Business travel has an impact on health – and it’s not a positive one. It’s difficult not to develop bad habits while traveling for work. Unfortunately, the consequences of letting things go while your away can be dire, from short-term insomnia to obesity and high blood pressure following a regime of increased smoking and alcohol consumption.

Fortunately, most business travelers are aware of the toll their travels take on their health. With a little forethought and the help of their corporate travel consultant, they can prevent these situations accordingly, eating more healthful foods, sticking to fitness routines, sticking to daily routines, and avoiding common sources of stress. In fact, trends toward health-minded decisions on the rise compared to just a few years back. Here’s how to maximize available opportunities.

7 Tips for Staying Healthy During Business Travel

1. Plan ahead.
   Business travel planners know preparation is key to a productive trip.  Planning as much in advance as possible, from clothing and dining to daily schedule, helps minimize stressful decision-making tasks. Bringing a print out of necessary tasks or itineraries, and organizing as much in advance as possible ensures brainpower is saved for essential business trip tasks.
2. Banish buffets.
   The endless treats at buffets can make it highly tempting to over-indulge. To avoid falling prey to baser instincts, avoid the buffet for lunch and dinner, seeking out hotels that only offer this option at breakfast.
3. Keep it cool.
   Opt for a hotel with a fridge whenever possible. This is among the best business travel solutions for facilitating healthier food choices. In a hotel fridge, healthy options are more easily stored, such as yogurt, protein shakes, and pre-cut fresh fruit and veggies. These make a more mindful alternative to fat, sugar, and sodium-heavy take-out and snacking options.
4. Save it for later.
   Start the day with a light, protein-packed breakfast and lunch, sipping water regularly. This will allow plenty of calorie leeway for a relaxing and enjoyable dinner without the guilt of a 4,000 calorie day.
5. Start and end the day right.
   Though trips to a strange location can be mentally taxing, this new environment is also a tremendous opportunity to make creative and inspired decisions and brainstorm new ideas. To that end, avoid mundane tasks like firing off emails or drudging through social media, as these mentally draining tasks can rob you of inspiration. Instead, spend free or lax time visualizing upcoming goals, reading an inspiring book, or engaging in a guided meditation.
6. Don’t neglect exercise.
   To stay on your routine and improve sleep, don’t abandon your exercise regimen. Stay healthy by choosing a hotel with a decent gym or nearby fitness classes.
7. Jump on the “bleisure” bandwagon.
   Work a little leisure into your business trip, scheduling a day before or after the trip to soak in local offerings.

Ensure health and happiness on the road. Make the most of every trip with the help of the business travel management experts at GTI Travel.

Business travel can take a big bite out of your bottom line, and for small businesses, that bite can feel large and exceedingly painful. Is there any way to stretch your travel budget? The small business travel management professionals at GTI Travel have the tips and tricks you need to get the best bang for your travel buck.

10 Travel Tips & Hacks for a Low Budget Trip

1. Don’t assume business and economy plus seats are out of budget.
   Searching for coach class seating when you’re on a budget makes sense, but during the holidays when business travel drops, the price of business and economy class seating will as well.
2. Search one-way fares, then combine them.
   While round-trip purchases may be easiest to book, they’re not always the best deal, or the most convenient. Purchasing two one-ways and mixing and matching carriers and routes may offer you more flexibility and a better price.
3. Look to on-time arrival records.
   The best business travel agencies know airlines with a low flight cancellation and rate high on-time arrivals helps you avoid the unexpected expense and stress of missing connections.
4. Travel on holiday.
   No one wants to fly on Thanksgiving or Christmas day. Traveling on big holidays ensures both flight deals and ample space.
5. Sign up for rewards programs.
   Even if you don’t plan on future travel, travel services pros always recommend signing up for reward programs, such as frequent flyer miles. Doing this offers you opportunities in the event of a mishap or request, representing opportunities for future business.
6. Weigh luggage.
   The cost of overweight luggage is beyond excessive. An inexpensive digital baggage scale can save you a ton of dough, allowing for the weighing of items before each trip segment.
7. Carry on.
   Instead of checking luggage, carry on instead. This not only saves money but saves time and hassle at the luggage carousel – or worse: Lost luggage. With the right luggage and compression bags, it’s easier than you think.
8. Share your problems.
   Tweeting travel issues, such as a bump or missed connection, is now faster or easier than standing in the customer service line next to tired parents with screaming children. Most major carriers employ customer service reps that monitor these services, making it faster and easier to get help in such situations.
9. Avoid touristy locales when dining.
   Eating in any city that is near a major tourist attraction almost always ensures inflated prices and low-quality food and service. Local hot spots (and even food trucks) often offer far better food at lower prices.
10. Eat out for lunch, dine-in for dinner.
    Enjoying the complimentary hotel breakfast, eating out for lunch, and dining in at your in-room kitchenette for dinner can be a great way to stretch your dining dollars.

Don’t let business travel expenses bite you. Ensure sweet success, protecting your budget. Secure the best airfare and lodging prices with the help of the business travel planning pros at GTI Travel today.

The GBTA Business Travel Sentiment Index, a survey conducted in partnership with RoomIt by CWT, recently revealed the sentiments of consistent business travelers across the globe. Despite the economic challenges faced in some parts of the world, the outlook of business travelers remains positive. The travel experience has the most significant impact on response. Sentiment surrounding trip experiences improved slightly over last quarter overall, growing 0.4 points. For U.S. business travelers, growth was highest, rising 5.7 points.

What’s Impacting Perceptions of the Travel Experience?

Flights were, unsurprisingly, a leading factor in traveler experience, with 54% of travelers experience a mishap while away on travel over the past year. Delayed flights affected 52% of travelers, and 40% experienced a canceled flight. Despite these obstacles and their already action-packed schedules, however, business travelers say they would travel more frequently if given the option, with the vast majority (86%) happy with their overall experience. This seems to be primarily driven by the hotel experience, with traveler satisfaction linked to staying at conveniently located hotels, booking arrangements, the check-in/out process, and payment for travel arrangements.

Key Traveler Considerations

• Technology

Technology is crucial to traveler satisfaction. In-room internet is relied upon, with 80% travelers spending one-hour per day, and 51% spending at least two hours per day, using it for work. 41% used their own or a company-provided hotspot. Travelers crave not only current technology, such as in-room chargers for mobile devices, ‘smart TVs’ or streaming services, and online/mobile check-in/out services, they are also interested in future technology additions such as smart room controls (temperature, lighting) and occupancy sensors that can save energy. Such technologies keep travelers productive and happier, encouraging more frequent travel.

• Fitness 
  Some are surprised to find health and wellness a top priority while on the road. For 83% of travelers, proximity to workout facilities or a walkable area plays largely in booking decisions. Half of the travelers note-making time for exercise on most trips, with 23% revealing they work out more while away than at home.

Travel Management Policy Friction

Delivering a positive travel experience lays the foundation for increased compliance in corporate travel policy programs. Amenities such as free breakfast help employees stretch their dining dollars, and travel reward programs employees can use at their own discretion are also a highly coveted travel benefit. Giving travelers more choice in accommodations, locations, and amenities increases savings opportunities for both employer and employee.

About the Survey

2109 survey information was collected online from 2,084 full and part-time business travelers from across the globe who had taken three or more business trips in the past year, including 523 respondents from the U.S., 521 from Europe, 523 from Latin America, and 517 from the Asia-Pacific region. The full report can be downloaded from RoomIt by CWT.

What’s on the mind of your travelers? Ensure an enjoyable, productive trip with the help of the corporate business travel management services of GTI Business Travel today.

Are you on the fence over whether working with a business travel agency is worth it? Travel agents take the stress out of travel planning, minimizing time spent researching and booking, and helping business travelers uncover lodging and experiences they might not otherwise be able to find on their own. Those who have worked with an experienced agent will tell you they’re worth their weight in gold.

Minimal Charges

Though corporate travel management services come at a cost, that cost is relatively low. Here are some typical costs you may incur when working with an agency –

• Full Service/Concierge Options

The agency will keep your information and preferences on file and manage your travel bookings accordingly. You will pay a small per-transaction fee for each booking, and the agency will manage all of your airfare, ground transportation and lodging needs at a far lower cost than an employee’s hourly rate.

• Self Service Options

Some employees prefer control over their arrangements, so many travel agencies also offer self-booking services through a portal, and may charge you an annual fee for the use of the portal. They may or may not charge an additional small per-transaction fee with this option.

• Travel Policy Creation/Implementation Assistance

If you are looking to create/improve your company’s travel policy, or need help with policy enforcement, experience travel agencies are well equipped to assist with that. They may offer travel policy consultations at an agreed-upon rate, although good travel agencies with whom you have relationships may offer free policy samples and waive the consultation fees as a goodwill gesture

The costs vary from agency to agency, but many travel agencies charge no contract fees and have no minimum booking requirements so there are no costs to you unless you book a trip.  But make sure to understand your contract, read the fine print, and ask questions about the specific fees before signing anything.

Maximum Benefits

There are many benefits of using a travel company.

• Travel Agents Help You Get Better Discounts
  You don’t have to be a member of your area wholesaler club to know purchasing power nets savings advantages. It’s a fact, travel agency relationships can leverage better deals for your business.
• Travel Agents Can Provide Expert Advice
  Top corporate travel companies are up-to-date on the best amenities and trending leaders in service, quality, and customer favor. It’s their job to stay on top of travel trends and the most popular travel and lodging offerings.
• The Best Travel Agents Deliver Fun Extras
  Some of the best perks of regularly using a travel agent are the fun extras agents can include that venues often overlook with travelers booking solo. Agents know you don’t have to use them to book the next trip, and they want to thank you and encourage future business.
• Travel Agents Provide Integral Support in Unfortunate Circumstances
  From flight delays to hotel quality issues, travel agents are your advocate should something go awry, helping business travelers with everything from lost luggage and forgotten prescriptions to mitigating unexpected natural disasters safely.
• Travel Agents Uncover Actionable Data
  The best business travel management companies provide booking reports and compliance tools, helping your business identify opportunities for savings.

Save money on annual travel expenses with GTI Travel. Our business travel service can help your organization save 20% on average. Contact us now for a free travel and expense assessment from our experienced team and uncover new opportunities to save on business travel today.

Think the benefits of corporate travel services are limited to only large companies? Think again. Despite the availability of online bookings for business travel, travel agents still book the bulk of travel services. Why are they in such high demand? Using a business travel agency offers a wealth of benefits to companies of all shapes and sizes.

How Can Your Business Benefit from a Travel Management Service?

Whether you need small business travel management services or global event travel planning needs, corporate travel programs have a lot to offer.

• Cost Savings
  Tight budget? No matter the size of your business, employing the help of a travel agency can save your business significant money. Due to their buying power, business travel agencies can leverage the best prices for airfare, hotels, and rental cars, trimming fares via corporate discounts, avoiding 3rd party transaction fees, and ensuring itinerary changes without fees with customer travel protections.
• Extra Perks
  Need a break? In addition to pricing discounts, your relationship with a corporate travel agent could yield your business additional perks, including flight and room upgrades, free hotel breakfasts, and VIP check-in lines at rental car kiosks and hotels.
• Time Savings
  Googled out? Experienced travel agents have the resources to find the most convenient and affordable flights, transportation, and lodging quickly, without taking a dent out daily productivity.
• Ease of Booking
  Tired of daily hassles? Top corporate travel companies can expertly navigate the hassles business travelers frequently encounter, choosing from a glut of options rates, and dates, and surmounting obstacles from sold-out flights to overbooked hotels with ease, and making booking travel reservations a breeze.
• Improved Compliance with Corporate Travel Policies
  Struggling with compliance issues? With the help of a corporate travel management company, your business can ensure transparency and a thorough understanding of travel expenses, allowing you to not only ensure compliance with corporate travel policies, but track and examine travel expenditures to uncover opportunities for savings.
• Easier Itinerary Changes
  Something come up? In the business world, last minute travel changes are inevitable. However, with the help of a business travel planner, these are easier to mitigate without frustrating phone calls and additional charges.
• A Direct Line to Help in Emergencies
  Trouble on-site? In emergencies, seconds matter. With a single point of contact for emergency support, your employees can rest assured that in the event of a travel emergency, rapid access to the professional and speedy support they need is available, from simple troubles such as unacceptable lodging, to complicated issues resulting from political and climate calamities.

Take your business to new heights. Take advantage of the leading corporate travel management services of GTI Travel today.