Teresa Shaw's Blog
Posted by Teresa Shaw
Packing my suitcase for a business trip is always a challenge -- I never want to check luggage but I don't want to leave out any essentials. So I've created a packing list that I keep for every trip, and devised a guide for how to pack the necessities into business luggage while still traveling light.
What are your secrets to packing light -- without leaving anything out? Please leave a comment!
Posted by Teresa Shaw
One might not think of southeastern Ohio as a destination for business meetings; I didn't. But after visiting the Hocking Hills area of Ohio, I've changed my tune. Not only are there ample resorts and lodges catering to everyone from the outdoorsy hiker to business executives, but many inns offer business centers and conference facilities.
The Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls has 5,000 square feet of space in its new meeting center, with seating for up to 50 people and a flat-screen television. The space offers a rustic yet sophisticated log cabin setting and ample natural light and wireless Internet service -- a must in a region where cell phone coverage is spotty at best.
The facility also promotes environmental awareness by providing many “green” details, including recycling gray water, natural light, renewable resources and more. What's more, the drive to the area is beautiful -- lush forests line the country highways, which twist and turn as they wrap around the scenic hills. It's definitely worth the drive.
The area is a beautiful one-hour drive from Port Columbus airport and a nice road trip from Ohio or Pennsylvania.
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Posted by Teresa Shaw
Executive Travel readers have voted Hilton Hotels the 2009 Best Hotel for Meetings and Best Hotel for Business Service. Hilton also earned second place honors in the Best Hotel Chain category and its guest loyalty program, Hilton HHonors, was named one of the top three frequent guest programs.
“We are proud to be the top choice of these frequent travelers,” said Dave Horton, Global Head – Hilton brand in a press release.
“With innovative offerings such as our e-Events online booking portal and Hilton Meetings, we continue to raise the industry standard and enable our guests around the world to be at their best 24/7.”
Last year, Hilton introduced Hilton Meetings at its properties throughout North America following a successful international launch. Hilton Meetings was devised to help business travelers to organize productive, hassle-free meetings for groups of 50 guests or fewer. The service provides individual meeting specialists and features technologically advanced room designs that help meeting planners minimize environmental impact.
Posted by Teresa Shaw
The August issue of Travel + Leisure names the top 10 U.S. and Canadian cities for 2009:
- New York
- San Francisco
- Quebec City
- Charleston, SC
- Santa Fe
- Chicago
- Savannah
- Victoria, British Columbia
- Montreal
- Seattle
Seattle was a newcomer to the list, not having been ranked the previous year. Chicago and Quebec City swapped positions, with Chicago previously number 3 and Quebec City number 6 in 2008.
Cities were selected through a survey sent to Travel + Leisure readers. Cities were ranked based on sights, culture/arts, restaurants/food, people, shopping, and value.
The entire results of the T+L World's Best awards are available on the web or in the August issue.
Posted by Teresa Shaw
What's the buzz in the hotel industry? The Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C., recently checked in 105,000 new guests: Italian honeybees. The bees are settling into hives atop the hotel’s roof for the purpose of providing honey to the culinary program and pollinating the fresh herbs and edible flowers in the Fairmont’s interior courtyard garden.
Honey bees populations have been on the decline for several years now, but there are plenty of things everyone can do. From planting a bee-friendly garden to supporting local beekeepers to, yes, staying at the Fairmont, we can all do some good to the bees that do so much good for us.
Posted by Teresa Shaw
The last time I was in New Orleans, it was for business. However, as luck would have it, the cheapest returning flight I could find required a Saturday night stay. While it did mean the cost of another night's hotel stay, the cost difference still kept me in the black, so who was I to not save my company a few hundred dollars?
Radisson is offering a similar deal -- "Friday is Freeday." From May 15 through Sept. 15, 2009, guests will receive a free Friday night stay when staying two or more consecutive nights (Thursday or Saturday night required). The deal is being offered at participating Radisson hotels and resorts properties in North, Central and South America; Asia Pacific; and at Radisson Edwardian Hotels in the United Kingdom.
Do you try to tack on an extra vacation day or two to your business trips? What destinations do you like to spend extra time at? Please leave a comment and get the conversation started!
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Posted by Teresa Shaw
In light of the recent reports of swine flu cases being reported in the United States, Mexico and overseas, many countries are restricting travel. The U.S. State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are currently drafting a warning against any non-essential travel to Mexico, according to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.
The World Health Organization said today that 73 cases of swine flu had been confirmed via lab tests worldwide. Mexico is thought to be the point of origin of the outbreak; more than 149 deaths in Mexico are being investigated as possibly being linked to the outbreak.
Meanwhile, airports in countries including Indonesia, Japan, Russia and Korea are monitoring arriving passengers for flu symptoms, including taking their temperatures.
Has the recent swine flu outbreak changed your travel plans? Are you more or less likely to travel now? Please let us know with a comment.
Posted by Teresa Shaw
A recent article on CNN.com examines the current state of the luxury travel business and whether it is too much of a luxury for business travel. Many companies are scaling back on their travel expenses and are either choosing less expensive venues or banning travel altogether.
From December 2008 to February 2009, luxury hotel occupancies dropped by more than 15 percent -- a steeper drop than mid-level hotels, according to hotel industry watcher Smith Travel Research Inc. While this might mean more rooms are available at the inn and good deals can be found, it also means that the companies have less money available for investment in renovations and future properties, and have had to let many employees go.
The steep decline can also be attributed to image. No longer does it look good for large companies to wine and dine at fancy resorts -- especially on the shareholders' or even taxpayers' dime. Instead, companies are choosing moderate local hotels to book their meetings and conventions and, in some cases, even asking their employees to sleep at home.
Has your company changed its travel policies to require employees to stay at moderately priced hotels? Leave a comment and let us know!
Posted by Teresa Shaw
Greetings from the new Feature Writer for Business Travel here on Suite 101. I’ve been writing for Suite 101 for almost two years in various sections, and am excited to take the reins of Business Travel.
I stumbled into business travel myself several years ago, jetting my way to various cities for meetings, conventions and other events. During these trips, I strive to get out and actually see the town and all it has to offer -- not just the airport, hotel and convention center. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you, as well as reporting on new trends, tips and tricks for successful and stress-free travel.
I hope you enjoy reading the articles in the Business Travel section of Suite101.com. I source my own topics and write a minimum of one article per week, so I welcome suggestions and press releases for new story ideas. Contact me by e-mail to businesstravel@suite101.com.
Happy travels!