|
Nearly 50% of today’s business travelers are women. Now, a sister traveler steps forward to serve as their adviser and advocate with a new book, The Woman Road Warrior: A Woman’s Guide to Business Travel (Agate Publishing/May, 2005).
Author Kathleen Ameche, an accomplished executive and a 20-plus-year business road warrior, says she wrote the book because “Women on the road are different from men on the road. I just wanted to share what I have learned over the years.” Ameche, currently vice president of Chicago consulting firm West Monroe Partners, LLC, continues, “I would be delighted if, as a result of this book, the travel industry pays more attention to the needs of women business travelers – there’s a potential goldmine in it for them.”
Here are some of Ameche’s tips for itinerant businesswomen:
Booking Your Business Trip
- Travel Agents. As in any business, travel agency employees vary in skill, experience and diligence. Be persistent--if you know of a better deal or a better way of getting what you want, ask the agent to follow through for you. Consider changing agents if you are not satisfied with the results.
- Travel Websites. Not all travel websites are created equal. Some present unbiased options while others base choices on revenue and commission deals with airlines. And, since not every travel site features schedules for every airline, always check individual airline websites. Additionally, consider using a separate e-mail address when making reservations online. This way, any promotions and advertisements from travel suppliers will go to your travel address, instead of your primary account.
- Upgrades. Check your company’s travel policy--the cost of an upgrade is typically a personal expense and so probably won’t be reimbursed by your company.
Troubleshooting Travel Problems
- If your flight is cancelled, for whatever reason, immediately contact your travel agent or the airline to find out what your options are and, if possible, to make a reservation on an alternative flight. Also check on the availability of hotel rooms in case you are stranded for another day.
- When dealing with airline personnel, always be pleasant, respectful and appreciative. Airline employees actually have a great deal of discretion in many areas and, like everyone, respond much more favorably to someone who treats them well. I have always regretted the results on those occasions (fortunately few) when I have not followed my own advice in this regard.
- Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, or you’re uncomfortable for any reason--say, when you check into a hotel room--request a change! Too often we accept what is given to us because we are tired, we don’t want the hassle or we don’t think that it’s going to get better. More often than not, our first impressions prove to be right.
- The travel industry works primarily with credit cards. It makes sense to keep a separate credit card that you use only for travel. It will help you keep business and personal expenses separate.
Interesting Travel Stats
The following data are based on information from Business and Convention Travelers, 2004 Edition, Travel Industry Assn. of America:
- There were 38.3 million business travelers in the U.S. in 2004; almost half were women.
- Average spending on a U.S. business trip is $493 (excluding transportation to the destination), significantly higher than overall average trip expenditure of $398.
- Women are more likely than men to have traveled for business training or to attend a seminar (47% vs. 36%).
- One in five U.S. business travelers thought they would travel more for business [from August 2004-September 2005] than they did in the past year.
- A majority of business travelers (55%) say they are concerned about being away from their families, and nearly half (49%) remain concerned about the safety and security of business travel.
- Most (78%) U.S. domestic business trips involve an overnight stay; the average stay is 4.1 nights.
- Households headed by Baby Boomers (age 35-54) take 48% of all business trips.
Check out Kathleen Ameche’s Website, www.womanroadwarrior.com, to receive and share valuable tips to use on the road.
To learn more, consider this AMA seminar:
AMA On-site: Every one of AMA’s 170+ public seminars can be delivered on-site. This flexible, money-saving option allows you to train ten or more people, when and where you choose, at a low cost per participant. Click here for more information.
|
