IN-DEPTH

It’s 3.30am on a bank holiday Monday. Your alarm clock is ringing. Surely this must be a mistake? It isn’t. It’s a normal working day in Germany and your flight leaves in barely three hours. You traipse downstairs, not even visiting the kitchen because you can still taste your dinner, and wait by the door for the pre-booked taxi that’s late. Typical. Sound familiar?

Business trips can vary wildly. While for some managers it can double up as a luxurious city break with the odd meeting, others are assigned the gruelling task of scrolling through comparison websites and sifting out the awkward out-of-town airports and hotels that don’t even offer free wi-fi.

You pay for speedy boarding and jump the queue, only for everyone to be put on to a transfer bus between the terminal and the plane, leading to a mad scramble up the steps to fight for a prime seat. Your stress levels are soaring through the ceiling at this injustice… and it only gets worse as you concede the battle against the extortionately priced in-flight selection of ‘assorted hot drinks and sandwiches’ after skipping breakfast.

It simply does not have to be this way. You could have taken a more comfortable flight the previous evening, spending the extra night in a nice hotel, and paid even less than what you thought was the cheapest-possible price.

Personal touchFrom volcanoes erupting to snow paralysing transportation, Mother Nature can throw a curveball at the most inopportune time. Flights are cancelled and you’re stranded at the airport; customer service hotlines are busier than Boxing Day sales.

Leading travel writer Harriet Baskas spoke to Professional Manager on the eve of Thanksgiving, which annually sees millions of Americans try to get home on one of the busiest days for air travel in the US.

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WHY IS IT THAT YOUR MEETING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY NEVER SEEMS QUITE AS EXOTIC

AS THOSE IN THE MOVIES? BLAYNE PEREIRA EXPLAINS WHY YOU SHOULD LEAVE THE

PLANNING TO THE EXPERTS

TAKE THE OUT OF

BUSINESSTRIPS

STRESS

PHOTOGRAPHY: IMAGESOURCE

IN-DEPTH

She says: “Right about now, with ice, snow, rain and winter storms disrupting so many holiday plans, a lot of travellers who booked their trips with the help of travel agents or consultants are mighty glad they have a human to help them make new plans.”

One of the crucial benefits of using a travel consultancy is that you will always have an emergency contact number should any unforeseen circumstance arise.

‘Unexpected item in bagging area’One of the great scourges of modern society is the over-reliance on imperfect automated systems, ranging from supermarket checkouts to unfathomable customer service telephone menus. You plan and book your entire business trip online and then have no direct contact when something goes wrong. Having finally found a generic number, you are forced to listen to eight options, none of which seem to be related to your issue, and so it goes on…

Social media has proved useful to customers complaining about a service but, especially for business travellers, it is not the most discreet way of obtaining help: that secret trip to Munich to close a major deal is not so secret any more. Working with a travel consultancy allows help to be obtained immediately and confidentially – from a person.

Not just for trips...A common misconception may be that a travel consultancy only deals with trips abroad. The reality is that these companies offer excellent packages for domestic use – and not just for travel either. From holding a small meeting with a business partner to hosting a large conference, you may find your workspace unsuitable. Consultants can help you find a perfect location and plan the event down to the most intricate of details – just as they would with a trip.

…and not just for businessMany companies hold ‘away days’ to treat their employees and/or improve team spirit, whereby they take their staff to a theme park, for an overnight stay in a different city or even for a week-long beach holiday. Travel consultancies can organise these holidays in the same way they would a normal business trip.

A common misconception may be that a travel consultancy only deals with trips abroad. The reality is that these companies offer excellent packages for domestic use

For more business travel blogs, see

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TAKE THE HIGH ROADThe benefits of using travel consultants

Economies of scale: Travel consultancies can negotiate with service providers to obtain cheaper flights and hotels than market value, as well as exclusive deals, thanks to their purchasing power and long-standing agreements.Comprehensive data: Consultancies have a wealth of experience gained from previous bookings across the globe. And not just flights and hotels either, but places to eat, best routes to take around the destination location and so on. Every base is covered.They do the work: No more time, effort or money is wasted trawling through TripAdvisor and other comparison websites. The fear of an out-of-town hotel or awkward flight time is vanquished. Tell them what you want, and you get what you want.Stress: What’s that?Something for everyone: Travel consultancies are not just for first-class, five-star, businesspeople. Packages can be arranged to suit all types of budget.And more: Business trips are just the start. Events, conferences and fun days out are all among the services provided.

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