As a corporate travel agency, we like to know what business travellers are all about. We found this brief article about a survey done on corporate business traveler and thought we’d share the insight. MORE THAN 75 percent of Americans prefer travelling with colleagues over flying solo when travelling for business, according to a nationwide survey conducted by Comfort Hotels.
Comfort, Choice Hotels International’s upper-midscale brand, conducted the survey among 1,100 Americans for better understanding of how travel impacts their work relationships. The survey results underline the value of the “work family” and reveals that 60 percent of respondents are willing to sacrifice a raise to work with the colleagues they like. Almost 65 percent consider work relationships as important as their relationships at home, while 59 percent agreed they spend either the same or more time with their work colleagues as they do with their families at home. A majority, 86 percent, said they keep in touch with former colleagues. We’re inclined to agree that colleagues that travel together are happier. Book your next business trip (with your work bestie) through TravelManor - they get you. Article source: https://businesstravel.postach.io/post/most-business-travelers-prefer-company-says-survey
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While travelling around is generally a pleasant activity, for some it can be quite intimidating.
There are many reasons for that and it’s understandable that a new place with its own culture and traditions can make a person nervous. However, none of that compares to the anxiety caused by a business trip! Not only are you worried whether you’ll be successful in achieving whatever goal or reason you’re travelling for, but you’ll be in a foreign place too. It can make anyone feel vulnerable and intimidated. Luckily, there are many ways to overcome this stress and improve your chances of having a successful business trip. A calm mind would be able to leave a better impression on others. Why are business trips so stressful? There are many reasons for getting stressed out while travelling for business reasons. The financial worries, the new place and being away from the people you know can all pile up eventually. Plus the flight itself makes a person tired so there’s a small fuss about whether or not you look presentable. At least I managed to get a cheap ticket from a corporate travel management company, like TravelManor, to lessen the budget stress. What to pack? If you pack the right things, your trip will be easier on you so make sure you ditch anything useless and take along the necessary things. Travel light Since a business trip isn’t all about exploring around, you should pack light. Take whatever is necessary and make sure your luggage is well below the max weight limit on your ticket. The more things you take the more you’ll have to fuss over them. Besides, too many useless items will be hard to keep track of, leaving you stressed out in the end. Noise-cancelling headphones One of the biggest problems with travelling is ending up tired and sleep-deprived. I used to think that it’s mostly because of the boring flight or because the seats are uncomfortable but no. I figured out that it was all that needless noise or someone talking too loud or kids crying that gets to you. Get yourself a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones and get some nice songs on your phone to stay pleasant during the flight. Snacks Now I know eating too much when you’re worried is extremely unhealthy but in moderation, it can be great. Don’t bring too much sugary things because that may prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep. Besides, after waiting about on the airport and then putting up with the droning flight later, it’ll all ought to make you hungry. My best suggestion is that you keep a few energy bars on you. Pack something that doesn’t crumble easily doesn’t melt and is packed well. Stay one step ahead A well-organized travel plan can help you worry less. The lesser the tension the lesser the stress level will be. Do some research It never hurts to look up information on wherever you’re heading to. Since you won’t be going for a fun vacation, it’s essential that you know at least the basic things about your destination because you won’t be having much time to explore. Personally, I really enjoy learning new things because it’s fascinating and it keeps me distracted from thinking up bad scenarios. The more you know, the more confident you’ll be. On a more serious note, I suggest you make a little list of all the useful facilities and services that you may use, like rent a car or an alternate hotel. In fact, your research will help you pack more efficiently. Stay connected Before travelling, figure out how you’ll stay in touch with your co-workers and make sure there’s also an alternate method of doing so. Not being able to get your message across or receive an important email can make anyone panic. Also, talk to your phone service providers and get one of their travel plans that help you stay connected. Another wise thing to do is to coordinate with a friend or a family member who can send you some money in case you run out. Not every country has ATM services. Similarly, talk to your bank to make sure you won’t have any money issues and have a way to reach out to them if you do. Flexible schedule Now I know that when you’ll be travelling for work reasons so you can hardly ever switch up the dates. What you can do is leave some free space in your schedule. It’s wise to expect the unexpected and leave out some free space for flexibility. Things go awry during trips frequently. And if you expect it, without getting all pessimistic mind you, then you’re sure to stay calm. Sometimes, the language barrier prevents you from getting your message across or some certain booking gets all mixed up. Just keep in mind that if there’s a problem, there’s most certainly a solution. Rather than panicking, plan carefully so no matter what, you stay in control. Thing’s that’ll help Adjust your routine If you’re travelling really far then keep the new time zone in mind. If you’re sleep-deprived, you won’t be able to function properly. Therefore, I suggest that you start tweaking your schedule to suit your trip beforehand. Also, you can start going on long walks. If you happen to frequent the gym then keep in mind that your hotel may not have such facilities. But you can always go on jogs or walks. Not only will it keep you healthy without straying from your original schedule but also let you explore around. Staying healthy and keeping a sense of normalcy tends to keep us stress-free during business trips. A sudden change in our life can throw us off. This disorientation can cause you to worry needlessly and make you feel restless. Take some time to meditate One of the best ways to calm down is to meditate. Get some of those soothing music and pick any suitable time. You can take buy a room freshener of your choice to replace scented candles and simply calm down. Reflect on your problems and break them down into tiny ones you can manage easily. I always do that when I feel like I’m too swamped with some issue. Article source: https://thriveglobal.com/stories/how-to-overcome-stress-on-a-business-trip/ As a fan of corporate travel agencies, like TravelManor - we enjoyed this article on why they’re great and why you should use travel agents’ services.
But when booking travel, she knows her limits. For her first trip to Australia and New Zealand late last year with her husband, she worked with a travel agent who specializes in those locations. “We had 10 days to visit three cities, with multiple long day trips to places on our bucket list,” she says. The agent recommended tours and accommodations, booked airlines and hotels and arranged for airport transfers. “What probably would have taken me months to plan only took one week. Plus, I gave them a budget and paid them directly instead of paying each vendor individually,” she says. White is onto something. “People think [travel agents] are extinct or that they are expensive, but both are untrue,” she says. Travel agencies are a $42 billion industry in the United States and growing, according to an IBISWorld report. “Often, you can work with a travel agent and get your trip at the same price or even cheaper than you’d pay to book it on your own,” says Jordan Bishop, founder of boutique travel agency Yore Oyster, based in Toronto. That’s because travel agents can access special pricing that’s not available to consumers, Bishop says. Here’s when you might want to turn to a travel agent: You’re planning an exotic or once-in-a-lifetime trip Think safaris, monthlong tours of Europe, or destinations like the Galapagos, Patagonia, or Antarctica. If you have a complicated itinerary, an agent can help with visas, train tickets, museum entrances, tours, and restaurant reservations along with flights and hotels. A professional can also help you prioritize safety and security. “You’re going to want a person to help with the insurance and liability of going to a place that’s remote, hard to get to, or far from hospitals,” says Polyana de Oliveira, owner and director of operations at Viare Travel in São Paulo, Brazil. You’re busy In the 45 days before a trip, people visit 38 travel web sites, on average, according to an Expedia Group report. “We spend a lot of time planning for our own vacations. The travel agent’s job is to take this off your plate. It’s not different from any other service you delegate to someone else because you don’t have the time for it, like cleaning,” says de Oliveira. “Going with an agency makes all the difference. What usually takes people weeks to do, we can turn over in a couple of days after just a quick chat with the client,” she says. You want an off-the-beaten-path experience“Small, family-owned touring companies don’t have the marketing budget to get on everyone’s radar,” says Hannah Lorenz, marketing associate for Chicago-based Down Under Endeavours. “For example, one of our favourite partners in Australia is a small company that runs private wildlife tours in Tasmania,” she says. “We always get feedback that this experience is the highlight of a client’s trip, yet you probably wouldn’t find the company with a Google search because they’re so small.” You’re organizing a group trip Think of how complicated it can be to put together a family vacation, then add another eight, 10, or 12 people into the mix. “For people trying to plan a group trip, an agent can be a godsend. Coordinating flights, transportation, itineraries and activities, and a whole slew of other details for a crowd can get complicated, fast,” says Mary “Libby” Emanuel, owner of Premier Group Travel in Tangerine, Florida. An agent can put together a family reunion, golf weekend, or wine-tasting vacation that takes into account everyone’s locations, interests, and mobility levels. You’re facing a language barrierWhen you don’t speak the local language or know the local customs, and you’re travelling to a place where most people don’t speak English, an agent can help. De Oliveira says that in Brazil most people do not speak English, many hotel sites are not in English, and even travel professionals only speak Portuguese. “So, many of my clients will hire us to have someone on the ground who speaks their language,” she says. The barrier can be even higher when you travel to places that don’t use languages based on the Roman alphabet, says Steven Cuffari, international marketing project manager for Lernidee Trains & Cruises in Berlin. You’re cruising For cruises it’s always a good idea to use a travel agent, says Janet Semenova, co-founder of Boutique Travel Advisors in Paradise Valley, Ariz.: “We can score a lot of great extra perks, savings, and shipboard credits.” Plus, travel agents can sort through the long list of destinations, cruise lines, cabins, and categories to find a good match for you. There’s a high likelihood that something could go wrongYou want to believe your trip will go smoothly every step of the way, but let’s face it—that doesn’t always happen. “Working with a travel agent is a good idea when you have a complex trip, are stitching together itineraries from multiple companies or tour operators, or are working with hyper-local travel providers,” says Bishop. “Travel agents have more bargaining power when it comes to getting refunds and other customer service issues. Airlines, hotels and tour operators often don’t think twice about giving the cold shoulder to individual consumers, but they do whatever they can to please travel agents since we bring them so much of their overall business,” he says. When to go it alone There are times you probably don’t need professional help to book your travel:
Not sure if you should hire a pro? You can always call a travel advisor and find out what they have to offer. “Most will do a complimentary 30-minute discovery call. It never hurts to take 30 minutes to get an expert opinion,” Semenova says. Article source: https://flyingaroundinabusinesssuit.tumblr.com/post/189548712202/the-7-reasons-why-you-should-use-a-travel-agent So your company has given you a chance to travel for a corporate trip and since you think it’s a huge deal, you are pretty much flustered about it. New place, new people, new food — new everything!
Oh, and not to mention the reason you are travelling. Your work of course! Can you imagine the hassle of dealing with everything while also being excited to travel? The pressure is definitely real. Fortunately for us, we live in the 21st century where modern-day corporate problems have modern-day solutions, and modern-day corporate tours have agencies that specialise in corporate travel management! Allow me to elaborate. What are Business travel agencies? They are often recognized as a travel management company, like TravelManor. These companies help people on corporate tours by managing and maintaining their corporate tour efficiently and effectively. Even though you can never be sure if all agencies are providing good quality service, you always have the chance to explore until you find the one most suitable for your requirements. They make arrangements for companies or individuals on their corporate trip by managing all the necessities; from booking hotels to arranging suitable transportation and entertainment, to visiting famous places and excellent eateries. Consider your booking, lodging, staying, scheduling and organizing complete and up-to-date, leaving you to focus on the key purpose of the business trip. Consider the relaxation and time to focus on your meetings and work you will be getting while they plan everything on your behalf. Concept of Travel Agencies The concept of travel agencies dates back to the revolutionary era of the mid-1700s – 1758, to be precise. Even though the concept was there for decades, the knowledge and word about hiring a travel agency spread in the early 1920s. The concept of a travel agency is to cater to all the travelling needs of people who require their services. This service is designed for the upper to middle and elite class community who can afford this luxury. Consultation is available for pretty much everyone. Look at all the benefits of Hiring a Corporate Travel Agent Business is all about making investments at the right time. Getting services from a corporate travel agent is entirely dependent upon how you want your work to be done. If you have the money to purchase their services without making a loss, then this is definitely the way to go. These services come with several benefits that make them much more feasible for you on your upcoming business trip. Here are some of the benefits mentioned: Efficient Travel Plan A business travel agency will obviously help you make the best out of your trip. It is certain that with an expert handling your entire trip, you can easily bring order and consistency to the entire tour. The agency definitely becomes your best travelling buddy once you are on the trip. Expert in Travel Management Of course! These people know what they are doing. Planning corporate travels can become somewhat of a complex task with all these things to tackle. This is why professional companies and good names in the corporate world tend to book the services of an agency before any business travel. A Time-Saving Approach When you got someone else covering and managing everything on your behalf, you will have all the time in the world to focus on the core principle of the trip; your work. Allow your agent to manage and maintain everything while you take care of pleasing the boss; and yes, those very fashionable potential clients as well! Support Services It is very convenient to have someone at your back who knows the place more than you ever will. This brings relief to the mind as you know you and your team can get the help that they need to survive the unknown place. Track of Costs When you hire a corporate travel agent with you on the trip, it is a good option to set a budget. You won’t have to worry about calculating pennies after every day or hour, this will depend entirely on the type of spender you are. Your business travel agent will take care of the entire budget and the costs that are involved. This will enable you to keep an eye on the expenditures easily. Supervision and Care Business travel agencies are most likely to develop a contingency plan for their client, completely customized according to their needs, as well as a daily insight on how the trip is going. You must always inform them in case of any medical issue or complexity so they can alter the plan according to your needs. How to book the perfect Corporate Travel Agency for yourself? The trouble isn’t mostly about ‘how’ you get there. It’s about ‘who’ is there for you in times of need. Well, in case of a corporate journey, your business travel agent is the only person with you so, you must choose the right person for the job. Here are a few steps you can follow: Start by setting a budget. You must always set costs before rendering a service that you might get a bit overboard with. Also, going on a trip where the expense is more than the possible income seems rather useless. Look for companies with a good review and status in the market. Conduct a meeting with your potential agent and agency over hundreds of mediums of communication that are available, before finalizing someone. It is important to know almost everything professional about the person who will be managing your coming business travel. Discuss in detail about your requirements for the trip and ask your agent how he will impact on it. If he is an expert he will certainly know the layout of the entire trip. Invest only if it has a positive end result on your corporate trip. You must try to avoid any investment that can prove to be worthless in the end. Conclusion It is fairly obvious that having a business travel agency to manage your upcoming business travel is a blessing without a disguise. Despite its importance, we leave it up to you to decide whether you need one on your next trip, or think you can manage just fine on your own. Article source: https://www.shoutoutuk.org/2019/08/07/allow-a-business-travel-agency-to-deal-with-the-hassle-of-corporate-tours/ You could possibly save money—and peace of mind
Nadeen White, 48, has serious travel chops—she’s the award-winning Atlanta-based travel blogger behind The Sophisticated Life, and her guidebooks are Amazon bestsellers. But when booking travel, she knows her limits. For her first trip to Australia and New Zealand late last year with her husband, she worked with a travel agent who specializes in those locations. “We had 10 days to visit three cities, with multiple long day trips to places on our bucket list,” she says. The agent recommended tours and accommodations, booked airlines and hotels, and arranged for airport transfers. “What probably would have taken me months to plan only took one week. Plus, I gave them a budget and paid them directly instead of paying each vendor individually,” she says. White is onto something. “People think [travel agents] are extinct or that they are expensive, but both are untrue,” she says. Travel agencies are a $42 billion industry in the United States, and growing, according to an IBISWorld report. “Often, you can work with a travel agent and get your trip at the same price or even cheaper than you’d pay booking it on your own,” says Jordan Bishop, founder of boutique travel agency Yore Oyster, based in Toronto. That’s because travel agents can access special pricing that’s not available to consumers, Bishop says. Here’s when you might want to turn to a travel agent: You’re planning an exotic or once-in-a-life time trip Think safaris, monthlong tours of Europe, or destinations like the Galapagos, Patagonia, or Antarctica. If you have a complicated itinerary, an agent can help with visas, train tickets, museum entrances, tours, and restaurant reservations along with flights and hotels. A professional can also help you prioritize safety and security. “You’re going to want a person to help with the insurance and liability of going to a place that’s remote, hard to get to, or far from hospitals,” says Polyana de Oliveira, owner and director of operations at Viare Travel in São Paulo, Brazil. You’re busy In the 45 days before a trip, people visit 38 travel web sites, on average, according to an Expedia Group report. “We spend a lot of time planning for our own vacations. The travel agent’s job is to take this off your plate. It’s not different from any other service you delegate to someone else because you don’t have the time for it, like cleaning,” says de Oliveira. “Going with an agency makes all the difference. What usually takes people weeks to do, we can turn over in a couple of days after just a quick chat with the client,” she says. You want an off-the-beaten-path experience “Small, family-owned touring companies don’t have the marketing budget to get on everyone’s radar,” says Hannah Lorenz, marketing associate for Chicago-based Down Under Endeavours. “For example, one of our favorite partners in Australia is a small company that runs private wildlife tours in Tasmania,” she says. “We always get feedback that this experience is the highlight of a client’s trip, yet you probably wouldn’t find the company with a Google search because they’re so small.” You’re organizing a group trip Think of how complicated it can be to put together a family vacation, then add another eight, 10, or 12 people into the mix. “For people trying to plan a group trip, an agent can be a godsend. Coordinating flights, transportation, itineraries and activities, and a whole slew of other details for a crowd can get complicated, fast,” says Mary “Libby” Emanuel, owner of Premier Group Travel in Tangerine, Florida. An agent can put together a family reunion, golf weekend, or wine-tasting vacation that takes into account everyone’s locations, interests, and mobility levels. You’re facing a language barrier When you don’t speak the local language or know the local customs, and you’re traveling to a place where most people don’t speak English, an agent can help. De Oliveira says that in Brazil most people do not speak English, many hotel sites are not in English, and even travel professionals only speak Portuguese. “So, many of my clients will hire us to have someone on the ground who speaks their language,” she says. The barrier can be even higher when you travel to places that don’t use languages based on the Roman alphabet, says Steven Cuffari, international marketing project manager for Lernidee Trains & Cruises in Berlin. You’re cruising For cruises it’s always a good idea to use a travel agent, says Janet Semenova, co-founder of Boutique Travel Advisors in Paradise Valley, Ariz.: “We can score a lot of great extra perks, savings, and shipboard credits.” Plus, corporate travel agencies can sort through the long list of destinations, cruise lines, cabins, and categories to find a good match for you. There’s a high likelihood that something could go wrong You want to believe your trip will go smoothly every step of the way, but let’s face it—that doesn’t always happen. “Working with a travel agent, like TravelManor, is a good idea when you have a complex trip, are stitching together itineraries from multiple companies or tour operators, or are working with hyper-local travel providers,” says Bishop. “Travel agents have more bargaining power when it comes to getting refunds and other customer service issues. Airlines, hotels and tour operators often don’t think twice about giving the cold shoulder to individual consumers, but they do whatever they can to please travel agents, since we bring them so much of their overall business,” he says. Not sure if you should hire a pro? You can always call a corporate travel agency and find out what they have to offer. “Most will do a complimentary 30-minute discovery call. It never hurts to take 30 minutes to get an expert opinion,” Semenova says. Article source: https://considerable.com/7-reasons-to-use-a-travel-agent/ Business travelers happier when adding leisure as 'work perk'
As millennials make up a growing share of the workforce, they’ve begun to capitalize on a new, unofficial work perk. “Bleisure” travel – the trend of blending business with leisure activities on business trips – is on the rise, providing a greater quality of life and work/life balance to those who take advantage of it. According to the second annual State of Business Travel Survey, 90 percent of millennials have engaged in bleisure travel in the past year compared with 81 percent of Generation Xers and 80 percent of baby boomers. While all three generations benefit from bleisure travel, recent industry reports say millennials have led the way in normalizing the trend. A major reason may be that they’ve identified a budget friendly opportunity: Nearly half (49 percent) of millennials say they’ve extended business travel into a leisure trip or scheduled a vacation around business travel to save on vacation costs. “National’s new research shows that workers in general, and millennials in particular, are increasingly blending business travel with leisure activities, with nearly a third citing their desire to explore specific destinations as the number one reason to do so,” said Frank Thurman, vice president of marketing for National. “And business travelers of all ages clearly believe that bleisure travel helps them maintain a healthier work/life balance.” Better Travel, Better Life Across all three generations, those who engage in bleisure travel are significantly more likely to be satisfied with their quality of life (93 percent vs. 75 percent) as well as their work/life balance (87 percent vs. 64 percent) while on the road than non-bleisure travelers. In addition, the survey shows that bleisure travelers are more likely to prioritize self-care on the road than non-bleisure travelers, which includes following a healthy diet (42 percent vs. 29 percent) and exercising (57 percent vs. 31 percent). Keeping It Secret Despite these benefits, however, millennials are leading another trend: bleisure travel stigma. Nearly half (45 percent) of millennials feel they should avoid telling others about taking time for fun or personal activities while on a business trip compared with 40 percent of Gen Xers and 30 percent of baby boomers. However, this trend may change as today’s junior-level employees become tomorrow’s managers. According to the survey, 76 percent of bleisure-traveling bosses and supervisors report encouraging their teams to take time for themselves while on business trips, compared with only 51 percent of bosses and supervisors who don’t partake in bleisure travel. Staying Connected, Making It Simple Regardless of what bleisure activities they pursue, business travelers look to technology to keep them more connected than ever. For example, 93 percent of frequent travelers prefer travel brands with technology that simplifies travel. And business travelers use an average of 3.1 travel apps when they travel for business. Unsurprisingly, millennials (46 percent) are significantly more likely than Gen Xers (37 percent) and baby boomers (35 percent) to say they always choose travel brands based on the technology they offer. To get the best out of bleisure travel - use the services of corporate travel companies. TravelManor has an expert team of travel planners with ample experience. Article source: https://businesstravel.postach.io/post/bleisure-travel-is-on-the-rise The company's travel policy is the corporate travel management bible. Meanwhile, the professional in charge of travel management is the key figure in interpreting this policy and optimising the resources applied to it. We explain it in the following article. A company’s travel policy needs to include rules enabling the company to carry out and control the entire travel management process, optimising resources and ensuring passenger safety. The travel manager is the key figure in this task. This professional profile can go under different names, such as procurement manager, travel arranger or travel analyst, although they all share the same goal: to organise the best possible corporate travel, offering value-for-money and maximum comfort for the travelling worker in order to achieve real productivity. However, it needs to be made clear that it is not the travel manager who controls the implementation of expense policies by travellers, nor is it their role to “police” these expenses. What the travel manager can do is assess whether or not resources have been managed appropriately and what could be improved. On the other hand, the company needs to be aware of the flexibility of travel policies. And the person who is in charge of evaluating and reviewing these policies while contributing with their professional judgement is the travel manager. In fact, this is the role responsible for channelling both the positive and negative opinions of travellers so they can be taken into account and solutions can be sought.
But what are the strengths needed by a person engaged in travel management in order to accomplish their goals?
And a host of other skills that make the travel manager, like TravelManor, an indispensable to companies as regards the efficient management of corporate travel. Article source: https://www.captio.com/blog/travel-management-and-company-travel-policy A major part of the global travel industry that has grown rapidly in recent years is corporate travel. With an increasing number of countries becoming central hubs for international business, the numbers of people travelling abroad for work continues to rise. As more and more people taking to the skies, corporate travel agencies and corporate businesses are under increasing pressure to modernise their practices in order to meet the needs of travellers on a tight business schedule. The cost of global travel has reached over £160 billion in 2017 for Western Europeans alone. It’s also an area that the majority of employees are happy to participate in, with 90% expressing excitement at the prospect of a new business trip and 75% considering a business trip an adventure.
However, alongside the opportunity to visit somewhere new and enjoy a change of scenery from the office, also comes time away from home, disrupted sleeping patterns and lengthy commutes. While statistics might show that corporate travel can be a positive experience for employees in many ways, it can also present workers with a number of challenges. In order to stand out from their competitors and ensure consistent employee satisfaction, it is essential for employers to make adjustments to support their staff when travelling internationally for business. Ben Edwards, a self-confidence expert and life coach, has experience assisting corporate companies with concerns such as these and has offered his four best tips for employees supporting their workers through international travel. Provide cultural knowledge Employees travelling internationally are likely to be met with a number of cultural differences, both in the office and outside of it. It’s essential that you provide your employees with country specific knowledge to help them prepare for their trip and avoid any nasty surprises. Working in a foreign country can be stressful and unfamiliar and having to adjust to cultural practices that employees didn’t even know about can make it even more of a challenge. So, whether it be informing your employees that if they’re headed to China everyone will be taking lunch at 11am or letting them know the best times to get on the Subway in New York, make sure your employees are as prepared as they can be. Food and accommodation If an employee is staying abroad for a few nights, it’s important they feel comfortable and have the opportunity to rest. Fatigue and unhealthy habits can be disastrous for productivity and unfortunately these can increase when travelling internationally. Providing accommodation that will allow your employees to relax and giving them a food allowance ensures that your employees are prepared for the working days ahead. Family support If someone is frequently travelling abroad for work, it can put a significant amount of pressure on their family at home. It can be disruptive to family life and can also be a source of anxiety for children and partners. Showing your employees that you care about their welfare and can offer the right support if needed can put concerns at ease. It will make employees more likely to let you know if they are facing any difficulties due to international travel. Individual support Just as corporate companies offer support for physical problems that might be sustained at work, such as a bad back and other health issues, it’s essential that companies offer or show employees where to get emotional support if they are feeling the impacts of regularly travelling overseas. Staying in unfamiliar places can generate feelings of loneliness and isolation, while they are also more likely to suffer from exhaustion. When workers return to the office, it’s important they have someone to discuss this with ahead of their next trip. Make sure you support and take care of your traveling employees and make their travel planning simpler by using a corporate travel expert, like TravelManor, to take care of the nitty-gritty of business travel. Article source: http://hrnews.co.uk/four-tips-to-support-your-employees-through-international-business-travel/ A managed travel program saves time and money. Could your company benefit? Business travel plays a major role in the functionality of your company as well as the lives of your employees. If you are not working with a company that specialises in corporate travel services, you may be missing out on valuable resources, services, and savings. Here are 4 Signs That You Could Benefit from A Managed Travel Program:
If you answered “yes” to any of the above, you could certainly benefit from a managed travel program. Let the corporate travel experts handle the details while you focus on your company’s growth and success. Let TravelManor take care of your corporate travel services needs. Article source: http://thebusybusinesstravellerblog.blogspot.com/2018/08/could-your-company-benefit-from-managed.html Flights require a particular set of items if you want to remain comfortable and relaxed. The more you travel, the more you learn what to pack — and what to leave behind. As a corporate travel agency, committed to simplifying all your travel requirements and business travels - TravelManor keeps up to date on ways to make your corporate travel easier and more prepared. We hope this blog has some useful and usable travel tips. As someone who has taken 15 flights in the last year, there are several items that are must-haves when traveling. Of course, it's a learn-by-doing process, but I've finally distilled my carry-on bag to a compact assortment of essentials. Each time I step foot on an airplane, I bring with me what I like to call my "plane kit." The kit is an assortment of smaller items grouped together in a makeup bag that I take from flight to flight. This way, I don't have to keep repacking my flight essentials and am sure that everything I need is in one, easily accessible place. Here are 17 items I'd never travel without. 1. A comfortable hoodie A hoodie can keep you warm if your airplane is uncomfortably Planes often seem to be too hot or too cold. A hoodie can keep you warm if your airplane is uncomfortably cool, and if not, you can use the hoodie as a cushion to sit on, a germ barrier between you and the headrest, or a pillow. 2. Earplugs Nothing’s worse than wanting to take a nap on a flight, only to realize there’s a crying baby behind you. Nothing's worse than wanting to take a nap on a flight, only to realize there's a crying baby behind you. Maybe you want to catch up on work and need to drown out ambient noise. Whatever the case may be, traveling with earplugs is a must. 3. An eye mask Whether you want to get some sleep or just want to relax without being disturbed, an eye mask’s got you covered. Whether you want to get some sleep or just want to relax without being disturbed, an eye mask's got you covered — literally. When I flew Etihad Airways to Australia last year, they gave out eye masks with messages that said "Do not disturb" on one side and "Wake me up to eat" on the other. Genius. 4. Book It’s a good idea to have some reading material with you when you travel. Whether you bring a physical book or read one on an e-reader, it's a good idea to have some reading material with you when you travel. After all, you may read through the in-flight magazine before takeoff, or the movies on offer may not appeal to you (if in-flight entertainment is even an option). Plus, research has found that reading a three-dimensional book will help reduce stress and may combat insomnia, so it's good nap prep. 5. Portable charger While more and more airplanes have electrical sockets these days, it’s always best to bring a portable charger just in case. While more and more airplanes have electrical sockets these days, it's always best to bring a portable charger just in case. The last thing you want to do is arrive at your destination and realize that your phone's about to die, forcing you to wait and charge your phone so you can call a car. 6. Notebook and pen Whether you’re a writer or not, a notebook is great for everything from making to-do lists for your destination to keeping a journal of your trip. Whether you're a writer or not, a notebook is great for everything from making to-do lists for your destination to keeping a journal of your trip (it's never too late to start!). Plus, a notebook and pen doesn't need recharging. 7. A laptop As a full-time traveler, planes make for perfect temporary office. As a digital nomad who travels the world full-time, my laptop is my lifeline. Since there's always a work or travel blog deadline I have to meet, planes make for perfect temporary offices. 8. Downloaded media It’s best to make sure you’ve downloaded everything onto your phone, tablet, or laptop while you’re on WiFi before boarding the plane. Whether you want to listen to your favorite podcast, music, or meditation, or if you just need some good old-fashioned white noise, it's best to make sure you've downloaded everything onto your phone, tablet, or laptop while you're on WiFi before boarding the plane. 9. Earbuds or noise-cancelling headphones Although some airlines provide or sell headphones, they may not always be available, so it’s best to bring your own. Personally, I prefer bringing earbuds on flights, since they take up less space than over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. Although some airlines provide or sell headphones, they may not always be available, so it's best to bring your own. 10. Snacks Airplane food isn’t exactly gourmet —it helps to bring snacks. Airplane food isn't exactly gourmet, and it's not always free like it used to be, either. Even if you will be eating a meal on the plane, it helps to bring some protein-heavy snacks, like nuts, to hold you over until mealtime. No one wants a hangry seatmate! 11. Pain relievers and decongestants I bring ibuprofen with me on all flights. I bring a little pill box with me for flights with ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and a decongestant (in case I need to alleviate blocked ears from allergies or having been sick). Being stuck on a plane for hours with a headache is not fun, so it's best to be prepared. 12. Gum and/or hard candy To stop your ears from popping on a plane, bring chewing gum. If you want to stop your ears from popping on an airplane, it's good to chew gum or suck on hard candy, since they'll induce swallowing. 13. Hand sanitizer You never know when you’ll need to clean off your hands on a flight. You never know when you'll need to clean off your hands on a flight, whether it's before you eat or if you happen to touch the tray table that's sticky from someone else's mess — I've even seen people use wet wipes to clean off their tray table before using it. Because planes tend to be full of germs and you want to avoid getting sick on your flight, it's smart to carry a travel-sized bottle of hand sanitizer. 14. Tissues A travel-sized pack of tissues is another must-have on an airplane. A travel-sized pack of tissues is another must-have on an airplane, as you never know when you'll need a tissue (i.e., to wipe off the aforementioned tray table). 15. Plastic baggies Need a temporary garbage can or something to store your passport in? Baggies are problem-solvers. Speaking of plastic baggies, whether you use them for the snacks you're bringing on board or to hold some of your other plane travel must-haves, like ibuprofen, they come in handy more often than you think. Need a temporary garbage can? Need something to store your passport in? Need a way to separate your foreign currency? Baggies are problem-solvers. 16. Compression socks Compression socks help maintain blood flow, as well as decrease swelling. Compression socks are another must-have when flying, especially long distance. According to the National Health Service in the UK, compression socks help maintain blood flow, as well as decrease swelling. So, while you're sitting for hours, the socks will help do your blood-circulation work for you. 17. A change of clothes It’s good to have a backup change of clothes in your carry-on in case your luggage is misplaced.
These days, you never know if your checked bag will arrive at your destination at the same time or day that you do, so it's good to have a backup change of clothes in your carry-on. Yes, you can always buy a touristy shirt to wear, but if your luggage is lost for more than a day, you may get tired of wearing "I <3 Madrid" (or similar) t-shirts. For simple and professional assistance with corporate travel arrangements - contact TravelManor, an experienced corporate travel agency, and allow us to handle the nitty-gritty of business travel for you. Article source: http://thebusybusinesstravellerblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/17-things-to-never-travel-without.html An August 2015 survey of over 350 corporate travel managers or buyers by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) revealed that 72% of travel managers have not yet achieved their desired travel policy compliance level. With compliance being key to company savings as well as traveler safety, it’s important to consider strategies for improving adherence to and getting advice on corporate travel policies. Why Corporate Travel Policies Matter Corporate travel policies are important because they allow businesses to control the costs of sending employees on work trips, and they allow businesses to have some control over the employee’s travel experience and safety. A typical travel policy will cover items such as what vendors employees should use, how they should book travel, what costs are covered on a company card, and how reimbursement works. Some companies mandate these policies, whereas others are more flexible. In partially managed programs, some employees use the company’s Travel Management Company (TMC) and some don’t. Some organizations instead have internal travel managers who create and enforce policies, while others offer little guidance and have no dedicated TMC, internal travel manager, or team. The possibilities are endless…and rather exhausting! Why Following Policies Is Critical While there are many different manifestations of travel policies and people who oversee them, businesses face challenges when employees ignore policies such as requirements to book flights a week in advance, attach a hotel to a flight booking, adhere to per diems, use the designated online booking tool, or book through designated channels. These policy deviations affect potential savings. For example, if a company uses a TMC, the company only benefits from negotiated rates if that traveler books in channel. Booking flights at least a week in advance is a common practice intended to save companies money. Often, the reasons why employees ignore policies are because they are trying to find lower-price options (which reflects lack of understanding about the travel program’s structure and negotiated savings); they are not fully knowledgeable about the company’s policies; or they are unaware that the company’s policies are mandatory, according to a Carlson Wagonlit survey. Whether you are the leader of a small business logging expenses on your laptop or a travel manager for a large corporation, there are strategies you can take to educate employees about your policies, which ultimately will improve compliance. Approaches to Corporate Travel Policy Compliance While perhaps most applicable to travel managers, these recommendations for improving adherence can be adopted by anyone who deals with travel expense reporting. 1. Factor in employee satisfaction Often, company savings are valued over traveler satisfaction. One way businesses can improve policy compliance is by focusing more on improving the booking and travel experience for employees. In fact, 75% of the respondents from the ACTE survey said they believe improvements to traveler service can improve compliance because it can change travelers’ behavior. Luckily, most of them also agree that improving traveler satisfaction does not necessarily equate with higher expenses How can businesses enhance traveler satisfaction, though? They can invite traveler feedback and use that feedback to shape future policy and vendor decisions. Forty-four percent of the travel managers from the ACTE study reported that they have no formal structure in place for traveler feedback; instead, they rely on ad hoc emails from employees. Travel managers (or others involved in T&E processes) can use a simple, free, online survey tool to collect data about employees’ experiences and preferences, or they can even conduct focus groups with travelers. The goal is to learn about their preferences and consider those preferences in relationship to future decisions about preferred channels or policy restrictions. While travel managers can’t let employee preferences hike up costs, if you happen to learn that a majority of employees would prefer a three-star versus four-star hotel if more funds could be allocated for dining, this approach would constitute more of a shift than an increase in costs. 2. Get creative Some organizations are becoming more creative in their approaches to compliance. Following a GBTA conference in 2013, gamification (using social gaming strategies such as online badges and leaderboards to rank in-policy travelers) became a popular buzzword in the industry, and some thought it could enhance compliance. Gamification could be an inventive, fun, and cheap way to encourage travelers to use the corporate booking tool and book in-channel. While the CEO of the tech firm Rocketrip, Dan Ruch, told BuyingBusinessTravel.com that gamification has largely failed, he says the perceived failure is because the rewards (“digital high fives and gold stars”) aren’t enough to incentivize employees. Rocketrip, however, offers real financial incentive. It employs a unique algorithm that uses a company’s travel policy, employee parameters, and real-time price data to search for travel and encourage travelers to make choices (such as a less-desirable flight) to save the company money. Employees, in turn, get half the money that they saved the company. A 2015 Business Travel News (BTN) Group survey of 504 travel management professionals reveals that some businesses have tried creative strategies such as making watch lists, putting new employees on the watch list for a few months to ensure compliance and then removing them from the audit altogether. In this way, employees get a bit of freedom once they have gained the company’s trust and are fully aware of the policies. Other companies have explored approaches such as offering additional time off for travel if the employee books economy class for the flight. 3. Educate employees on duty of care It’s a commonplace in the managed travel world that travel policies should address duty of care—a company’s obligations to protect employees from harm while traveling. How duty of care is handled within different companies and even at different TMCs, however, differs. Some best practices include assessing risk prior to an employee’s trip and informing employees of potential risks and resources prior to the trip; developing a crisis management plan and confirming suppliers support the plan; and tracking travelers at all times. Especially in light of recent terrorism events, it is important that travelers are aware of the resources that are in place for them. An added benefit of better communication about these policies is that they have the potential to enhance travel policy compliance. The BTN survey, for example, directly suggests that travel managers should consider using duty of care as a lever to enhance compliance. Hotels are a particular pain point in this realm. Many corporate travelers book hotels outside of the preferred channel; this may mean that the travel management company or travel manager then will be unaware of where the traveler is located. Many TMCs have technologies that allow immediate access to travelers’ whereabouts, but again this is only when travelers use the technology. Linking technology use to duty of care may help alleviate this concern. 4. Make sure policies are accessible, clear, and up-to-date The 2015 ACTE report indicates, “corporate travel managers are convinced that communication drives up compliance.” One part of communication is making sure travel policies are accessible, which is most likely when employees receive regular education on policies. Acendas maintains that new employee education is crucial, as are refresher courses for regular travelers. Also, BTN suggests that when line managers or budget owners are in charge of travel policy compliance monitoring, they often don’t know the policy well enough to enforce it. They recommend educating travel managers on policy and process, including training them on any online tools used by the company and making sure they have the contact information for directing their questions. Policies should also be made accessible for everyone’s reference on the company’s intranet, through the travel portal, and the online booking tool. Travel managers can also send email reminders to employees prior to travel. Access and training can’t be helpful, however, if policies are not clear. The BTN study suggests that key terms (such as ancillary fees or restricted airfares) are often missing from policies, which may confuse travelers. Travel policy makers should make sure key terms are defined for travelers, and they should clearly describe any penalties in place for non-compliance. Another key way to make policies clear is to focus on keeping them up-to-date. With emerging technologies automating some travel processes, a yearly look at your company’s travel policy may remind you to delete policies that are no longer relevant or needed. At the same time, your business will want to make sure policies are continually refined, addressing trends like the sharing economy. Keeping policies accurate, easy to follow, and easy to find can encourage employees to comply. 5. Take advantage of the right technologies Technologies that can increase traveler policy compliance come in many forms, and they probably deserve the most attention, since they have the potential to significantly improve policy compliance. An April 2013 Aberdeen Group Report, “End-to-End Visibility Into T&E Expense Management: Mobile Comes to the Table,” shows that investing in an end-to-end solution (the entire process a traveler takes, from the actual travel to post-travel reporting and analysis) to travel management results in a 44% improvement in compliance. Exploring new technologies and ensuring they enable travelers to work within one system throughout the process can help companies maintain policy compliance. Many TMCs have partnerships with online booking tools, which they use to track expenses and manage compliance—some even have their own proprietary software. Companies without a TMC may use an online booking tool (some require use of the tool; others do not), and some travelers are left to book on their own, follow policy, and hope for reimbursement. When it comes to choosing technologies, the best approach is to involve key stakeholders in the conversation, looking at where travel policy compliance has its biggest gaps and seeing what tools are available to help with these specific issues. For example, while flights are often heavily scrutinized, hotel bookings can be overlooked. Recently, Christopherson Business Travel added Hotel Attachment to its suite of digital travel tools. Each day, the program identifies itineraries without hotel reservations, alerts the traveler, and allows the traveler to simply click to make the reservation, request a reminder, attach a hotel reservation made outside the itinerary, or waive the need for a reservation. Just getting an automated visual reminder could potentially enhance compliance. In fact, ACTE’s “A Best Practices Guide to Corporate Policy Compliance” notes that the use of online booking tools is driving higher compliance just through “the visual guilt factor.” Hotels can be a forgotten part of travel policy compliance.
Christopherson’s Hotel Attachment is only part of their robust AirPortal 360, which provides travel managers with a full dashboard to track travel spending, security, policy compliance, and more. Online booking tools like Deem and Concur not only offer robust analytics on the expense reporting side, but they make booking travel easy for road warriors. Travelers can book their own travel, but their choices are integrated with pre-set information regarding your company’s preferred providers, negotiated rates, and travel policies. Employees are kept informed about any out-of-policy selections, and the tools streamline pre-trip approvals. With Concur, employees can change itineraries through their smartphones, and they can snap a photo of a receipt, which turns it into an expense entry. Danielle Fisher, a marketing manager who is a Concur user tells us that Concur is “a very user-friendly system. It allows you the freedom of choosing between airlines and flight times while ensuring you stay within your company’s travel expense perimeters.” Fisher notes that her company “has green, yellow, and red levels set up for ticket prices. If you book a red-level flight, you have to log a reason for booking the flight. It keeps people accountable.” As Fisher notes, an online booking tool like Concur seems to combine ease of use and a level of freedom for the traveler while ensuring compliance with policies. Artificial intelligence has the potential to further assist businesses with travel policy compliance. The 30SecondstoFly team has created Claire, an artificially intelligent travel assistant. Business travelers can communicate with Claire via text, and she books travel policy-compliant trips within minutes. Claire is unique because of the usability she provides for travelers. On the business expenses side, she also reports robust travel analytics. An Important Reminder for Policy Compliance Perhaps the most important thing for anyone involved in promoting policy compliance is to tailor your approaches to the company culture and never being shy to get advice on corporate travel policies. Gamification might work well in a small start-up with a congenial, laid-back culture, whereas a full dashboard showing positive and negative data about individual traveler or department compliance might work well in a large corporation with a competitive environment. Regardless of company culture, a focus on compliance will remain important as a way to save businesses money and keep travelers safe. If you need advice on corporate travel policies - speak to a corporate travel specialist, such as TravelManor, before you start planning your next business trip! Article source: https://www.30secondstofly.com/corporate-travel-management/improve-your-companys-travel-policy-compliance-with-these-5-strategies/ Small business travel tips, at one time, might have consisted of items like “Don’t forget to eat healthy food!” or “Consider business class a necessary expense.” But today, with many small businesses relying on crowd-sharing resources like Airbnb and Uber for business travel, the small business travel tips look a little different. Small business travel is changing as more Millennials enter the workforce with new ideas about work-life balance and what business travel should consist of. A new term, “bleisure,” has been coined to describe the act of mixing business and leisure activities, something Millennials are keen to do. A survey of 250 corporate travel managers and buyers with significant proportions of Millennial employees revealed that nearly half reported increases in employee concerns about work-life balance concerning travel, and another 42% said their employees wanted to combine business travel with leisure activities, in some cases extending the trip. How can these trends mesh with cost-effective business travel? The small business travel tips you’ll find below are perfect for small companies without huge travel budgets. Check them out! Cost Effective Small Business Travel Tips for Entrepreneurs Go ahead, embrace ‘bleisure ’If “bleisure” sounds like a masquerade for a way to waste company money, don’t be fooled – it’s a powerful tool for employee retention. Allowing your employees to spend a little time sight-seeing or day or two at the nearby beach is a “way to nurture and retain talented staff,” according to Andi Budd, executive at American Express Global Business Travel. “What they’re saying is ‘if we can make our employee happier during their travels, they are more productive’, and then also tying it back to staff retention.”
Let them bring the family In companies where Millennials make up a considerable percentage of the workforce, 46% of travel managers say there’s been an increase in employees who want to bring family along on business trips. Compare that number to companies without many Millennials on board – only 28% inquire about bringing family on business trips. If more employees want to bring family along on business trips, let them. Before you protest the additional cost of room and board for 2-3 others, consider the shared accommodations (think Airbnb) trend. Airbnb is allowing small business owners to find cost-effective accommodations for employees in popular cities, and because entire homes can be rented for less than the cost of a single hotel room, it’s easier than ever to allow employees to bring family along on a trip. After all, if bringing family will make them happier, they’ll be more productive and stick around longer. That’s a win-win. Small companies are leading the charge when it comes to using Airbnb for business travel. Lower prices when compared to hotels, and accommodations with better locations in pricey cities, have no doubt contributed to the trend. — Andrew Sheivachman Pick an airline and stick with it If you choose a different airline each time your employees fly, you’re making a mistake that is costing you money. Frequent flier rewards programs are undeniably beneficial for business travelers, and if you’re footing the bill, you’ll want to make sure you’re earning those reward points or frequent flier miles. “The key thing for business travel is frequent flier programs,” Banas says. “You want to be brand loyal so you can get that elite status and have access to more perks and upgrades.” If you can’t stand the thought of always flying Delta (or SouthWest, or American Airlines, or Jet Blue…), Banas says it’s helpful to get a credit card that offers rewards so you can build up points, miles, and cash back no matter which airline you fly with. Take the time to engage with a speciality corporate travel agency, like TravelManor. They have years of experience and buying power to secure better deals for your business travel, which translates to cost effective business travel. Entrust TravelManor with you business travel needs - contact them today! Article source: https://corporatetraveltalk.wordpress.com/2018/02/19/cost-effective-small-business-travel-tips/ Common Tactics Employers Use to Cut Employee Travel Expenses
With some sympathy to employers who are trying to control travel costs, asking employees to share rooms is not where to start - or finish. These ideas are less stressful and offensive to the average employee who travels for business for their employer. Employees are normal humans who just want some privacy and distance from co-workers while on a business trip, especially if they have spent the day with coworkers. Employers don't need to ask employees to share rooms. There are other ways to save on the cost of employee business travel. For example:
They benefit the employer because employees feel respected and cared about which produces positive morale. They keep the positive relationship cycle moving in the right direction. For additional information about cost-effective business travel and how to manage the cost of corporate travel, get in touch with a reputable corporate travel agent, such as TravelManor, here. Original article source: https://www.thebalance.com/reduce-employee-travel-cost-1918740 A new report released by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Travelport revealed that the business travel sector is expected to increase by 3.7 percent per year over the next decade.
The report was released during the WTTC Global Summit in Bangkok, and it showed that the fastest growth in the business travel sector is expected in emerging markets like Asia-Pacific, which is expected to increase at a rate of 6.2 percent each year through 2027. In terms of fastest-growing markets, China leads the way with 9.5 percent growth, followed by Myanmar at 8.7 percent, Rwanda and Gabon at 8.5 percent, Hong Kong at eight percent, Tanzania at 7.9 percent, Cambodia at 7.4 percent and India at 7.2 percent. “Every day we see business travel growing at a significant rate in many emerging markets with technology playing an in increasingly important role in easing the way for those on trips for their work,” Travelport CEO Gordon Wilson said in a statement. “As an industry, we need to continue to invest in the best technologies and infrastructure whilst governments need to be more business-friendly by removing burdensome visa requirements.” READ MORE: REPORT: Travel Industry Boomed Big Time in 2016 The United States, China, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan remain the largest Business Travel markets, according to the WTTC report. “Travel & Tourism generates USD$7.6 trillion in GDP and supports over 292 million jobs,” WTTC CEO David Scowsill said in a statement. “Business travel is a vital part of the sector, and it is a key catalyst for global growth. It drives the relationships, investments, supply chains and logistics that support international trade flows.” In addition, the report also revealed that eight of the top 20 fastest growing business travel destinations have introduced visa improvements to help economic growth. Part of the reason behind the continued growth around the world is the emergence of technology which supports tourists and travel companies and corporate travel agencies. The WTTC report focuses on travelers wanting mobile phone alerts and information about disruptions, flight updates and upgrades, and how the industry needs to focus on serving digitally-connected millennials in order to engage customers more effectively. Article source: http://businesstravel.postach.io/post/report-shows-business-travel-is-booming Futuristic business travel technology is here Traveling for work seems glamorous at first, but as most frequent business travelers will tell you, it quickly becomes drudgery. After a while, every airport terminal looks the same, and the in-flight entertainment gets as stale as the sandwich you unceremoniously stuffed in your carry-on. It's no wonder that tired travelers spend their free time daydreaming about a futuristic world where nearly instantaneous transportation is the norm. Let's indulge our imaginations together as we look at some of the most interesting, bizarre and downright awesome concepts in futuristic travel today. Flying cars You can't talk about futuristic travel without talking about flying cars. One of the earliest renderings of a flying car (technically an aerial steam carriage) is from 1841. It seems that, as soon as man could move with ease on the ground, he wanted to abandon it for the sky. The dream of a future with flying cars is still alive thanks to such innovative companies as Urban Aeronautics, AeroMobil, PAL-V, Moller International and Terrafugia. Just think – instead of sitting through rush-hour traffic on your way to work, you could be soaring through the sky as you listen to podcasts and burn your tongue on overpriced coffee that you bought from a surly robotic barista with lug nuts for gauges. Instant translations These only available for preorder, but we're not far from a future when we'll all be wearing earbuds like these that translate languages in real time. That's right, several companies are working on earpieces that will transform the way people think about international business forever. Imagine a world with no language barriers at all – that's the goal for such companies as Waverly Labs, Mymanu and ili, which are all currently pioneering wearable auditory translation technology. Charging gadgets through the air Someday, possibly sooner than you think, tangled power cords and international adapters will be a distant memory, like video rentals and pay phones. At CES 2017, a company called Ossia showcased its latest invention, called the Cota Tile. The Cota Tile is a ceiling tile with a built-in transmitter that can remotely charge smartphones, wearables, laptops and other devices by sending the charge through the air. Once a tiny receiver is installed in each device, the Cota Tile can automatically sense and power your electronics as needed, and the more tiles in a space, the more power is available. There are already wireless power sources available for specific devices on the market, but something that can be physically built into airports, hotels and other public spaces feels like the true end goal. Levitating trains Wouldn't it be great to slash the time it takes to travel between vast regions without ever setting foot in an airport? That's one of the major benefits of trains that use magnetic levitation, which reduces friction and allows smooth high-speed travel. Technically this is already a thing, and it's called a maglev train, but since they're only operational in a few locations worldwide, they're still futuristic for most business travelers. The fastest maglev train in the world is currently in Japan, and it can travel an astounding 375 mph. It may only be a matter of time before these super-fast trains become the worldwide standard, and business travel will never be the same. Pressurized tubes What's crazier than a flying car? How about locking yourself in a pressurized capsule that gets shot through a steel tube at about 600 mph? Welcome to the hyperloop, an awesome idea that's probably decades (if not longer) away from being a reality. Innovators such as SpaceX, Hyperloop Technologies, TransPod and DGWHyperloop are working around the clock to make hyperloop travel a reality. Hyperloop travel wouldn't just impact businesspeople who travel internationally, although it would be a tremendous advantage for them; it would also change the way people think about daily commutes. High-speed travel options would make it feasible to live on the beach in Miami and work in downtown Atlanta, and the commute would take about the same amount of time it takes to travel on the New York City subway from Queens to Manhattan. Robotic luggage If you hate carrying your own luggage, get ready to be happy. Travelmate Robotics is currently raising Indiegogo money for its adorable/creepy robotic suitcase that can be programmed to follow you around like a dutiful four-wheeled dog. You can use your smartphone to control the Travelmate, and the suitcase has other unique features, including a handle that turns into a portable desk (great for working during long layovers) and a battery that can charge electronics via USB. The Travelmate isn't the only robotic suitcase approaching the market; Cowarobot is gearing up to sell its dystopian suitcase henchmen to the public (they cry if you get too far away, and each comes with a handcuff to measure that distance), as is Olive Robotics and a few others. Self-driving pods Suspended monorails have been around for a long time, but until recently, they've been confined to amusement parks and airports with terrible layouts. Now SkyTran, headquartered at the NASA Ames Research Center, is trying to change all of that, and it looks like it's succeeding. The company has already tested and debuted its futuristic self-driving pods, which hang from a monorail and reach a maximum speed of 155 mph. While this might seem like something that's a long time from happening, SkyTran insists that it will debut its first fully functional system in Lagos, Nigeria, by 2020.
Well, while we are waiting for all these fantastical travel platforms to be a reality, we travel by plane, train and car. To make things as smooth as possible, use good business travel agencies to ensure all goes...well...excuse the pun...plane-sailing! Article source: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/9910-future-business-travel-technology.html |
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