Estimated reading time: 4 minutes, 21 seconds
How Do You Travel For Business?
Despite the advent of technology that allows people to conduct face-to-face meetings over the Internet, business people still travel for work. Not even the almighty World Wide Web can replace the power of personal interactions, so when work is at hand, many professionals still opt to travel to conduct business.
I asked two professionals who both work in an office-setting and travel for work about their experiences and tips for other business people in the same situation.
David Jacoby, Partner at the Manhattan law firm of Culhane Meadows
1. Q: Do you travel for work?
A: Yes
Q: How often?
A: Roughly every other week.
2. Q: When you travel for work, do you ever peruse aggregate travel web sites, such as Hotwire, Expedia or Travelocity?
A: Yes
3. Q: If you answered yes to number 3, what sites do you generally refer to when researching business travel?
A: Expedia
4. Q: What is your favorite travel web site?
A: Probably Expedia
5. Q: What do you like about it?
A: Relatively easy to use and access; earn points for using.
6. Please rank your concerns when traveling for business, with 1 being the Most Important and 6 being Least Important.
Cost of travel 2
Direct flights (vs connections) 1
Time of flight 3
Use of travel miles/points 5
Proximity of hotel/event from airport 4
On-board amenities (WIFI, 1st Class, Extra Leg Room) 6
7. Q. Please explain the choice from No. 6, above, that you labeled as your top concern. Why is that your concern?
A: Connecting flights increase the chance of a delay on any given segment, in turn increasing the risk of missing the event you’re travelling for. Are there other factors you consider when planning business travel? If so, what?
Ability to work in multiple items (calls on clients or prospects, for instance).
8. Q: Do you use any travel apps to help plan business trips? If so, what are they?
A: Not really.
9. Q: What are your top two or three favorite domestic airports, and why?
A: I’m not sure I can give you any favorite airports. Here are some things I particularly like at a few. O’Hare in Chicago has great things to do while you’re waiting. Unfortunately, there’s often a lot of waiting. There is cool artwork in the Pittsburgh airport. LaGuardia Airport is just ten minutes from home, and on the right approach pattern, it offers great views of the Manhattan skyline.
10. Q: What is your top tip for fellow business travelers?
A: Build extra time into the travel schedule, if you can.
Jerry Schildmeyer, Managing Director, Accenture, Columbus
1. Q: Do you travel for work?
A: Yes
Q: How often?
A: Two to three times a month
2. Q: When you travel for work, do you ever peruse aggregate travel web sites, such as Hotwire, Expedia or Travelocity?
A: No, I use my company’s corporate travel site
3. Q: If you answered yes to Number 3, what sites do you generally refer to when researching business travel?
A: Not applicable.
4. Please rank your concerns when traveling for business, with 1 being the Most Important and 6 being Least Important.
Cost of travel 3
Direct flights (vs. connections) 1
Time of flights 2
Use of travel miles/points 6
Proximity of hotel/event from airport 4
On-board amenities 5
5. Q: Please explain the choice from No. 6 that you labeled as your top concern.
A: I am always looking for the most efficient travel options when it comes to airports/schedules and car rentals.
6. Q: Do you use any travel apps to help plan business trips?
A: Not applicable.
7. Q: Are there other factors you consider when planning business travel? If so, what?
A: If connecting, the ability to drive home, if necessary. I also try to select between two hotel brands and usually pick my hotel based on their fitness center and proximity to where I need to be.
8. Q: What are your top two or three favorite domestic airports and why?
A: Washington Reagan, for its proximity to DC and suburbs and on-site rental cars. Minneapolis offers food options (including healthy) and a lot of flight options. Plenty to do if delayed. For connecting, Detroit. I can drive home from Detroit and they also have a hotel in the terminal if I have to stay over.
9. Q: What is your top tip for fellow business travelers?
A: Spend the money and get TSA Pre-check or Global Entry. It saves a lot of time at the airport.
Tami Kamin Meyer is an Ohio attorney and writer who can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or @girlwithapen.
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