As summer winds down and the autumn season kicks into gear, business travelers will be sharing the road with fewer vacationers. Airlines and hotels are busy rolling out the fall deals and promotions, which means lower prices and some nice breathing room for travelers.
Last week I attended the National Business Travel Association convention and exposition in Houston, an annual gathering of about 6,000 corporate travel buyers and sellers.
I had a great stay in a big, clean and comfy suite at the Best Western Downtown Inn & Suites, located about a mile from the convention center. (Stay tuned for one of my famous videos highlighting this property...)
Remember last Christmas when the "underwear bomber" almost brought down a jumbo jet over Detroit?
That prompted the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to grab a big pile of federal stimulus money for about 150 more full body scanners -- you know, the ones that produce those controversial ghost-like images of travelers' bodies.
There are currently just over 100 of the so-called "advanced imaging units" in use at airports across the country, but TSA says that number will soar to around 500 by the end of this year-- with nearly 1,000 in place by the end of 2011. That means frequent travelers should expect to encounter more of them, and soon.
Here's what you need to know:
While much of the media focus remains on frequent flyers, the fact of the matter is that there are a LOT more frequent drivers out there. This is especially true among Best Western's very best customers-- members of a select group called the Diamond 100 (BWD100)--who have stayed at a Best Western at least 250 nights over the last five years.
Here's some more interesting information about how BWD100 members feel about all those road trips:
While much of the media focus remains on frequent flyers, the fact of the matter is that there are a LOT more frequent drivers out there. This is especially true among Best Western's very best customers--members of a select group called the Diamond 100 (BWD100)--who have stayed at a Best Western at least 250 nights over the last five years.
Despite the tragic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, millions of business and vacation travelers are still expected to visit the region in coming months. If you're soon headed to the coastal regions of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana or Mississippi, here's some helpful information:
With the strengthening U.S. dollar and seemingly limitless opportunities for international expansion, an increasing number of business travelers are heading overseas in search of new opportunities.
If you've got international travel in your plans--or if your passport is about to expire--here's a way to save a few bucks, but you've got to act fast.
We recently completed an early summer survey of the Best Western Diamond 100 advisory board (BWD100) in which we asked how travel routines change during summer compared to other times of the year.
Here's a sampling of the hundreds of write-in answers provided by our peripatetic group:
We've just completed another survey of the Best Western Diamond 100 advisory board (or The BWD100) regarding their thoughts and plans for summer travel this year.
When the super-frequent travelers in this group talk, Best Western listens closely-- it's made up of nearly 400 Best Western Rewards member who have spent more than 250 nights with the chain in the last five years.
Here's what they have on tap for this summer:
We recently completed another survey of the Best Western Diamond 100 advisory board (BWD100) in which we asked about plans to redeem loyalty points for summer travel.
When the super-frequent travelers in this group talk, Best Western listens closely--- it's made up of nearly 400 Best Western Rewards member who have spent more than 250 nights with the chain in the last five years.
Two things jumped out to me as surprising findings:
With airlines and airports expected to be packed over the next few months, it may be the right time to consider taking to the highway instead of the skyway for summer travel plans.
I expect airline flights will be close to 100 percent full and airfares are up nearly 20 percent over last year according to Bing Travel. The good news is that gasoline prices are expected to remain right around $3 per gallon, so there's even more reason to stay grounded this summer.
The week before Memorial Day weekend marks the time that summer travel plans are being made and "what I did this summer" reports are being outlined.
Four things to keep in mind when planning your summer travel include:
It's getting better. A little better all the time.
I caught myself humming that old Beatles song as I drove down Divisadero Street here in San Francisco last week.
In what appears to be the waning days of the current recession, the travel industry is finally moving toward consolidation, something that travel experts have been forecasting for years.
Recently, frequent travelers have seen Delta Air Lines merge with Northwest, Frontier merge with Midwest and the beginning of what looks like a United /Continental merger.
On the car rental front, we've recently watched Avis combine with Budget, Enterprise snap up National and Alamo, and most recently, Hertz announced its intention to buy Dollar-Thrifty for $1.2 billion. Last year, Hertz bought Advantage.
Earlier this month, I took a business trip to Asia and checked in at the new Best Western Shinjuku ASTINA Hotel in Tokyo. It's currently the only Best Western in town and offers a great value to travelers visiting one of the most expensive cities in the world.
A few unusual touches to check out in this video: Pajamas and buckwheat pillows, smoked trout and miso soup on the breakfast bar and heated toilet seats!
The older I get, the more I'm affected by jet lag which is not a good thing for someone who makes his living as a travel writer and consultant.
Over the years, I've tried every drug from Ambien to Xanax. I've gone the homeopathic route with various herbs, I've tried starving myself, I've avoided alcohol and of course, I've always kept myself hydrated.
I've tried sleeping with hotel room drapes open and taking long walks in the sunshine upon arrival. I've even tested an oversized visor with a battery-operated light under the bill that was supposed to offer some sort of "light therapy."
Earlier this month, I took a business trip to New York City where I hosted Best Western's Business Travel Summit, an annual event that brings travel industry execs and travel industry media together to network and discuss trends. I was also in the Big Apple to attend the Strategic Travel Symposium, which was organized by the National Business Travel Association.
Over the course of my three-day trip, I picked up a mountain of news and insight that might interest the readers of this blog. Here's a download:
Last Thursday, March 18th I was fortunate to have moderated an engaging and informative panel discussion on the state of the Canadian business travel. Best Western, the brain child of this event, pulled together marquee expert panellists with a full house of Canadian media including reporters from the Globe & Mail, Toronto Star and Toronto Sun. The travel trade were well-represented with both Travel Press and Travelweek in attendance, as well. The stunning venue, on the 4th floor of the Toronto Board of Trade, allowed everyone to enjoy the day's bright sunshine which was more indicative of May than March.
One of my favorite things about blogging for Best Western is the opportunity to watch how its hotels adapt to the constantly changing tastes and needs of its customers.
I was in New York recently for the Best Western Business Travel Summit and stayed at the Best Western President Hotel on West 48th Street, just off Times Square.
You've gotta see this multi-million dollar makeover. Here's a two-minute peek: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr4X8oansKM
By now everyone has heard the old adage that you don't save any money on gas by driving on the freeway with the air conditioner off and the windows down. (Having the windows down causes aerodynamic drag, which cancels out the effect of turning off the A/C.)
Since most readers of this blog do a lot of driving, I thought it might be time to put some other myths to rest.
First off, something we've probably all done recently due to the recent severe winter weather--the myth that you need to let your car engine warm up when it's cold outside.
Every year at about this time, the travel industry begins to shake off a long winter's nap. With daffodils and crocuses starting to peak through the slush, it's time for road warriors to prepare for the spring break onslaught.
Based on a miserably cold and wet winter across the country, I'm thinking pent-up demand and the magnetic force of the sun will combine to make this spring break a big one.
Here's what business travelers need to know over the next few weeks:
Two major earthquakes in the Americas in the last two months. Monster storms and flooding in Europe. A series of blizzards in the northeastern U.S. When many of these natural disasters struck, I was glad to be in my hometown.
But how would I have reacted if I were out on a business trip? Recent events have really made me wonder about this. If disaster struck in a town I was visiting, who or how would I call for help? How would I let my family back home know I was okay?
On the flipside, what if I'm on a business trip to New York when "the big one" hits my hometown of San Francisco? How would I know if my family was safe? If my house survived? If my pets were okay?
From now on, I'm going to be better about leaving tracks regarding my whereabouts and be more personally prepared. Here's what I'm doing:
Since the beginning of this year, there have been a lot hopeful murmurs about the return of business travel after a precipitous decline over the last two years.
Now we've got even more proof that business travelers--especially those from small and medium sized companies--are seeing growth opportunities and taking more trips.
Several times a year, I survey the Best Western Diamond 100 Advisory Board (BWD100), a group of about 400 of Best Western's best customers who typically work for small or medium sized companies, or for themselves. They drive more often than they fly, and for the most part, they make their own travel decisions and rarely rely on travel agents or corporate travel managers.
Guess what? The outlook is brightening among this group of road warriors and many expect to travel more this year than last.
*Photo by Paramount Pictures.
Have you seen the movie "Up in the Air" yet? In case you've not heard or read about it, the Oscar-nominated film stars George Clooney playing the part of Ryan Bingham, a super-frequent business traveler dealing with the effects of his peripatetic lifestyle. Here's a great one-minute clip.
His quest to earn 10 million frequent flyer miles has gotten him plenty of perks, but it's clearly left him isolated from the real world and from real relationships.
Every frequent traveler will see a little bit of him or herself in the Bingham character. The scene in the movie that hit home most with me was when he returns "home" to his apartment after a long stint on the road. The place looks just like one of those new long-term apartment style hotels--sterile, boxy and cold.
Just like mine did.
I've been writing this blog for over a year now, and not a week goes by that I don't hear from a reader or see something online (or in person) that makes me think, "Wow, who'd have thought THAT was a Best Western!"
I remember the first time I pondered this "who'da thunk" phenomenon. I was walking in downtown San Francisco near Union Square in search of Millennium, an unusual high-end, white-tablecloth-and-wine-cellar yet vegetarian, restaurant. Where did I find it? In the lobby of the Best Western Hotel California. Who'da thunk a Best Western would house a world-class gourmet vegetarian restaurant where the least expensive entrèe starts at $22.50?
Like most of the readers of this blog, I spend a LOT of time behind the wheel. And like many of you, I think I'm a skilled, smart driver and aware of the driving laws in California--my home state--and elsewhere.
But here's something I did NOT know.
Nearly all 50 states have recently enacted "Move Over" laws to help save the lives of police officers and other roadside emergency personnel.
Last week, I was flipping through the newspaper and came across an article that caught my eye immediately because it referred to "road warriors."
As it turned out, the article was not about the kind of road warriors you read about here. Instead, it was about a new breed of young, homeless panhandlers, now referred to as "road warriors," who travel between West Coast cities with pit bulls in tow, causing trouble along the way.
Nonetheless, it got me thinking about the term "road warriors" and how its meaning has changed over the years.
Since the attempted bombing of Delta/Northwest flight 253 over Detroit on Christmas Day, airport security has been turned on its head (once again). Here's what business travelers need to know about security before heading out on another flight:
It seems like the entire country is covered in ice and snow as I write this. Despite the nasty weather, most road warriors still have to get out there and kick 2010 off to a busy start.
I'm not the go-to guy for this type of advice (I grew up in the South), so I went to the folks who run the Bridgestone Winter Driving School in Steamboat Springs, Colo. as well as AAA for some winter driving tips. Here's what they advised:
Regular readers of this blog know that I occasionally get to survey some of Best Western's very best customers, a group known as the "Best Western Diamond 100." These road warriors have spent the night at a Best Western at least 250 times in the last five years, so they know a thing or two about a thing or two. That's why I'm always so excited to get inside their heads when it comes to issues of importance to business travelers.
In late November, we queried the BWD100 regarding their feelings and experiences when it comes to hotel upgrades. Here's a distillation of their responses.
"I usually get good rooms but to get an upgrade, to a suite let's say, requires more then the kindness of the registration clerk. Different factors need to be put together including some luck," wrote one BWD100 member. Another added, "I was recently upgraded from a King business room to a King Business Suite with a separate bedroom. I would have loved to have my wife with me for this upgrade!"
It's no secret that Best Western's most frequent guests spend a lot more time in their cars than they do on airplanes. In a recent survey of participants in the Best Western Diamond 100 advisory board, 63 percent said that nearly all of their business trips are road trips.
That's why I've got two items for my blog this week--both about driving.
Last month I took a Tuesday evening flight to Atlanta and ended up arriving to my hotel at about 10:30 pm. Little did I know that the entire hotel lobby and many of the rooms were occupied by revelers attending Jezebel Magazine's raucous "Most Beautiful Atlantans" party.
After a five-hour flight from the West Coast, I was a rumpled mess in a sea of beautiful, well-dressed Atlantans. I felt like the only person in the hotel lobby without a Cosmopolitan cocktail in my hand. I was definitely the only one with a roller bag and a briefcase.
While there was certainly a lot to look at, I remember thinking to myself, "Man, if I had only known this party was going on, I would have booked the hotel across the street!" Luckily, the front desk clerk recognized my distress, and told me he'd moved me to a high and relatively unoccupied floor.
This made me think about other situations where I'd say, "If I had only..." when it comes to hotel stays. Hopefully you'll learn--as I did--how to avoid some snafus...
If I had only...
It's not very often that "Good Morning America" calls. So when producers contacted me last month to help them out with a segment about navigating airport security lines, I jumped at the chance.
As it turned out, the segment touched on two areas of interest for readers of this blog: getting through airport security lines AND driving in heavy road traffic.
My advice: Choose your security line carefully--try to avoid getting behind families with children, those with strollers or hard-to-remove lace-up shoes or boots. I also recommend staying away from international visitors holding foreign passports since they typically don't have the drill down like U.S.-based travelers and tend to slow down the lines.
The segment also helped road warriors answer an important question: Is it faster to stay in one lane during heavy freeway traffic or is it better to weave around slow movers in zigzag fashion? Check out the video to get the answer to that question!
I've been fortunate enough over the past few years to either travel on business for myself or tag along with my husband on his business trips which have taken us to places around the world I never thought I would see. I'm a lucky woman. My last trip for work to California had me thinking about how to combine a business trip with pleasure. It is one of those perks that make you feel like you've had an extra vacation added in to your year.
Trying to mix business travel with pleasure can be a tricky balancing act, but with some careful planning and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone, I found it can be done.
It doesn't matter what city or country you're traveling to, plan ahead. When I find out what city or country I'm going to be traveling to, I spend some time online checking out the activities, events and local highlights that might be worth exploring. If I'm traveling to another country or even a different time zone, I try to arrive a day early just to get over jet lag, get some exercise and a good night's rest. You'll be amazed at how much better you'll feel and have a clear mind heading into your work week.
When it comes to my frequent traveling lifestyle, I've got long list of things to be thankful for at this time of year. Here goes:
Now here's a dash of good news: 53 percent of consumers plan to spend as much or more on holiday gifts as they did last year, according the latest American Express Spending & Saving Tracker. Whether you're giving gifts or receiving them this year, here are four items sure to warm the cockles of any road warrior. (Me included!)
You may not know this, but Best Western is not a franchising operation, but a membership organization. All Best Western hotels are independently owned, and owners opt to join Best Western as Members.
Every year several thousands of these Members gather with Best Western's top brass for a big powwow known as "Convention." Since many readers of this blog spend much of their lives at Best Western hotels, I thought they'd be interested in an outlook gathered from some of the most important speeches and presentations at the latest Convention held in Phoenix last month.
Prognostication is a dangerous exercise, especially out here in the blogosphere where anything you publish can easily come back to haunt you. But as we enter the fourth quarter of a tough year, I'm going to stick my neck out and point to some positive things I see coming our way in the next year...
I've been waiting and wondering about this and now it looks like its time to bite the bullet and change my name.
My travel name, that is.
My travel name would be the name I use when I buy an airline ticket, make a hotel reservation, rent a car, travel to another country or sign up for a charge card or loyalty program.
Why go to the trouble? Because starting next year, a new federal initiative called Secure Flight will require that the name on the ID you use to check in at the airport EXACTLY matches the name on your airline ticket.
And since the name on my ticket should always match the name on my frequent flier account (to avoid missing out on miles), I'll have to change that.
As many readers of this blog know by now, I recently brought together a group of Best Western's most frequent guests to form the "Best Western Diamond 100." This advisory group consists of business travelers who have stayed with Best Western more than 250 nights over the last five years.
When we first reached out to this group, we expected that about 100 would agree to participate--hence the name Diamond "100." To our delight, nearly 400 road warriors signed up to share their thoughts and voice their opinions on a number of business travel-related topics important to them. This is indeed an excellent illustration of how loyal these folks are to the Best Western brand.
Speaking of loyalty, our most recent BWD100 survey examined members' feelings about frequent travel programs and revealed some interesting nuggets:
According to a market forecast from American Express, a sharp spike is expected in the amount Canadian businesses spend on travel next year. After what has been characterized as the "worst recessionary period in our history" travel and tourism in Canada is starting to see positive signs of recovery. The market forecast projects corporate Canada to increase its spend by 15 percent in 2010, far outpacing a miniscule 1 percent increase from the US and an expected further decline in Europe.
I can attest to the business travel market starting to turn. For the corporate agency I work at, September was the first month in 2009 we were back to pre-recessionary levels. I am cautious though about declaring the trouble completely over just yet. There are three things I am waiting to see before I ink my declaration:
I started wondering if things were on the mend in business travel when we completed our August survey of Best Western Diamond 100 members. As you may recall, it revealed that unmanaged business travelers expect to travel as much (68 percent) or more (11 percent) this autumn compared to the same time last year.
That sounded like pretty good news to me, and in my blog headline, I pondered whether unmanaged travelers (those who work for themselves or for small companies and call their own shots when it comes to travel) were going to be the ones to "lead the charge out of economic doldrums."
Now there's further evidence that travel demand might be on the rebound: In its Global Business Travel Forecast released last week, American Express said the decline in business travel demand may be bottoming out due in part to pent-up demand for face-to-face meetings.
If you think you're doing your company a favor by taking fewer business trips, you might want to think again. Evidence is emerging that you could actually be doing it harm.
U.S. companies could miss out on nearly $200 billion in profits this year because they have cut back on business travel too much, according to a recent study by IHS Global Insight.
Another study by Oxford Economics found that companies bring in about $12.50 in revenue and $3.80 in profit for every $1 spent on business travel. The research firm said that if a business cut out all travel, it would forfeit 17 percent of its profits in the first year, and those profits would likely not return for three years after business travel resumes.
I've always had the feeling that traveling and meeting face to face was crucial to my business, but this is the first time I've ever had that feeling quantified.
Here's an example of how this study applies to my own business travel...see if you can apply it to yours.
READ THE TEXT VERSION OF THE VIDEO:
Last week was a whirlwind of international business travel for me, from here in San Francisco to London and back in four short days.
While that sort of itinerary may sound far-flung, highbrow and jet setting, I had the chance to stay over at a Best Western, which kept me grounded and my perspective in check.
When it comes to planning a business trip, one of the constant questions we all ask ourselves is, "Is this trip going to be worth the cost?" To determine the return on your investment, you first need a good estimate on how much it will cost.
And that's not always so easy. But Uncle Sam is here to help.
Every three years at about this time, the U.S. General Services Administration publishes the per diem rates it uses to reimburse government employees or contractors traveling to thousands of U.S. cities. In 2010, most of the country will fall under a standard maximum per diem of $116 ($70 for lodging, $46 for meals and incidentals). But there are 400 non-standard areas that have per diems which are higher.
Best Western's most frequent guests are business travelers who drive more than they fly on business trips. As a matter of fact, 63 percent say that less than 10 percent of their business trips over the last year involved air travel.
So when I read about a fascinating recent study on traffic gridlock, I knew I had to pass along some key findings here. The National Traffic Scorecard was produced by INRIX, a company that provides traffic and navigation information for online traffic sites, and a provider of GPS devices that road warriors use every day.
Some snippets:
If you are wondering what's going to happen next in the big wonderful world of business travel, then the National Business Travel Association's annual convention is a must. Last week, nearly 6,000 professionals (including yours truly) showed up in San Diego to gather information, sell, check out the competition, attend educational sessions, network and enjoy what has to be one of the best cities on earth to be sent on a business trip.
Here is some of what I was hearing on the tradeshow floor:
Despite numerous reports of dramatic reductions in corporate travel, the Best Western Diamond 100--a group of Best Western's most frequent guests expect to travel as much (68 percent) or more (11 percent) this autumn compared to the same time last year. Twenty-one percent say they will travel less. (Check out full survey results here http://www.bestwestern.com/unmanagedtravelers.pdf )
Many of those who are planning to travel as much or more than last fall explained how business trips are an integral part of maintaining relationships. "In a down economy, it's worth the extra cost to get in front of my customers even more. My competitors are cutting back and I'm there to pick up the slack," said an employee of a Utah building products company. A BWD100 member from Seattle commented that while her business overall is down, "I still have to make the same number of trips to maintain relationships and business." Another member who works for an aerospace company in California stated, "My work has not been impacted by the recession and my travel schedule remains the same from month to month." Another member, speaking for many, commented, "We are watching our money, but so far, thank goodness, I am still traveling the same amount."
In a previous blog, you may have read about the Best Western Diamond 100--a group of Best Western's most frequent guests, most of whom spend more than two weeks a month traveling on business.
These are folks who drive more than they fly and they work for themselves or for small- or medium-sized companies. They call the shots and pick up the tab for their trips.
They don't normally stay at 4- or 5-star downtown hotels and they don't fly business class--or even fly that much at all. Furthermore, they rarely spend more than $100 per night for a hotel and they don't work for giant companies that manage their business trips. Few have access to video conferencing facilities and many don't even have a travel agent or an expense account to fall back on.
Among travel industry insiders, these types of people are known as an "unmanaged travelers" (as opposed to "managed travelers" whose large corporations dictate how business travel will be conducted).
But just how many unmanaged travelers are out there? That's a tough question to answer. So I called in an expert.
Did you know that business travelers use online video throughout the trip-planning process more than leisure travelers? 'Tis true according to a recent study by Google and OTX called "The Traveler's Road to Decision."
The study showed that about 60% of us road warriors access online video when thinking about taking a trip, when thinking about what kind of trip to take and when deciding on accommodations and transportation related to the trip.
So without further ado, here's my latest Youmustbetrippin.com video. It's only two and a half minutes, so please tune in and let me know what you think of the content and my still-budding video production skills!
Later this month I will be traveling to the National Business Travel Association's annual convention in San Diego along with more than 4,000 travel industry execs.
I've been attending this all-important gathering for nearly 20 years and always walk away with tons of new information, trends, contacts, ideas and announcements to share with my readers.
Part of the art of successful business travel is maintaining the delicate balance between a healthy family/social life and the demands of the road. It's been interesting to witness how that balancing act has evolved and expanded in the Internet age.
When my first book 202 Tips Even the Best Business Travelers May Not Know was published in 1994, my advice for maintaining communication with family and friends was rudimentary. It included suggestions such as regularly scheduled check-in calls, sharing a room service meal with family and/or friends via speakerphone or faxing handwritten notes home.
Over the last few months, I've been working with Best Western on a project aimed at identifying trends, opinions and habits among its very best customers.
We wrangled this group together by emailing invitations to Best Western Rewards members who have spent more than 250 nights with the chain in the last five years. Nearly 400 members agreed to participate in monthly surveys and other forms of outreach and research.
We just completed our first survey which illustrates just who Best Western's top customers really are. To me, this group represents the core of the North American business traveler population-- entrepreneurs or those employed by small- or medium-sized companies.... out there on the road, in their cars in small towns and rural areas, probably eating alone and spending nights in roadside hotels. They always keep a keen eye on saving money, getting the job done and then getting home.
Who are Best Westerns best customers? Here are some top-line survey results:
When or if companies loosen their purse strings and allow employees to attend meetings and conventions again, expect a lot less flash. And a lot more scrutiny.
Earlier this month, the Treasury Department published new rules around meetings and conventions for companies receiving TARP funds. The rules require TARP recipients to "eliminate excessive and luxury expenditures" for entertainment or events as defined by the Treasury Secretary.
But don't think for a minute that just because your company is not a TARP recipient, you won't be subject to the new rules.
Here we are in the midst of the peak summer travel season. Everywhere you go, people are talking travel. And not all the stories are positive.
As a matter of fact, mid-summer is the time of year when you can't escape the stories of airport strandings, oversold hotels, broken down rental cars or unexpected traffic jams. Everyone seems to have his or her own personal anecdote of travel misery that can out do anyone else's.
I've just returned from my first transcontinental flight equipped with in-flight Internet access.
And I loved it.
I loved being able to stay on top of my emails in real time during the 4-5 hour flight. No email box to clean up at the end of a long day in the air. I read The Wall Street Journal and San Francisco Chronicle online, even though I had a hard copy in my carry-on. I was able to track my flight on a flightstats.com map to verify which cities, rivers and mountain ranges we were flying over. I passed some time on Twitter and Facebook reviewing videos and photos with my family and friends.
Have you harnessed the power of the blogosphere to make life on the road better? If you're reading this blog, you're well on your way. If you'd like to dig in a little bit deeper, check out the following blogs that I read at least once a week to keep me abreast of what's happening in the big wide world of business travel. They can help you, too.
As I've said before, don't think for a minute that this summer is going to be much different from others when peak vacation kicks in later this month. Despite the struggling economy, millions of Americans will still be hitting the roads and skies this summer.
During the next three months, business travelers will be sharing their quarters with vacationers eager to have fun. While the latter is focused on the beach, the pool and the family, your focus will likely be on the deal you've got to clinch tomorrow, your important conference call or the speech you're about to give.
Some conferences are so much better than others and I've just returned from a zinger. The Association of Travel Marketing Executives (ATME) met in Las Vegas this week and I picked up several nifty nuggets of business travel intelligence that road warriors will see play out in this era of the "New Normal."
If I were not a travel writer, I'd be a food writer. My gastronomic passion is wide ranging...I'm fascinated at how eating at airports has evolved in recent years. I even frequently arrive early just to see what's on the menu. In-flight fare has never bothered me all that much and I enjoy the break from the monotony of a long flight.
I'm an arbiter of taste when it comes to the hotel breakfast buffet. I'm happy to know that May is National Hamburger month. I love judging the quality of the "krinkle kut" French fries and homemade pies at a roadside diner as much as the foie gras at the latest, greatest bistro in New York or Paris.
All of that brings me to this question: What are the best foods for business travelers? I've got some ideas, but would like to hear yours, too. Please post your favorites or comments below!
Every year at about this time travel prognosticators and pundits hit the airwaves with their forecasts for the approaching summer vacation season. It's usually a time when business travel is pushed off the air or to the back pages. Just because it's beach weather doesn't mean business travel stops. In fact, demand for business travel is just as high during the dog days of summer as it is at any other time of year.
Here's my take on how what's happening on the leisure side is going to affect your business travel in the coming months.
Due to the current, tough economic climate, U.S. companies canceled an estimated $1 billion worth of conferences in the first two months of this year and trimmed back on others, according to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times.
I've created an two-minute video for this post illustrating how this trend is playing out at two hotels on the seaside golf course in the scenic central California coastal town of Half Moon Bay. (Let me know what you think about the video and if you'd like to see more videos included in the future! Quality will improve as time goes on...)
A perfectly planned business trip is sort of like a finely tuned watch. There are a lot of moving parts, but if one tiny pin or wheel stops working, the watch stops.
The same goes for a business trip. An unplanned traffic jam, a thunderstorm over the airport, a missed wake up call, and yes, even an outbreak of the swine flu can stop your trip in its tracks.
Sometimes travel glitches are no one's fault. That's when you've got to roll with the punches and make the best of a bad situation like everyone else. But at other times, it makes sense to write a letter and seek to resolve the issue when it's clear that someone has goofed up.
Do you think you've got a good case? Don't keep those feelings bottled up or start a negative word-of-mouth campaign. Write a letter and give the supplier the opportunity to make good. Here's some advice on writing that first email or letter:
So here we are. Six months since the bottom fell out of financial markets last October. Finally, the economy seems to be mimicking the spring season and producing tiny little green shoots of growth here and there.
This means that a lot of business travelers who may have been ordered by their companies to stay home and hunker down might be getting out and about for the first time this year in coming weeks.
A lot has changed in the last six months. Some observations from my recent trips and research:
Being mobile while on the road hasn't also been so easy.
At the turn of the 21st century, I was an early adopter of the Blackberry. Quite basic, it offered a black-and-white screen to display emails and the phone worked relatively well. I upgraded a few years later to a newer Blackberry that offered a color screen and showed "clipped" versions of Web pages.
But three years ago, I gave up on my Blackberry, and switched to a Nokia phone, as they were known to provide the best reception in areas with weak signals - which included my office. While it worked like a charm, it alas was not a Blackberry, and I missed the handy-dandy mobile access to my email, especially when on the road.
Earlier this week, I was in my car listening to the radio and an ad came on referencing the $1,350 tax credit available to Canadians against the cost of anything related to "home improvement." The Home Renovation Tax Credit is a key part of our economic stimulus plan to get Canadians spending in industries hurt during the downturn.
A few minutes later, I had one of those "a-ha" moments. Why not give taxpayers (both individual and corporate) a break against the cost of travel? This may seem a bit selfish coming from the guy who is a part owner of a travel agency group, but seriously, what would help kick-start the economy like people getting out flying, driving, eating in restaurants and staying in hotels?
As much as business travelers tug on one end of their travel dollars, suppliers are tugging just as much on the other. That means travelers need to be on the lookout for new fees. In a recent TripAdvisor poll of 5,000 travelers, 34 percent said they are facing more hidden fees than they did last year.
AIRLINES: By now, you've heard all about the nearly universal $15 fee for the first checked bag. But did you know that on most airlines, you now pay $150 to change your ticket...whether you bought it or redeemed frequent flyer miles for it? Here's a helpful chart from Kayak.com that should help you keep track.
...but the reality is that increasing business travel when other companies are cutting back creates an opportunity to poach business from competitors and snag new accounts.
Right?
Well, yes, according to the US Travel Association. Granted, this group's raison d'etre is to promote travel, but its mid-February survey of 401 execs at U.S. companies reveals a conflict.
About half of the respondents reported that their companies had recently cut back on business travel spending. But 82 percent agree that business travel is important to their ability to achieve positive results. And 81 percent believe that client contact is necessary during tough times.
Once I finish writing this blog I promise to get all my paperwork in order to send off to my accountant.
Promise!
Yeah, right.
I'm sure something else will come up and I'll end up sending it all in at the last minute. Just like last year. And the year before that.
Here are three tax tips to consider when wrapping up your returns this year:
1. Due to wide variations in fuel costs over the last year, the standard IRS deduction for business miles on your personal vehicle came in two flavors:
I know there is a lot of angst, bickering and confusion about the recent passage of the federal stimulus package that will inject $800 billion into our sputtering economy.
But you know what? Those of us who spend much of our lives on the nation's highways are going to be some of the first to enjoy the results of this massive spending. Smoother, wider and more technologically advanced roads are just around the corner.
I'm picking up from last week's column where I shared some interesting snippets from a panel discussion I moderated at the recent Best Western Business Travel Summit in New York City.
Panelists included Linda Rutherford, VP of communications and strategic outreach at Southwest Airlines, George Zilvetti, VP at MasterCard who oversees business development and co-branding, and Best Western's Dorothy Dowling, senior VP of marketing and sales.
Here are some more nifty nuggets of knowledge I picked up from the panel and how they affect you:
If you've been following my blog, you know that I traveled to New
York last week to lead a panel discussion at the Best Western Business Travel Summit, saving at least 100 jobs in the process.
Now, I bet you're wondering what we covered in a our revealing conversation that included Linda Rutherford, VP of communications and strategic outreach for Southwest Airlines, George Zilvetti, VP at MasterCard who oversees business development and co-branding, and Best Western's Dorothy Dowling, senior VP of marketing and sales.
Here are some of the nifty nuggets of knowledge I picked up from the panel and how they will affect you:
How will the economy effect business travel in 2009? Who will benefit from the down turn in the economy? How can you find survive this new world of business travel? Listen to expert business traveler Chris McGinnis, lead a panel discussion of business travel industry insiders and learn what's in store for business travelers in the coming year.
Have you ever considered how many people you help remain employed when you hit the road?
Last week, I took a business trip to New York City to lead a panel discussion at Best Western's third annual Business Travel Summit. For the duration of my trip, the fate of President Obama's economic stimulus plan dominated the news. As I sat in my room at the Best Western Hospitality House, I pondered just how much my trip would help stimulate the economy and how many jobs I might be saving.
Here's what I came up with: In just a single day of travel, I helped preserve at least 33 jobs.
When American Express talks, the business travel community listens. Last week, the travel behemoth released a new study that details how companies are controlling travel costs in an economic downturn.
While the report was written for travel managers and procurement types, let me translate it into language road warriors will understand.
The report says that companies will be holding employees accountable. This means you are going to be getting plenty of edicts from management to cut your travel costs and if you don't, you'll be asked why. Your company is going to try and explain the financial implications of out-of-policy travel spending and will emphasize that the sacrifices you make on the road could help save your job.
It's the dead of winter with most of the U.S. under a deep freeze that seems to have no end (meteorologically and economically). So, let's talk about Hawaii.
Have you been earnestly earning your Best Western Rewards points in colder climes and dreaming about redeeming them somewhere warm and tropical? It so, set your sites on the Best Western Coconut Hotel in Waikiki where I cooled my heels last weekend. (Rooms here go for 36,000 Rewards points per night.)
There are, of course, hundreds of hotel choices in Honolulu and as a travel writer for the last 20 years, I've slept and schlepped my way through many of them. But when air fares from California to Hawaii plunged to less than $300 round trip this month, I decided to jump on the plane and try the Coconut. Wow, was I impressed. (I know, I know...I'm jaded due to my affiliation with Best Western, but if you check out user-generated reviews at sites such as tripadvisor.com, you'll see that I'm not alone in my praise for the place.)
Here's why:
As a travel writer, I've seen my share of presidential suites. I recently got a look at the $34,000/night, I.M. Pei-designed presidential suite atop the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City. Wow.
Presidential suites are almost always big, dramatic--and dramatically expensive. So expensive, in fact, that most road warriors would never even consider them an option. But since we're all thinking "presidential" this week with the inauguration in Washington, D.C., it's worth re-examining the belief that presidential suites are in fact out of touch.
Actually, there are some situations where one of the largest and most prestigious rooms in a hotel makes perfect sense: a special occasion, a board meeting or when two or more employees are traveling together and entertaining clients. (For instance, I've seen presidential suites in Hong Kong used as mini-showrooms by apparel manufacturers meeting with buyers.) But the best way to see a presidential suite is on that very rare occasion when there are no more rooms left at the property and you get upgraded!
Cut back. Trade down. Freeze. Scrutinize. Reduce.
As the economy continues to slide, those words are increasingly used as part of the corporate clarion call to trim travel spending. No company or industry is exempt.
You'd think it was the end of business travel as we know it. But it doesn't have to be.
If you want to maintain the level of travel to which you have grown accustomed, it's time to burn off some of those miles and points to offset the cost of business travel.
With nearly every major hotel loyalty program offering gigantic bonuses this winter, you don't have to worry much about depleting your accounts.
For example, members of Best Western Rewards earn double points when they stay two nights, triple points when they stay three nights and quadruple points when they stay four nights now through February 14. (Details)
Hitting the road this month? I can't think of a better time to be traveling on business. Prices for anything travel-related are at historic lows. Families with kids are back in school and travel industry front-liners thankful to be employed during tough times are more accommodating than ever.
Here's what I mean:
GAS:
We are paying about half as much for a gallon of gas as we were this time last year. According to the US Energy Information Administration, the average price per gallon is now $1.68, down from about $3 in January 2008. The total cost to fill up my 15-gallon tank is now about $25; last summer I paid $60.
AIRFARE:
Airfares have sunk as fast as gasoline prices, especially into leisure-oriented markets like Florida, Colorado, California and Hawaii. However, new fees for things like checked bags or advance reservations for certain coach seats which were imposed last summer are here to stay, I'm afraid.
They say timing is everything, and that's especially true when it comes to saving money on business travel. Granted, many business travelers have little control over the timing of their trips. When clients (or your boss) call, you go. Period.
However, there are times when you can plan ahead. And if you travel during the following slower periods, you'll save big bucks over the coming year. So get out your 2009 calendar and consider hitting the road during the following slow periods:
January: After the holiday rush, demand for travel falls precipitously and so do prices. In the travel business, the two to three weeks after New Years are called "dead weeks," and you'll find deep discounts nearly everywhere. Warning: This is a time when many hotels schedule repairs and renovations, so be sure to ask for a room away from such activity when you check in.
I've had it with all the doom and gloom. It's the holidays. This should be a happy time. So with that in mind, let's focus on the silver lining surrounding all those dark economic clouds...
First off, if you are reading this blog, it's likely you are still employed and still have a travel budget. That's great news considering the current flurry of pink slips seems heavier than the season's first snow flurries.
Have you noticed that nearly everyone in the travel space seems to be in a better mood these days? I think this is because the pressure is off--- the decline in traveler volume means that everyone can sit back, take a breath, and remember that its not all about the number of heads in beds or butts in seats, but it's about customer service.
Every year at about this time, pundits and prognosticators produce their annual outlooks for the coming year. And since blogging is the newest form of punditry and prognostication, here's what your favorite business travel blogger is seeing in his crystal ball for 2009.
Lower prices: Declines in demand along with tanking jet fuel prices will result in some of the lowest airfares we have seen since 9/11. If you've got business trips scheduled for January, typically one of the slowest months of the year for travel, you'll enjoy astonishingly low airfares, hotel and rental car rates. If you're driving, gas prices will almost certainly stay below $2 per gallon until we see a light at the end of the tunnel for the economy.
The combined effect of the recent "fall-back" to standard time, dusk at 5 p.m. and two cross-country trips in the last month is forcing me to sharpen my sleeping skills. Over the years I've battled with bouts of insomnia that either come on or are exacerbated by my frequent traveling lifestyle. I know I'm not alone...if you talk to any group of road warriors long enough, you can easily elicit enough bleary-eyed tales to keep you awake for hours. Here are some of the ways I've learned to cope.
Your Own Alarm Clock: Pack a portable alarm clock or use the one on your mobile phone or PDA. Why? First, relying on a wake-up call from the hotel can add a layer of unnecessary stress. Second, you won't have to worry about whether or not you've correctly set those notoriously confusing and unfamiliar hotel room alarm clocks. (Note to self: Always be sure the alarm clock is set to "off," so it does not go off in the middle of the night. Can't figure out how to do that? Just unplug it.)
Here it is Thanksgiving week. Despite all the gloom and doom these days, there is still plenty for business travelers to be thankful for. Here are three things for which I'm grateful. Check them out and then please click on the comments button and tell me what YOU are thankful for when it comes to life on the road....
I'm guilty of it. Aren't we all? Its 11 pm, you've just checked into the hotel after a long day of travel, and the only thing you want to do is crash. But you have to check your email. So, instead of paying an outrageous fee for 3 minutes of Internet service you squat in the hotel lobby and mooch the free Internet.
I've done it more than I can count; and every time I end up wondering, "If it's free in the lobby, why isn't it free 12 floors above when I'm in my own room?"
Hotel WiFi can be one of the most frustrating aspects of traveling. The rate gouging, weak signals, port changing, and the time restrictions have always left me scratching my head. I put together a short list for Hotel WiFi Survival:
After a year of watching the economy cool off and wondering how--or if--it would force changes in business travel, I've got my answer. Big changes are on the way. Companies worried about the future are clearly cutting back on the number trips they are willing to authorize and they are cutting costs on the ones still allowed.
Just this week, the National Business Travel Association, a trade organization based in Washington, D.C. predicted that cost cutting measures will continue well into 2009 as a result of the economic slowdown. It expects business travel costs to increase and the number of business trips to grow at a slower rate than in previous years. "Across the board, we can expect to see some changes in the way travel is managed to further maximize value," said the group's president in a recent press release. In addition, the Airlines Reporting Corp this week said total U.S. travel agency transactions in October fell by 15 percent year over year.
Ready for takeoff? Not quite...usually there is a layover, delay or extra security line to make some airport visits longer than your time spent on the actual plane. Recently I spent a distressed 3 hours in the Fort Lauderdale airport with a dead laptop battery and zero luck finding an available or functioning power outlet. It made me start to log in my head my favorite and most dreaded airports to travel through while on business. Here is what I jotted down on paper during my three hour wait. I'm sure there are lots of airport tips and recommendations to share...so let us know what your favorite airport for business travel is and why. Note I left off most of the mother-ship airports like JFK and LAX because they often frustrate me more than they provide ease of travel. Here are the airports that were on my list:
TAMPA INTERNATIONAL (TPA)
Access to Gates/Planes - Tampa's airport has a clever system of unmanned trains that take you to a pod with a cluster of departing gates, so you never really have to walk that much. But beware if you are in a mad dash to catch a flight, waiting for the next train may end up with you seeing the plane door close without you on the inside.
Nearly everyone has a morning routine when it comes to coffee. And that routine is always thrown out of whack when you hit the road on a business trip.
When I wake up at home, I'm in the kitchen within five minutes performing a precise coffee-making ritual. And it always comes out just the way I like it. Dark roast, ground fine and dripped through a cone filter into a large mug. About a tablespoon of half and half to cut the heat and the acid. No sugar. Don't mess with my ritual!
But out on the road, it's tough. In-room coffee rarely hits the spot. To me, it's always too weak, and there's no half and half--only that fake-tasting powder. I'll drink it if I have to, or just to partially partake of my morning coffee-making ritual, but it's never as satisfying as home.
Laptops are to business travel as popcorn to movies....today most business travelers have them and frequently negotiate the ups and downs of traveling with them. There are a few tips to keep in mind if you are new to the laptop traveling business or maybe just need a refresher. When you get too comfortable, that's when things can happen. True confession time...I checked a laptop in my luggage on a transatlantic flight. I knew this was not recommended, but I had some unusual circumstances that made this necessary. I took some extra precautions in the packing (layers of bubble wrap and duck tape) but I have never talked to anyone or read anything that would recommend this practice. It worked out okay for me, but I was very nervous. And probably got lucky. Our luggage was new and when it arrived at the destination it looked like it had been dragged behind a car. I had a sick feeling that my laptop was going to be in multiple pieces inside. Luckily it had survived. But, I wouldn't take the chance again. Here are some other items to consider when traveling with your laptop.
A colleague of mine from Atlanta discovered this blog recently and sent me a query that I think bears repeating for everyone. Why? Because nearly every business traveler comes to San Francisco at least every few years for a meeting and for a good time...and good food. I can't think of any other business travel destination where there's more of a convergence of business and pleasure.
Here's the query:
Hey Chris,
A good friend of mine has a conference in San Francisco shortly after Thanksgiving and I wondered if you might have a couple of restaurant recommendations for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She's staying by Union Square and loves cozy places that are good for people watching (not the uber-trendy snooty tube-top crowd type stuff). And feel free to toss in a couple divey or low-brow places, too.
And my advice:
When American Express talks, the business travel industry listens. Last week the travel behemoth released its outlook for 2009 and the news was not all bad. The average cost of a domestic business trip is expected to rise just 2.8 percent in 2009. After several years of trip cost increases two or three times that large, a bump of 2.8 percent seems mild, and even welcome given the state of the economy and dwindling travel budgets.
That's the good news.
In last week's blog I wrote about how the nature of each business trip depends on a wide variety of factors and influences. But you know, business trips and business travelers are similar in a lot of ways, too.
Business travelers are by nature a generally optimistic, well-rounded bunch. Our employers would not send us out on the road if we weren't good at adapting to rapidly changing conditions, making great first impressions and keeping our minds open to new ideas and places. Another skill worth honing in a sputtering economy is the ability to find value on the road. Some business travelers are good at this while others might need a bit of practice and coaching. (Stay tuned to future blogs along these lines!)
So even though the economy is slowing, it's never going to stop. Business trips will still take place, but cost control will be a common mantra in coming months. Business travelers are going to have to cut back, cut down and cut out many of the perks we've grown accustomed to, no matter if we work for ourselves, at a small business or a large corporation.
QUESTION: If you are asked to cut back on your business travel spending, what's going to be the first thing to go? How can you shave costs and still be happy and productive on the road?
As far as I can there are like three REALLY portable endurance sports: swimming, running, and weight lifting. "Portable" means you can work-out almost anywhere without much gear. There are some great online tools to make your workout less logistically taxing while you're adventuring far from afield:
Run
Some people can just go out and run, and some people need to plan a route and have tangible goal associated with their daily fitness adventure. For those who like to plan their route there is Google Pedometer where you can route plan your next road or trail run. If you are interested in a topographical profile view of your run check out this handy plugin to google maps, Path Profiler.
On a recent business trip to Chicago, I found myself with a free afternoon. Faced with the many offerings that Chicago has for visitors, I decided that with it being such a perfect autumn afternoon, a stroll down Michigan Avenue would be an ideal way to get my mind off of work.
Michigan Avenue, for those who haven't spent time in Chicago, is the city's epicenter for fashion and shopping. Dubbed the "Magnificent Mile", Michigan Avenue boasts everything from department stores to high-fashion boutiques and fine dining to a popcorn shop. It is truly one of the gems of Chicago for window shopping and people watching alike.
Back with another installment of Travel by Numbers, we take a walk down Michigan Avenue...
Having covered the business travel beat as a writer and consultant (and business traveler) for nearly twenty years, I'm constantly trying to predict the needs and desires of our tribe. Editors and clients are always asking me, "What do business travelers want?"
The answer never changes. And the answer is: It depends.
It depends on your employment. Are you self-employed and paying your travel expenses out of your own wallet? Or are you an employee or contractor to a corporation that allows you to toss everything on to an expense report for reimbursement? The former wants the best value possible and will take the time to find the smartest bargains; the latter will seek out comfort, convenience and of course, loyalty points.
While I've established my credentials as a road warrior (see previous post), you should know that I fly as much as I drive. And like every business traveler out there who has heard that U.S. airlines are cutting schedules, parking planes and raising fares, I'm concerned about the impact on my travel budget.
But beyond the screechy headlines predicting unbearably high fares and the end of air travel as we know it, I've determined not all that much is going to change for most business travelers.
Like most Americans, I'm lucky because nearly all my air travel is on high volume routes between major cities with plenty of low-fare competition. In markets like these, average fares have increased only about 10 percent over the last year. I'm even luckier that I live in a city that's a hub for a low-fare carrier (Virgin America) and has two airports served by low-fare leader Southwest Airlines (San Francisco and Oakland). Fares to and from the cities I fly to most (Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver and Las Vegas) have actually decreased year-over-year.
On most business trips I do what I'm told....I fly when the airline wants me to fly...I walk through the airport security magnetometer when and only when the TSA person tells me to...I stow my bag where the flight attendant tells me to...and I accept the rental car the agent decides to give me. Sound familiar?
Last month when my business trip to Houston was canceled due to Hurricane Ike (blowing a four-day hole in my calendar) I decided to jump in my car in San Francisco and head down to meet up with a client in Los Angeles-- 375 miles away.
I'm always up for a road trip. There's something I love about hitting the road with complete freedom ...leaving when I'm ready...stopping when I feel like it...taking in a little bit of local color or cuisine along the way...driving all night long listening to a new CD or audio book of my choice...Doing what I want to do. It's such a relief to feel in control on a trip instead of just doing what I'm told.
"A Stitch in Times Saves Nine". What, you ask, has this phrase got to do with Packing for Business Travel Emergencies? This old popular saying has many interpretations depending on who you ask and what your mother told you. My mother told me to plan ahead, be prepared for life's little emergencies and that led to my best tips for planning for the small emergencies that happen when you're on a business trip. A little pre-planning can go a long way to save a business meeting or a wasted business trip.
It can be super hard for me to motivate myself to go to the gym after I've been crammed into seat 32B or behind the wheel. This was definitely the case last week when I arrived late into the Best Western Hotel in Mountain View, California. I'd been driving all day and all I wanted to do was crash. But I knew I'd sleep better if I got the blood flowing and stretched. I needed a workout with dynamic movements to lengthen my body. I did two decent workouts in a hotel room and I wanted to share them with you in case you have the same sort of problem motivating as I do. Sometimes the only practical option is to get in a quick workout right in the hotel room, especially late at night.
Have I mentioned that I'm actually on a business trip in NYC?
Several months back I was invited to participate in a panel on leisure travel. Only a two-hour commitment? My hotel and airfare provided? I wondered, should I bring the kids and husband along for a long weekend in New York? Why not? I booked plane reservations for four.
My decision isn't unusual. According to the National Business Travel Association, 62 percent of U.S. business travelers said they add a leisure component to at least one business trip per year. Among those travelers, two-thirds say they bring a family member or a friend with them. Why? As the American workplace becomes more flexible about letting employees juggle their duties with family life, people like me are finding it easier to bring their spouses and kids wherever their jobs may take them. What's more, family business trips are a great way to save--since the company is usually paying for a few nights of the hotel and airfare for at least one.
I've spent a lot of time on the road, sometimes for adventure, sometimes for business. I've visited all 7 continents. I even visited the only continent where Best Western doesn't have a full fleet of hotels (Antarctica). One year I traveled so much that I actually spent 250 nights in hotels! One of my favorite parts of traveling is sampling the local cuisine. Sometimes I splurge (like chocolate mousse for breakfast in Paris), but more often than not I just want a healthy breakfast that will keep me going all day long. I put together a list of tips for all of you who are at the hotel continental breakfast bar wondering what is best to eat.
So next time you're on vacation don't let your nutrition go on vacation too. This list will help you decide what to eat and what to leave for the next guy.
Bad news travels fast. You may have heard that with recent airline mergers, bankruptcies and the like, you probably will have to start paying more for your bags, tickets, micro-zipped saltine crackers, headphones, pillows (just make sure you have that 5 bucks handy for the oxygen mask if there is ever a sudden change in cabin pressure). For those traveling for business, this probably means longer lines, crowded flights, and dreaded delays. Welcome to summer airline travel in 2008.
In the spirit of defiant optimism, here are a few tips for business travelers in the brave new world:
What other off-beat ideas do you have to beat the summer travel frenzy? Let us know.
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