Corporate Travel Management
Balancing Luxury & Affordability in Corporate Travel
Corporate travel often feels like an angry game of tug-of-war between yourself and your employer. They’re always pulling for tighter travel budgets and fewer perks. You’re simply pulling for reasonable living conditions during your business trips (especially considering you’re missing your kid’s birthday party for this stupid conference in San Francisco and you’re already taking heck from your spouse).
Is there a compromise? Is there some way to get decent air fare, airport transport services, hotel rooms, and food without the company accusing you of tanking their entire 3rd quarter profits? There is. Read on.
Do Some Research & Plan Ahead as Much as Possible
We know; we know. You really don’t want to think about that business trip to San Francisco until it’s time to hop on the plane. But doing your research and finalizing as much of your travel plans as possible as early as possible can save you enough money to bump up from economy class to business class or upgrade from a single hotel room to the suite. Of course, there will always be things you can’t nail down ahead of time.
For instance, you might want to leave dinner reservations open the first night, in case you end up taking the client out. But do reserve everything you can. Then you’ll have an idea of how much more is left in the old business travel budget to spend on a limo service or that mini bar (is it us, or do M&Ms just taste better from a hotel mini bar?)
Be Flexible About Travel Times
If you’re willing to fly at off-peak times, you can often save enough money to bump a business class ticket up to first class, or save on airfare and opt for a limo airport transfer instead of having to use that godforsaken hotel shuttle bus with the crying kids and bubble gum on the seats. This can mean a huge savings when flying into the larger airports, like SFO.
The redeye (between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.) is a popular way to save on business travel expenses, and flying on Tuesday or Wednesday. The next cheapest days are Thursday and Saturday. Before booking reservations, check the calendar for holidays or other heavy air traffic days that might skew your airfare rates, such as college kids flying home for spring or fall break.
Stick With the Same Vendors Every Time You Travel
Hotels, limo services, and other business travel vendors will usually work with their regular customers to offer the best possible rates and perks. Over time, you can save substantially (plus upping your luxury amenities from time to time) by sticking with the same vendors.
Remember, your company shouldn’t be judged by the rottenest apples in the bunch, and neither should theirs. Don’t ditch a long-time vendor who’s provided great customer service just because they couldn’t score you that corner suite this particular trip. Stick with a vendor that can provide overall solid service and competitive rates. That 3, 4, or 5 year relationship will pay off for you over time.
Rethink the Cost Savings of Public Transit
If you save a few dozen dollars riding the bus, but you ruin an $800 suit, arrive to the client’s office looking a wreck, and end up losing a half-million dollar account because he/she was so unimpressed because you arrived 20 minutes late in a stained suit, did you really save any money? Nope, you squandered a ton.
Opting for a limo transport during your business trip isn’t really a luxury at all. It’s just good business sense. You’ll impress the clients, make bigger and better connections, always arrive on time looking your best, and never squander a half-million dollar account or ruin an expensive suit on public transit. This is particularly important in the big business cities like San Francisco, where you’re expected to arrive in style and you do get judged largely on your appearance.
A good rule of thumb is to save on everything that isn’t important to you, so that you can splurge on the few items that are truly of significance. Say you’re a foodie. Choose a hotel room with a kitchenette, so that you can make most of your meals in the hotel and splurge on two or three excellent restaurants while you’re in town. Likewise, if a luxury hotel means everything, be willing to take that middle-of-the-week redeye flight in economy class so that you can score that super slick suite overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.
Most of all, turn to the dependable, reliable, affordable services of Elite Limousine for your transportation needs. Your business is our business. Schedule your corporate travel management consultation or limo services today!