Taking off Travel blog

What are your 2012 business travel plans looking like? If we’re to believe a recent study commissioned by Deloitte it looks like many business travelers are expecting to take at least the same number of trips next year, if not more. The breakdown is largely age divided with only 16% of travelers over 45 planning to take more business trips next year while 27% of those aged up to 44 think they will travel more. Looking back at the figures for last year it seems that a lot of those surveyed anticipated that this year they would take the same number of trips or more than 2010 also 19% expected to travel less either because of the recession because they had changed jobs.

The survey also revealed some interesting trends in accommodation preferences among the respondents. In the 18 to 29 age group 46% of respondents expressed a clear preference for their favorite brand of hotel even if the location was not quite suitable while that figure fell to 37% for those above 30. Related to that, 49% of those in the over 30 age group felt that levels of service and hotel facilities varied widely among hotels in the same group. Only 39 % of those under 31 felt that way.

There was also interesting data on how business travelers use hotels, with 67% saying that they spent time working in their rooms. However, many of the younger business people spent time in executive lounges and lobbies for work. The younger respondents showed a preference for using automated check-ins but this was only a favored option for 19% of those over 45.

How have business travelers reacted to hotel price increases? By expecting better services and better amenities. This was the view of 61% of respondents. In addition 77% said that they wanted free Internet access as a priority. Like other travelers business travelers are concerned about flight and security delays at airports and these are even bigger issues for them than staff and amenities at hotels. Read the full story here.

(Image: Maurice Koop)

Whether you are a seasoned business traveler or on your way out to represent your company for the very first time, it’s important to know how to conduct yourself—particularly if you are traveling overseas. While people are people no matter where you go, the British, in general, are known for being more reserved. If you are traveling to the UK it may help to be aware of etiquette and protocol in world of British business.

Initial Greetings

• Firm handshakes will be given with no consideration for gender. Men and women are expected to conduct themselves in the same manner and are treated as equals. Expect to shake hands, both upon entering and leaving a meeting.
• Eye contact is considered proper throughout the greeting but holding prolonged eye contact should be avoided; it will make your British colleagues uncomfortable.
• Mr., Mrs. or Miss and the person’s surname should be used until you are invited to use a first-name. This tends to be particularly true of members of older generations.
• Plan to exchange business cards at first introduction with little fanfare. Business cards are not studied; rather they are simply tucked away in a wallet or jacket pocket. Don’t be offended if you don’t feel the proper attention is paid to your card.

Communication

The British tend to be a direct lot, particularly if you are seen as an equal. While not rude, their direct approach can take a little getting used to. As with initial greetings, be sure to use a person’s title and surname throughout your conversation unless you are invited to do otherwise. Using first names, especially among the older set, is seen as quite disrespectful. Once a Brit feels more comfortable with you their style of communication will become less formal.

Written communication is handled in much the same way as spoken communication. Titles and surnames are standard and abbreviates are rarely used. Should you pepper your communications with slang you will be looked upon as a bit vulgar.

Meeting Protocol

Business meetings in Britain follow many of the same rules as business meetings anywhere, though they seem a touch more formal. Follow these general rules and you’ll have a successful meeting.

• When using an agenda, forward it to anyone that will be attending the meeting at least one week in advance. This will give everyone a chance to have input and recommend changes.
• Be punctual. Just as you wouldn’t want to be kept waiting, neither do your British counterparts. It is understood that emergencies arise but if you are going to be more than a few minutes late, phone and advise the attendees of your expected tardiness.

• If the people attending the meeting are on equal footing, ideas and comments will flow freely. If there is someone of rank in the company attending the meeting, they will generally lead the discussion and should be deferred to.
• Keep the small talk to a minimum. While Americans tend to want to make friends straight away, the British do not. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss business; stay on track.
• Presentations should be professional. Be prepared with facts to back up any statements that you make. The British do not make emotional decisions when it comes to business. If you come to the meeting unprepared you will almost certainly lose whatever it was you had hoped to gain.

When conducting a meeting with your British counterparts, formality and preparedness rule. Try not to put so much stress on yourself that you’re a nervous wreck. Be respectful, avoid the tendency to be overly friendly too quickly, but be yourself and know that honest faux pas will be overlooked; you are a foreigner after all.

UK resident, Tom Blanchard, is a finance consultant and suggests you check for bargains while visiting and shopping on Coupon Croc, a well known UK discount site.

More on this:

• Do You Speak Brit?
• 20 British Expressions You Will Never Hear in the US

A couple years back, I was taking a lot of business trips to attend conferences and exhibitions. As I arrived at the hotel check-in desk with what I thought was a modest sized suitcase, I glanced across at the people next to me and saw that some of them had managed to pack for a four day trip with a carry-on. One guy was just carrying a suit-bag – that was it! It was obvious that I was missing a trick. Here’s how some of them did it.

1. Accept that you need less than you think you do. Unless it’s summer, if you’re a guy,  it won’t kill you to wear the same suit for three days and just take a couple of spare shirts. That won’t work for the ladies, but try two mix and match outfits to give you four combos. Pair that with no more than 2 pairs of shoes and, for the guys, two ties, and you’re all set.

2. Make clothes do double duty. If you’re a PJs kind of person, and you also like to hit the hotel gym in the morning, then let your workout wear double as sleepwear. Shorts and a T-shirt are very versatile. If you get the light ones with wicking, you can rinse them in the shower and they’ll be dry by nightfall, so one set will be enough.

3. Leave lotions at home. For the ladies especially, lotions and potions can take up a lot of room, but how many of those do you really need? This is the time to pack your most versatile makeup and body lotion. Even better, leave the lotion at home and pick up a travel size when you arrive if there’s none at the hotel. Unless you have sensitive skin, you can survive for a couple of days.

4. Change your laptop. There’s no point in downsizing your luggage needs if you still have to lug a behemoth of a laptop around with you. Switch to a netbook or, even better, a tablet, which is light, ultra-portable and has apps, games and an e-reader as well as all your business stuff. After years of traveling with a huge Dell laptop, I found the netbook a nice change and I currently have my eye on an Android-based tablet (Samsung Galaxy, perhaps?) when next I upgrade.

These four changes will make a big difference to the weight you have to carry around when you travel. What tips would you add?

More on this: Achieving Minimalism in Business Travel.

(Image: herbrm)

San Francisco is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and popular cities in all of America. Unfortunately, the city does not lend itself to easy travel, particularly for newcomers. If you’re planning a business trip to San Francisco, here are some tips for navigating the city without using your entire expense account for tolls.

The Airport

San Francisco is home to a top-rated International airport. If you’re a frequent traveler, you should have no problem navigating your way through the airport. If you don’t travel, getting in and out of the airport can be a bit daunting. The best tip, in this case, is to make use of either the airport’s shuttle service or a taxi. Hiring a professional will take the stress out of leaving the airport and finding your way to your hotel.

Where to Go

If you’re given a choice of where to stay, head to Market Street. The street runs from the northeastern edge of the city, through downtown and continues southwest through the city. Not only does Market Street give you a true taste of all that is San Francisco but it virtually eliminates the need for a car.

If you have a bit of time to explore, hop aboard one of the cable cars, horse-drawn streetcars or trolleybuses and head out on the town.  Market Street is home to everything you’ll need on your trip so there’s really no need to stray far. From shops and restaurants to cafes and pubs, walk out of your hotel and you’ll be only a block or two away from whatever you’re looking for.

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Traveling has become significantly more difficult over the past decade—regardless of the continent or the season, there are just more people traveling and it is always crowded. Everything from the excessive screening at airports to getting bumped off due to overbooking, all threaten to taken the fun out flying. It’s even more difficult for a business traveler who has to do it frequently. However, it is possible to make travel enjoyable, by following some simple rules that will help to minimize potential problems and make your trip stress-free, if not enjoyable.

Book Smartly

Whether it is rental cars, hotels or airlines, be smart about the bookings. Travel is not about getting the lowest prices—for a business traveler it is about avoiding cancelled flights and uncomfortable, inconveniently located hotels. Consider an airport hotel if your stay is short; a taxi to the airport is usually one of your biggest expenses, and also you won’t have to worry about rushing to make your flight.

If a very cheap hotel is located in an out-of-the-way location from which transport will be difficult or a greater expense, then it is not cheap. Precious time which can be better utilized in meetings or used for rest is wasted in transit, while the transport bill skyrockets. Likewise, an airline is not “cheap” if its flights have long layovers or delays, because time is wasted and you won’t arrive at your destination fresh and ready to participate in business meetings.

There is a wealth of information available online, and business travelers should use it to their advantage. Always check an airline’s on-time and lost luggage performance before booking. Also, look up the fare history on the intended route so that it can be determined if you are really getting a good price. Book flights that allow you to reserve seats, and ensure that seat early by getting a printout of the boarding pass; this is the best way to avoid getting bumped off or arriving without your checked-in baggage.

The Airport Experience

Check-in lines are always long and airport security is meticulous. So arrive early, a minimum of three hours before boarding time for international flights and two for local. Airport security officers will not be rushed just because the last call for one’s flight has been made, in fact if you’re in too big of a hurry they are going to pay you closer attention. Anticipate delays and schedule meetings with sufficient cushion time so you don’t become stressed out unnecessarily. Plan to have your before-flight meal at the airport instead of several cocktails, which will add to your jet lag and use up some of your extra time.

Once you’ve found an airline that you feel comfortable with, stay loyal. There is nothing better in travel than the perks that come with an elite status gained through frequent flyer programs. The same is true for hotel and car rental loyalty programs. Be sure to use these incentives to your advantage when traveling frequently. One weekend worth of flying to Asia can earn one a year of upgrades, speedy security lines and priority standby status.

On average, one passenger on each flight arrives at their destination without their luggage. So hold on to everything of value or those items that you can’t manage without. This includes medicine, jewelry, documents or that suit that will be needed for your early morning meeting. Make sure the luggage is clearly identified and drop a business card inside as well.

If you must travel for work, then why not enjoy it as much as possible? After your business is done, explore your destination—be open to different cultures and cuisine, and visit the local markets. Save a day to see a museum and learn about the local history. Create a diary or even a travel blog to share with others; remember travel is an option not everyone is blessed with.

Author Samantha Hathaway is a financial consultant and always traveling between the U.S. and Europe. She is also a blogger and content contributor to payday loans, a site with information about and access to pay advances.