The Internet at 30,000 Feet

March 2, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

As most of us know, the early stages of technology can be challenging.  Take mobile phones.  The very first portable phones were expensive and inconvenient, requiring callers to connect through an operator.  The shift to cellular technology brought us true portable phones, but they were the size of bricks.  Be thankful for the modern cell phone. 

Inflight Internet service may still be in its nascent stage, but it is worth understanding where things are at this point in time.

The big player seems to be Gogo Inflight Internet, a company launched in 2008.  The service works similarly to cellular phones.  There is a network of land-based towers sending a broadband signal skyward.  As your airplane moves across the country, your connection switches from tower to tower. 

The primary downside is that the system doesn’t work over 100 miles beyond the U.S. borders.  Your inability to use a cell phone on an airplane won’t change either.  In fact, Gogo and other services block even the use of Skype and other Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, services. 

Gogo has, however, signed up quite a few domestic airlines.  As of February 2010, Gogo serves Air Canada, AirTran, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, U.S. Airways and Virgin America.  However, this does not mean that you can access the Internet from every plane operated by every airline.  Currently, only AirTran and Virgin America offer this service on every flight.  The other airlines are at various stages of fitting their planes for the service.  Check with your carrier once you’ve booked your flight.

At present, this is not a free service.  On flights of up to an hour and a half the fee is about $5.  A single flight of more than three hours will set you back around $13.  You can also purchase the service for either 24 hours for $13 or 30 days for about $30, but this only applies to use on a single airline. 

Rates will also differ based on the type of device.  Service to a laptop computer is cheaper than to other mobile devices, like smart phones.  To entice travelers, Gogo currently provides free access to the online versions of the Wall Street Journal and Frommer’s Travel Guide when you pay for this service. 

Southwest Airline, one of the nation’s most popular carriers, is testing a satellite-enabled system for their passenger Internet service.  Southwest’s broadband service will range in cost from $2 to $12 per trip segment, depending on distance and type of device.   To track progress, check Southwest’s WiFi web page frequently. 

The development of inflight Internet service is a natural progression.  Some road warriors will find that it improves their efficiency.  Others will feel a loss of quiet time they might otherwise use for reading or other personal pursuits.  Whichever way you see it, the reality is that this is one of the next big trends in business and personal airline travel. 

The good news is that no matter if you use flight time for work, Internet surfing, or catching up on your sleep, there is a comfortable and convenient room waiting for you at one of the nearly 700 Extended Stay Hotels across the U.S. and in Canada. 

Dealing with Flight Delays and Cancellations

February 22, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Have you heard of “Rule 240?”  Let me ask this another way.  Have you wondered what your rights are if your flight is cancelled or delayed?  Back when the airlines were under government regulation, Rule 240 was the regulation governing when and how passengers are compensated for flight delays and cancellations.

Since the 1978 airline deregulation, the government no longer dictates one rule on this subject.  Instead, each airline develops its own policies.  The regulators are not completely out of this process, however, since major airlines must still file “conditions of carriage” with the U.S. Department of Transportation.  Included in these “conditions” are the airlines’ policies for compensating delayed passengers. 

Knowing how the “conditions” impact you can be very important to business travelers and anyone who travels a great deal. 

First, know the rules of your airline.  The website Hospitality 1st lists most of the domestic airlines with a link to their “Rule 240” policies.  The linked documents vary in size from a few paragraphs to almost 40 pages of text.  Some airlines refer to these as their “Contract of Carriage.”  Either copy this to your laptop computer or print the pertinent sections and carry them with you.  Even though airlines are required to have copies of their Rule 240 at the ticket counter, you can’t always count on it. 

In reading the policies, look for exclusions to airline liability, like weather, strikes or so-called “acts of God.”  One legal term you might look for covering unforeseen circumstances is “force majeure.”  How this is applied varies from carrier to carrier, so read this carefully.  Focus on what is important to you.  For example, will they book you on another flight or airline?  Do they provide meal vouchers or hotel accommodations? 

Once armed with this information, you are in a good position to assert your rights.  When speaking with the ticket agent, remain calm, but be firm.  Yelling never helps.  Being able to quote directly from the company policy shows that you know your rights.  

As with any conflict situation, document what happened.  As soon as possible after you’ve spoken with an airline representative, write down a summary of the conversation, including the person’s name and position. 

If you are not satisfied with the resolution, ask to speak with a supervisor.  Be sure you get the name and email address for the airline company executive that is in charge of customer service.  As soon as you have collected your thoughts on the issue, email this person, calmly describing the situation and, if possible, making a specific request.  For example, if you believe you were entitled to a meal or hotel voucher, ask for this.  Don’t make outrageous demands, no matter how angry you are. 

No matter what sort of flight you might have, a large, inviting hotel room is always a welcome sight.  Extended Stay Hotels delivers comfortable, affordable accommodations at all its 700 locations.  And don’t worry.  If your flight is cancelled, in most cases your Extended Stay Hotels reservations can be cancelled without charge until 6:00 pm on your day of arrival. 

Need a Break During your Next Business Trip? Slip on Some Pointy Ears.

February 10, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

There are plenty of conventions you must attend because, well, that’s your job.  Then there are conventions you must attend because they are experiences you don’t want to miss. 

Millions of Americans have become fans of the Harry Potter books and movies.  Still others will see just about any science fiction movie playing.  There is a little part of each fan that would like to step behind the screen and be part of the action, if only for a few minutes. 

Meeting this desire has become an entire industry.  After all, who hasn’t seen the photos of the die-hard fans donning pointy Vulcan ears at a local Star Trek event?  Whether you are a sci fi fanatic, or just like to people watch, these venues can provide road warriors some much needed weekend entertainment while on an extended business trip.

Traditional science fiction has brought us unforgettable characters that travel to new galaxies and fight off alien species.  Although there are some newcomers to the sci fi television series world, Star Trek still remains as popular as ever. 

One of the most successful types of sci fi genres is the Vampire saga.  Popular culture seems to have moved from Buffy to Twilight, New Moon.  After all, who could resist a love story between a vampire and a mortal?  The Twilight Convention will hit more than 20 cities during 2010.  Among these are Houston and Charlotte in April, Minneapolis in June, Indianapolis in July, Sacramento in September and Portland, Oregon in October. 

Being on an extended business trip, away from friends and family, can be lonely and stressful.  To keep you at the top of your game, you need a comfortable place to stay and some fun things to do on those long trips.  For a complete list of conventions on everything from space travel to comic books, visit the Creation Entertainment or Star Trek web pages. 

As for the comfortable room, there are Extended Stay Hotels in every city named here.  For a list of the Extended Stay Hotels in each location, just click on the city name.  You may have to travel for business, but no one says you can’t have fun on the weekends. 

Business Friendly States

January 25, 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Highlights from a recent report by Development Counselors International on states with a favorable business environment are revealing.  One of the important findings of this report is that amount of business travel is a key influencer on where to locate new business operations.  Another, clearly related, focus of the report was to rank states based on their business-friendly environment. 

Ranked from first to third by business development executives are: Texas, North Carolina and Georgia.  These are no surprise to Road Warrior since Extended Stay Hotels, a frequent choice for business travelers, has over 130 properties in these three states alone. 

Beyond their attraction for business, each state has great attractions that make business travel as enjoyable as it is profitable.  Texas, for example, has two huge cities and plenty of fun smaller towns.  Extended Stay Hotels has nearly 70 hotels in 11 Texas cities. 

Houston, that state’s largest city, may have 25 Fortune 500 companies, but it is also home to amazing sightseeing attractions like the Johnson Space Center and a Theater District that is second only to New York City.

North Carolina is not only one of America’s major banking centers, it also is a thriving agricultural state.  Tourists love North Carolina and have made it the sixth most visited state in the Union.   This state has it all, from a magnificent coast with beautiful barrier islands to the majestic Great Smoky Mountains.  With 33 hotels in eight North Carolina cities, Extended Stay Hotels is well represented here. 

Known for luscious peaches, Georgia is full of wonderful places to see and things to do.  Be adventurous and take a boat tour of the Okefenokee Swamp, immerse yourself in colonial history in Savannah or tour Atlanta, one of the most exciting cities in the Southeast.  You will not lack for comfort and economy in Georgia since Extended Stay Hotels operates 29 hotels in Georgia’s four major cities.

Whether you will be traveling to these hot business markets or elsewhere in the United States or Canada, Extended Stay Hotels is your best place for large, comfortable accommodations are bargain prices.

Extended Stay Hotels for Business Travel

November 17, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

When none other than the New York Times says that cost cutting in business travel is “the new normal,” you know that this is not the typical recession.  Like none before it, this business slowdown is having permanent impacts on the traveling life of just about every road warrior.

According to one senior executive at American Express, past abilities to skirt travel budget restrictions may be a permanent thing of the past.  It is up to each business traveler to find the arrangements that stay within budget, but don’t make life on the road unbearable.  

Fortunately, staying within budget does not mean staying in tiny motel rooms that offer zero comfort.  While Extended Stay Hotels cannot do anything about the high cost of airlines or gasoline, they do offer some key ways to keep the boss happy, the accounting department satisfied and the traveler comfortably productive. 

Great rates and productive surroundings – All it takes is a quick glance at the Extended Stay Hotels website to see what a great value these hotels offer.  Even in major metropolitan areas, like Boston or Chicago, Extended Stay Hotels currently offers clean, comfortable rooms for under $65 per night.  Any boss will love that price.  Special weekly rates are also available for longer stays. 

Every Extended Stay Hotels room includes the space and tools you needed to be comfortable and productive on the road.  Extras like wireless internet access for a nominal fee, free local phone calls and voicemail, and a separate area for work keep productivity and morale high. 

Direct billing – Accounting departments love the no hassle direct billing offered by Extended Stay Hotels.  Once you join, your bill from any of the almost 700 hotels nationwide is handled through a single department.  No lost receipts and no hassles. 

Large, comfortable rooms - Each of the Extended Stay Hotels is built to deliver large, comfortable accommodations at reasonable rates.  Every studio has a full kitchen and separate work area.  After a long day of working, few things are better than a simple, quiet meal and a great night’s sleep. 

Meeting today’s need for cost effective company travel is no easy task.  However, making Extended Stay Hotels your preferred travel option is a great move in the right direction.

Finding Outdoor Fun on Your Next Trip

October 19, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Well summer is over, the children have returned to school and most of us are back at work.  For true road warriors, “back to work” means hitting the road or heading for the airport for what could be a week or more away from friends and family.

These trips don’t have to be all work, provided you are willing and able to make personal fun and satisfaction a part of your business travel.   Accomplishing this involves two factors: finding fun, interesting things to do on your time off and making reservations with Extended Stay Hotels. 

Autumn is usually sort of a “Goldilocks” season for those who enjoy the great outdoors – not too hot and not too cold.  What some road warriors forget is that many of the great national parks are actually quite close to major metropolitan centers.  Finding these gems is easy, thanks to a National Park Service web page called, “find a park.” 

For example, let’s assume you have business in Tucson.  A quick view of the map and list of the Arizona parks tells us that Saguaro National Park, home of the enormous Giant Saguaro cacti, is just minutes away from town and either of Tucson’s two Extended Stay Hotels locations.  Both the Extended Stay America Tucson - Grant Road hotel and the Crossland Economy Studios Tucson - Butterfield Drive are within an easy 15 mile drive of the park’s headquarters.

Nature lovers with business in Miami have a number of choices for parks to visit in their spare time.   Time and distance should be no problem for those visiting Biscayne National Park.  Called a “watery wonderland” on the Park Service website, Biscayne is within sight of downtown Miami and still offers exciting swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. 

For a glimpse of one of the most amazing natural wonders in the world, take the 45 mile drive south from Miami International Airport to the Ernest Coe Visitor Center and entrance to the Everglades.  Open year round, the Visitor Center is a great introduction to the Everglades, whether you intend to go further into the swamp or not. 

Finding comfortable and affordable accommodations in Miami is no problem.  Extended Stay Hotels has seven great hotels near downtown Miami, and all offer large rooms and warm service. 

Being a road warrior is no easy task.  The hours are long and time away from home is a drag.  However, it can have its benefits, especially if you are able to find fun local attractions and stay in a comfortable and convenient Extended Stay Hotels suite.

Traveling on Time, in Budget

August 28, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Time and money are two very important considerations for most road warriors.  Just think how many times you have arrived at the airport only to find your flight delayed or been charged last minute fees by a sometimes-grumpy gate agent. 

While no one can make flight delays go away, Road Warrior has discovered a new service that will help all air travelers better manage their travel experience.  

Most travelers contact the airline to determine whether their flight is on time.  Airlines actually benefit by waiting to release information on known or likely delays until the last moment.  After all, passengers aware of severe delays might book their flight on another airline. 

Where airline passengers were once without alternatives to airline or airport delivered information, a new service, FlightCaster, has come to the rescue.  Released in August 2009, FlightCaster is a free private service that uses information, like aircraft tracking, FAA monitoring, weather forecasts and a 10-year flight history to forecast the likelihood of delay. 

Best used within six hours of departure, you simply enter your airline, flight number and date.  FlightCaster gives you the probable percentage of an on-time flight or one delayed more than or less than 60 minutes.  With this information, you can decide whether to change your travel arrangements or head for the airport. 

Gadget oriented road warriors will be happy to know that you can download apps for both iPhone or BlackBerry devices. 

Now that you are more likely to be on time, let’s discuss the budget.  A recent CNN article announced yet another increase in checked baggage fees.  According to this article, US Airways now charges $20 for the first checked bag and $30 for the second bag. 

If your just must take two pieces of luggage, it is time to revisit an earlier Road Warrior suggestion.  Pack early and ship your luggage using one of the package services.  Your hosts at any of the 700 Extended Stay Hotels are more than happy to hold your packages the few days until you arrive.  Please use our website to locate the shipping address and phone number of your hotel. 

If shipping ahead is not an option, pack a carry-on bag with just what you need for a few days.  Since all Extended Stay Hotels have guest laundry facilities, clean clothes are no problem.  However, remember to pack clothes made with synthetic fiber as they will require little or no ironing.

Maximizing your Loyalty Programs

August 21, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Loyalty programs are a great way for travel industry companies to thank their steadfast customers.  Extended Stay Hotels has two such programs; Suite Offers (TM) is an email rewards club in which members get exclusive deals delivered to their inbox, and the Suite Savings page and RSS Feed keeps regular Extended Stay Hotels customers aware of last minute discounts on week-end stays. 

Probably the best known loyalty programs are frequent flyer clubs, in which you earn “miles” toward future flights.  One sticking point for many flyers, however, is that they don’t fly the same airline every time they travel, resulting in accumulating miles in a number of different programs. 

This is easy to do since, according to FrequentFlyer.com, there are over 70 frequent flyer type programs worldwide with a total membership of 100 million people.  While some rewards programs only allow members to redeem points for travel, others have huge catalogs of merchandise or travel services you that can be purchased with loyalty points. 

One way to maximize the benefits of frequent flyer miles and loyalty points is through participation in internet exchanges, the subject of a recent Associated Press article carried by the Chicago Tribune.  This isn’t exactly a new idea, which means that some clever entrepreneurs have already set up trading platforms on the Internet. 

Points.com is basically an exchange where you trade your points or miles for other points or miles.  There is no charge for posting, but you pay a fee with each completed transaction.  One downside with this site, at least for the moment, is the limited number of participating programs. 

LoyaltyMatch.com is more like shopping, though there is an aspect of trading here.  Like some other web-based selling platforms, LoyaltyMatch.com gives you the chance to buy or sell.  Here is a simplified version of how this works.

Let’s say you are interested in an 8 GB iPod.  The United Airlines mileage program offers this item for 39,100 points.  You offer money, miles or points to trade for the iPod.  Another LoyaltyMatch member with the requisite 39,100 points accepts your offer, redeems the iPod and has it shipped to you.  You provide the other member with the agreed to money, miles or points.   As with any transaction, be sure to check the fees or charges involved and be sure this really is a good deal for you.

Both sites provide innovative ways for loyalty points customers to maximize their membership in frequent flier clubs.  And a quick way for you to earn rewards on your next hotel stay is by signing up today for Suite Offers.  No points to keep track of, just simple, generous exclusive savings emailed directly to you. 

Use Business Travel to Explore Nature's Wonders

May 15, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Business travel can be hard on road warriors.  We work all day, spending time away from friends and family.  To beat the business travel blues, look for special ways to spend evenings and weekends that make each trip memorable.

Springtime travelers to certain Florida beaches can view one of nature’s more amazing annual traditions.  According the USA Today’s Travel Section, spring is the perfect time to view thousands of loggerhead turtles come onto the beaches to lay their eggs in the sand. 

Several weeks later, the young hatchlings emerge from their underground nest and head for the ocean.  For information on specific nesting locations, visit FunAndSand.com.  Travelers loyal to Extended Stay Hotels will want to know that turtle viewing is near our West Palm Beach, Melbourne, and Ft. Lauderdale hotels. 

If birds are more to your natural liking, and you are planning a trip to the San Francisco Bay Area, consider the short trip to the Monterey Bay where millions of Sooty Shearwaters can be found from mid-July through August.  Extended Stay Hotels has 15 great places to stay near San Jose.  For more information on bird watching, visit the Peterson Field Guides’ Birding Resources webpage. 

For the true road warrior, it is as much about the journey as the destination.  Make your journeys worth remembering.  Visit nature’s wonders and stay in one of Extended Stay Hotels’ comfortable studios wherever you go. 

Keeping Travel Finances Straight

May 5, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

At one time or another, almost every business traveler has had to deal with lost or misplaced receipts.  It is no fun to have your boss or the accounting clerk kick back your expense report just as the credit card bill arrives.

Road Warrior has two ideas that may save you time and more than a few financial headaches.  First, spend five bucks or so for a coupon organizer.  Available all over the Internet, many of these organizing gems fit in your pocket or briefcase and have dividers (designed to hold varying types of coupons) which you can use to keep food, car rental, mileage, and entertainment receipts separate.

As for your hotel bill, sign up for Extended Stay Hotels' no-hassle direct billing program.  That way every hotel bill at any of the nearly 700 locations across the US and in Canada will go straight to your accounting office.  Just imagine, one fewer receipt to track and less of a drain on your credit card balance.  To inquire about corporate hotel accounts, contact us through our website by clicking on this link.