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It may seem that business travelers are deprived in comparison with other tourists: indeed, special cards are issued for cyclists, and roadside motel chains are opened for motorists. However, for business people, a lot of the most convenient things and technologies have been created – from business-class airlines specializing in long-distance flights, such as the Silverjet, to the smallest gadgets like a special wedge that will not allow a neighbor in front to recline the seat and prevent you from working on a laptop. …
1. Quintessentially Concierge Club
Although the cost of a Quintessentially membership starts from $ 1,500 a year, it is worth it: you get round-the-clock support of the most professional concierges in the world, able to organize everything – from a table in the best restaurant in London, where mere mortals reserve seats a month in advance, or tickets for already sold out musical before charter in Tahiti or translator from Swahili. In addition, membership in the club offers substantial discounts at thousands of fashion stores.
It is useful for a business person to know that in Greece you cannot give knives and irises, and you should not talk about gypsies with Slovaks.
2. Empty leg
You don't have to be a millionaire or a top manager of a large corporation to fly private jets – you just need to use flights, which are called empty leg in aviation jargon. The technology is simple: when someone books a private flight, the plane often returns empty. There is an opportunity to fly on it, paying much less than the standard rates. In addition to comfort, there are a lot of advantages: a large number of airfields, facilitated customs and visa procedures.
3. The book “Business Europe: the rules of the traveler”
One of the first thematic guidebooks on business topics in Russian is a translated book by American Mary Bosrok. The tips in it mainly relate to the specifics of behavior and etiquette in different European countries, from it you can find out why it is impossible to give knives and irises in Greece, how much tip to give in Portugal, where business lunches are accepted, and where are business dinners and why with Slovaks it is better not to discuss politicians and gypsies. Despite some flaws in the adaptation of the book, it really helps to avoid many awkward situations.
4. Kensington WiFi Finder Plus
A small $ 25 keychain with a button and multiple LEDs can be extremely useful if you urgently need to use the Internet or email. You won't have to turn on your laptop every time to find out if there is wireless WiFi in one place or another – this is done by a small device from Kensington, and it determines not only the presence, but also the signal strength. Thus, the Internet can often be found not only in the lobbies of hotels and expensive cafes, but also right on the street next to an office or residential building. In addition, the key fob also detects all open bluetooth connections.
5. Marco Polo Club
Everyone has long known about bonus programs to reward frequent flyers that exist with almost all airlines. A distinctive feature of the Marco Polo program, created by the Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific, is that miles are spent not on receiving free flights in the future, but exclusively on upgrading the status in the program itself. The higher the status, the more bonuses: priority check-in, guaranteed seats, special attitude to luggage, access to VIP lounges, discounts in duty-free. Marco Polo members also receive additional bonuses when staying in hotel chains – partners of the program. In addition, any oneworld airline traveler (British Airways, American Airlines, Finnair, Iberia, LAN, Quantas, Aer Lingus, Cathay Pacific, and from April 1 also JAL, Malev and Royal Jordanian) can add miles simultaneously to your account in some special program (Asia Miles, Aadvantage, Executive Club, etc.), and to your account in Marco Polo Club.
Source: Andrey Baranovsky specially for BizavNews
