laptop in any country you may be traveling to. A laptop is one of the most important belongings a business man or an executive will be traveling with because he needs to always be up-to-date with work. So using a customized travel adapter will give you an assurance that you will not have to lose track of work due to low battery of your laptop.
3. To charge your Tablets – Apart from charging your phones and laptop, you can as well charge your tablets too. There are many outlets where you can plug in your tablets along with your phones and laptop.
4. To power Electric Shavers – As a businessman going on a business trip that will take weeks, an electric shaver is one personal belonging you shouldn’t forget to take with you. This is where a customized travel adapter is of great importance because you will need to power your electric shaver or charge it when needed. Regardless of the country, you are travelling to, a customized travel adapter is what you should take along with you to enable you power or charge your electric shaver.
5. To charge Digital Cameras – As a tourist going on a vacation or a businessman going to a business seminar, a digital camera is what you should take along with you to capture every moment. You also need a customized travel adapter to enable you to charge or power your digital camera when needed. With a travel adapter you can charge your digital camera in any of the countries you will be traveling to.
Things to take note of
A Travel Adapter is not a converter or a transformer, hence there are two important things that you need to take note of when traveling to other countries so you don’t end up destroying your phones and other devices. These two important things you should take note of include;
1. Current – The two major standards for electric current are Direct current (DC) and Alternating Current (AC). Some countries use DC while some other countries use AC, hence you need to check that your devices are compatible with the electrical current of the countries you will be visiting so as to avoid any damage.
2. Voltage – There are several different standards of electric voltage for different countries. The most common are USA voltage standard of 110/120V and European countries of 220/240V. So check which voltage your devices are compatible with so as to avoid damaging your devices.
Travel Survival Tips: 13 Essential Items to Pack for Your Next Business Trip
Travel Survival Tips
Traveling for business or pleasure for the most part is great experience. Travel does have its disadvantages, especially when you forget to bring some essential item. Being prepared is the secret to the travel game. Having both worked and lived abroad, I have had to travel in many different environments. There are certain items that I always want to have with me on a business trip because of their usefulness. Most of the items are surprisingly inexpensive. Here is the Travel Survival list that I have compiled of items that I take with me when I travel for business.
13 Essential Items to Pack for Your Business Trip
1. White Hand Towel
A basic white 16″ x 27″ hand towel. The saving grace to this towel is its compact size. Not too big, not too small. It is big enough to shower with even for a big guy like me. Hey, it is not the “Ritz-Carlton” of towels, but it is big enough to get the job done. If you have to wash it, it washes easily in the sink in your room. If you have to use a commercial laundry, It takes up less space and it also dries quicker. That will save you money in the end. At 2 Euro to wash a very small load in France, it adds up. I have used it to shine my shoes, rolled-up as a pillow, and even a dust cloth. It can also be used to clean up a variety of spills. Make sure that it is white so it can be bleached. Most of the time I simply wash it with Zote (See #2) Best of all, you know where this towel has been. Less than $5
2. Zote Mexican Laundry Soap
I prefer Zote Brand – Choose the pink one, it has a great citronella scent and it just works. Zote gets out stains that would never come out with anything else. When you spill on your favorite tie; Zote to the rescue. It will even remove old stains that have been on clothing for sometime. It also has fabric softeners built in. So when your luggage doesn’t arrive, you can rewash your outfit with Zote and you are on your way! Purchase Zote at any Latino Supermarket. It is a great product and it smells so good. Less than $1.
3. Dr. Bronner’s Magic Pure Castile 18 in 1 Peppermint Hemp Soap
The most unique and refreshing soap you will ever use. Dr. Bronner’s website explains that the soap is “A combination of organic extra virgin coconut, olive, jojoba and hemp oils, together with pure essential oils, creates a unique soap that cleans effectively without being aggressive and produces a velvety-lather that leaves the skin silky-smooth and refreshed.” it is a little pricey, but well worth it. The soap is ultra concentrated so you should dilute it. A bottle will last you much longer than you think. The awesome peppermint oil in the soap helps wake you up during your morning shower. It is also good to use as a refreshing face wash. I love this product. It is also interesting to read the bottle. Dr. Bronner brought the soap to the United States in 1948; his family has been making soap for 5 generations. All-One! 2 ounce bottle $3
4. Dial “Gold” Antibacterial Soap
Dial makes the best antibacterial soap on the market. Lets face it, hotel rooms can have a lot of germs. Don’t bother with liquid soap; the bar soap has more of the active ingredient in it than the liquid soap. Forget the little soap in the box that they provide for you. Use Dial to wash your hands, the counter, tables, and you! This will help keep you from bringing home the souvenir of sickness. $3 for a 3 pack.
5. Swiss Army Knife
Make sure to check this item if you are traveling by airplane. TSA will not permit a knife on a plane (Duh!) I am 1/2 Swiss. I have been using Swiss Army Knives since I was a kid. They are reliable and useful in so many ways. They are also easy to slip in your pocket and can serve as a weapon for your defense. My favorite model is the “Spartan”. It sports 2 blades, a can and bottle opener, screwdrivers, corkscrew and leather awl. $28
6. Leatherman Multi-tool
The main purpose for the leatherman is the needle-nose pliers. I tend to use my Swiss Army Knife more than my Leatherman. However, I have forgotten to pack it on occasion when I really could have used the pliers. You can unstick a zipper, tighten a bolt, etc. A great tool to have on hand everyday. $30
7. Glad White Plastic Quick-Tie Kitchen Garbage bags – 13 Gallon
These bags are good for dirty clothes, shoes or whatever you don’t want to touch your clean stuff. They work great as barf-bags for those of you doing some international travel. They are also good for taking out the trash! $7 for 80 Bags.
8. Plastic Zip Tie Cables
These can withstand 40 pounds of pressure. I always throw in a couple of zip ties. just in case. You can use zip ties to repair almost anything; a luggage strap, shoes, luggage lock, etc. Less than $7 for a pack of 20.
9. “The Bullet” Fisher Space Pen
Developed by Paul Fisher. This pressurized pen was first used by NASA on the Apollo 7 Space flight in 1968. Without the invention of the Space Pen, astronauts would still be writing in pencil! The bullet pen is my favorite. It fits in your pocket, and it always works. It even writes under water. Once you try one, you will be hooked. Made in the USA in Boulder City, Nevada. $25
10. Moleskine Notebook
I first came across a Moleskine Notebook while living in Europe. I love the simple concept of a banded hard-bound notebook that you can carry with you everywhere. Simple, black, rounded corners, with a pocket in the back. They now come in several different sizes, styles, and colors. I still prefer black. It is always on my person along with my Fisher Space Pen (See #9). $12
11. Zippo Lighter
It always pays to have a way to light your path or start a fire. One of the first lessons you learn as a Boy Scout is how to light a fire. Always be prepared. I bought my first Zippo when I was 18 years old. It has been a great tool to have. You probably have to check this one with your luggage as well. $25
12. Sewing Kit
Make sure to have a sewing kit with you when you travel. If you need a needle and thread or a button, this item is worth its weight in gold. $5
13. Duct Tape
This one is a no-brainer. A must have for on the go repairs. A million and one uses come to mind for Duct Tape. You can even make a nice tie or wallet if you get bored. A roll is very nice to have if you need it.
