Category — Business Travel

A forgetful man by nature, I tend to forget a lot of mundane stuff every time I fly out for a business related meet. Most of my energies are spent keeping the essentials in order. I always remember to carry my laptop, suits, and of course travel documents, but tend to miss out on the details like the laptop charger (!), appropriate cufflinks and appropriate business luggage.

So, last week when I was flying to the Philippines for a meeting, I found a great solution which could help other business bees like me. Samsonite has launched its ‘ Samsonite Business’ stores, which are strategically positioned at the airport (Mumbai Int’l) just for people like me, who buy our luggage on the fly.

The cute little store does not stock the entire range of Samsonite luggage, but it stocks the best business oriented ones, which would suffice the needs of most travelers. A neat collection of briefcases, and leather bags, in addition to trusted Samsonite hard luggage, and laptop strolleys is what they offer. They also stock some smart duffles and backpacks, just in case you need some extra cabin luggage as well. You can also buy these as gifts for the clients you will be meeting

My curiosity piqued, I entered the store and decided to have a chat with the manager.  He informed me that it was the first store of its kind in the country, and that the company was delighted with the response. They are in fact planning to replicate these stores at other airports as well. The staff was extremely polite, and what matters the most to a business traveler, quick.  Read more... (291 words, estimated 1:10 mins reading time)

London is one of the biggest cities in the world – not only by population, but by area. So it’s no wonder the city is a massive centre for industries of all kinds. Whether home to a company’s headquarters, or host to branches of a business, every type of business and industry exists in London. For this very reason, London is also a city that sees countless business travellers arrive to conduct business each day.

But while London is a great place to conduct business, the city is often regarded as being impersonal – a reputation that likely has something to do with the city’s size. Thus, when business travellers journey to London, their experience can be a rather lonely one – especially if they’re not well acquainted with the city. But there are ways to prepare yourself for a first-time business trip to London, or to better acquaint yourself with the city if you’re a return or frequent visitor.

To begin, it always helps to know your way around – so invest in a durable and easy-to-read map, complete with a guide to Underground routes. If you can navigate your way around the city, you’re sure to feel more comfortable, instantly. Next, research some places to visit while you’re in London – even if it’s just somewhere for dinner or a drink. You might not have much time for leisure or relaxation during your business trip, but it’s certainly worth making the most out of your dining experiences. Finding a few inviting gems with regards to eateries will help you feel more at home in the city. A good way to source some worthwhile restaurants or bars is to do a bit of research online before your trip, or ask around once you arrive in London. After all, word-of-mouth is often the best way to find top eateries and hangouts in any city.  Read more... (444 words, estimated 1:47 mins reading time)

The recent economic shake up has prompted many businesses large and small to shine a spotlight on their expenditure, one area in particular to receive additional scrutiny is business travel.

American Express Business Travel recently released the results of its 2009 European Barometer, in which 66% of respondents reported a reduction in their budgets, with an average cut of 31% over the previous year. A contracting market has also created a significant shift in attitude towards what kind of expenditure is justifiable, with a focus on client retention and accountability instead of ambitious new business development and lavish corporate entertainment.

In the meantime, conferencing technologies have evolved, boasting remarkably simple interfaces based on reliable technology platforms, backed up by the latest advances in server technology and cloud computing. Many businesses are now questioning why they should spend large amounts of money travelling to and from client meetings when they can communicate effectively via conference call or video conferencing. Even in the new business sector the ability to easily exchange important documents and presentations simultaneously is revolutionising the way business win new accounts.

With the careful selection of a trusted conference call provider, businesses can manage their client communications more effectively and encourage a new level of direct interaction between their teams and their customer’s teams. Indeed this improved interfacing can result in far more ‘meetings of minds’ than would normally be affordable due to the high costs of transporting a full team onsite to a client that may even be on the other side of the world.  Read more... (307 words, estimated 1:14 mins reading time)

Geneva is one of the foremost economic cities in Europe and is the base for global institutions, public and private companies, charities and diplomatic corps. Built on the shores of Lake Geneva, Geneva was the spiritual home of Calvinism and today houses the World Health Organisation as well as the Red Cross. The city caters to the high number of business travellers who come to Geneva. Geneva is so popular for business travel because it has a central location as well as business friendly government policies.

Getting There and Getting Around

Whatever your line of work, you will most likely be flying into Geneva international airport. More than 40 different airlines have routes to and from the airport and there are connections with all of Europe’s major cities. The airport has recently been refurbished but it is still easy to find your way around. You will see the car hire terminals as soon as you come out of arrivals. Alternatively there are trains and buses which run frequently to the city centre. Taxis are an expensive one off option should you wish to take them. The public transport at the airport is good and runs with typical Swiss efficiency. Nevertheless car hire Geneva airport sales are always high. High-flying businessmen usually don’t take public transport as they like to have control over their own destiny. They hire cars so that they can go where they want at a moment’s notice. Prestige and luxury car hire is a particularly thriving business in Geneva city and Geneva airport. This is a city with a very high standard of living and executives do not want to stand out by driving just any old car. BMWs and Audis are always popular while it is very much in vogue at the moment to rent a chauffeur driven car. Not only does it make you look important, but it allows the time to put the last touches to a business presentation or finalise your concepts for that important meeting. Bear in mind that if you hire a car that is not chauffeur driven you may have problems parking it.  Read more... (562 words, estimated 2:15 mins reading time)

In this modern day and age keeping in touch and going about your business where ever you are is an essential part of life. So when on the move the best way to do this is by using a laptop, whether it’s a commercial business transaction or everyday life. The laptop will be right by your side with all its conveniences.

So when on the move, you should keep in mind to take some basic precautions and steps to safeguard and look after your device. Following some simple guidelines may save you from the trouble of loosing your information and the laptop itself.

When traveling out of the country or taking a long journey always remembers to place your laptop in its given bag or safety carrier. The bag is designed to hold your laptop in place and will reduce the damage if it is mishandled in any way. Another good idea would be to store it in a non descriptive bag as it will not draw too much attention by undesired parties.

Keeping your laptop near you at all times is essential. Do not leave your laptop unattended or in a distance when you are traveling, because it is child’s play for persons to distract you and rob you of your laptop.  Read more... (377 words, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)