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It was 22 years ago when I arrived in Canada and chose Calgary, Alberta to be my home. Leaving my family and friends behind, it was a new adventure for me to be in a new country without knowing anyone. That was the time I looked for a Filipino community paper and never found any, [...]
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Travelaero – BUSINESS TRAVEL TIPS

Business travel can be a fun experience, letting you get to see different cities on the company’s dime. But it can also be a headache and a hassle when snags, inconveniences and complications arise while you’re on a trip so you have to give careful thought and properly plan your trip.

We’ve prepared a list of tips to help make your next business trip smooth so you can put your mind at ease about the entire experience as well as allow you to focus on the business at hand.

Book direct flights. Direct flights can touch down at other airports on the way to their ultimate destinations and while stops are built in to the total travel time, the potential delays they can cause aren’t. Taking direct flights to and from your destination can often mean savings beyond just your time. You may, for example, be able to avoid overnight stays, which will save on potential hotel, car and meal expenses.
Check –In Online. Checking in online will have been in vain if you have luggage to check – always travel with carry-on sized bags.
Select Your Seat. Ask your travel planner seat you near the front of the plane whenever possible.
Sign-Up for Frequent Flier Programs. Members of frequent flier programs – particularly fliers with status – can gain access to designated security and check-in lines, which are always shorter and faster.
- Arrive 2 to 2.5 hours prior to your flight departure. (security checkpoints may be backed up)
- Have the proper Government Issued ID available to present to the airline and Security:
- Before the trip, take the time to confirm meetings, hotel and rental car reservation.
- Print maps or program a GPS with directions to and from the hotel, airport and client’s office.
- Fax, email or ship documents, marketing materials or other necessary items for meetings to the hotel or to the client’s office ahead of time and confirm their arrival.
- Always pack light. Allow for only one carry-on bag, although some airlines may still be all right with two small carry-ons, including a purse. Make business travel a lot easier by packing interchangeable coordinates. For example, stick to black or brown as a neutral base for business clothes. That allows for more options. Keep accessories and extras to a minimum when packing business clothes to get the most out of the limited space available in a carry-on bag.
- Take your own Ethernet cable with you – plenty of hotels now have ports for broadband but either run out of cables or other guests have broken them.
- Carry a couple of USB memory sticks because half the time you won’t be able to connect your laptop to whatever projection system you’re using and the only way to show off that vital presentation will be to stick the USB stick into the system’s USB port
- Pack paper and pen – they have a longer battery life than your laptop and are more multi-functional.
- Always make sure that you carry a decent selection of nutritious, healthy snacks such as granola bars, apples and pre-bottled protein shake.
- Wear your business suit on the road, it’s hard to pack clothing and have it come out looking crisp and professional; it’s much easier to pack a wrinkle releaser and straighten out those travel creases. You may also find that when you’re dressed nicely you tend to get treated with more respect on a trip and may even get an upgrade if you ask.
- Make the Business Trip into a Travel Vacation. While visiting a new town, make the trip into a mini vacation to add pleasure to the business trip. Make yourself at home during a longer trip and arrange to take advantage of the location.Visit the local markets or farmers markets for fresh produce or flowers and plants. Find out what the city has to offer, such as landmarks, historic buildings, parks and other attractions, and make an effort to visit them.
- Make sure to hit the gym or get lots of physical exercise. The trend on business trips is toward meetings and dinners, where there’s not much chance to get around. Exercise can help beat jet-lag, keep your body feeling healthy and help you sleep better.

Travelaero – BUSINESS TRAVEL TIPS

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