Toolie Business Travel Newsletter March 2009In This Issue:
Toolie's Monthly Travel Tip: Economizing on Business TravelI've always been a bargain-hunter. I learned that from my necessarily-frugal parents, and it's a characteristic that has saved me thousands of dollars as the years have passed. Microsoft always encouraged us to be responsible with our travel dollars (we were shareholders too!), and now that I travel on my own dime, I'm even more careful. With the changes in the economy, all companies are looking for ways to trim their travel expenses, so the pressure to be cost-efficient is even greater. I've written about Toolie's Triangle of Travel Costs in the past, so I won't repeat much of it here, but I do want to offer some up-to-date ideas about ways to economize, whether you're an entrepreneurial traveler or you travel for your corporation. Loyalty and Rewards Programs I am a fan of loyalty and rewards programs like these because the perks are tangible. Not every program is as rewarding as my two favorites (United and American Express), but even the least exciting business hotel chain program will still respond to a request for an upgrade if you ask them. So now is the time to get signed up for the airline and hotel programs of your choice and pay attention to their offers. It's Time to Fly(tm) That's United current slogan, and I like it. I've been in United's Mileage Plus program since 1988, and they've treated me well as long as I make even the minimum level (Premier). Now that I'm not traveling as much as I'd like to be, the fact that I have almost 900,000 lifetime miles accrued with them still counts for something when it comes to upgrades, so I can't emphasize enough the importance of participating in an airline mileage program. I've chosen to stay with one airline; your job may not allow you to do so, but there are distinct advantages to doing so. If I had known this when I first started traveling for Microsoft I would probably have reached my 1 million mile mark by now. Soon, soon... Suffice it to say that reaching that level brings new rewards in their program! Credit Card Rewards Programs In this category, there's only one program that I have used, and it's a big one: American Express. Their Membership Rewards program allows you to transfer their points to hotels and other reward programs, and that's where the real value lies. I have stayed multiple nights in worldwide destinations for absolutely no money on several occasions. When I took my sister with me to Hong Kong in 2005 for the Business Travel Expo there, 4 of our 6 nights in Hong Kong were paid for by hotel points; 2 from the hotel, and 2 from American Express. You may remember the newsletter I wrote about that one; it took some doing to get things lined up, but for us it was the trip of a lifetime. One advantage of taking family with you on a business trip is that at some point you're required to make time for some fun. That was Melody's stipulation in exchange for giving up vacation time to work the booth with me. She IS brilliant. Without her insistence on free time I never would have seen the worlds largest sitting Buddha on one of the neighboring islands, even though I've been to Hong Kong at least 7 times. Hotels, Shmotels When I first started signing up for hotel programs there were more than a dozen worth paying heed. Now that number has dropped as hotel chains have consolidated with multiple brands, but that's not a bad thing. Having hotel points land in fewer accounts mean they pile up more quickly. I find that I get the best results with these accounts when I use AmEx points to bring the total up to the equivalent number required for free nights. Alternatively, the benefits come in the form of room upgrades, which for me is a serious consideration. Sometimes that means the room is closer, sometimes it means I get the king bed I wanted, sometimes it means I'm on the Executive floor where food is served and nibbling on appetizers is enough of a meal for the evening. The big question mark for me is the use of cut-rate room websites, the kind that will get you a deal as long as you don't have to be flexible in dates, arrival times, etc. I have had very little success with websites like Priceline and Hotwire because something always changes at the last minute. On one trip for Microsoft, I ended up at the top of the hill at a very nice one-of-a-kind hotel in San Francisco while the rest of the team stayed AT the venue hotel. I had to get up earlier, and had farther to go to get back. I DID however get the most time in on the Cable Cars there than I ever have on any trip since then, but that was about the only up-side. Back to that Triangle My Triangle of Travel Costs philosophy is based on the idea that you have to expend some effort, time, and money to travel. Especially in the US, the default response to getting from the airport to your destination is always to rent a car, but that's not always necessary. It's frequently more cost-efficient to pay a little more for a hotel that's right near or at your meeting destination than it is to pay to rent a car, PARK the car (yikes!) And drive it back to the airport. THAT's the idea that most business travelers don't immediately grasp, and that's where the real savings can begin. Furthermore, the time savings is the chief reason for getting a hotel close to your meeting location. We all only have 24 hours in a day (though some of my trips, I'd swear there are fewer), so TIME should be the governing decision. Not all companies see that, so I continue my personal crusade to help the business travel world see the light. Got a Money-Saving Business Travel Tip? I'd love to share your tip with my readers so that we all benefit. I will give you credit of course (Name, website, etc.), unless you wish to remain anonymous. Send your tip to Toolie@Toolie.com and I'll include it in a future issue. The Website Has a Face-LiftMy ToolieTheTravelGuide.com website is the oldest site I have and I haven't made changes to it for a long time. During my most recent Create Your Own Website course, I used that site as an example, constructing a new layout and appearance from scratch. Check it out! http://www.tooliethetravelguide.com Also in response to your requests, you can now view my current newsletter online (see the link at the top). Over time, I will be converting previous newsletters so that you can view any you might have missed in the last 6 months. Toolie's Travel PlansI will be home again until mid-April when I head back to Las Vegas for more speaker training with James Malinchak. I am starting to reach out to NSA Chapter presidents to offer my website training as a fund- raising activity, and I'm sure James will have many ideas for that effort as well as my speaking career in general. Stop by my web site, http://www.tooliethetravelguide.com and say 'Hello,' especially if the Live Chat icon says I'm online. I love to hear from my subscribers anytime! Toolie®
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