Corporate Travel Destinations

Corporate travel might be an expense that comes with certain tax benefits, but that is no excuse to by financially irresponsible. Corporate travel should be done on a budget, but that does not mean that there is no way to have an amazing incentive travel experience. Here are some ideas to make travel fun and interesting on a budget:

• Consider using alternative modes of transportation – When it comes to transportation, many people overlook trains, boats, and other common forms of transportation that can be both cost effective and help build a unique travel experience.
• Stay at unique venues – Some venues far from cities have plenty of local cultural flavor at amazing prices. It might entail a small taxi fee or a shuttle bus ride, but hotels on the outskirts of a destination generally have a lot to offer.
• Eat locally – Local foods are generally healthier than fast food, and they come in many tiers. Local flavor can be found at cheaper venues as well as some of the more expensive restaurants. It is not necessarily important for each and every night to feature a fun evening at an expensive restaurant.
• Souvenirs – Trinkets are almost always overpriced. Remember this when shopping and plan ahead in order to get the best possible prices.

Who says corporate travel is all about jets, hotels, and airports? The world is a place where many modes of transportation and even different meeting venue styles vie for corporate business. Here are some lesser known corporate travel alternatives:

• Trains – Trains are an older form of transportation, but modern bullet trains are amazingly swift. These trains can be found throughout Europe, Asia, and are even becoming a popular alternative in the United States.
• Boats – Boats come in many shapes and sizes, but many boats are designed to at least appear to be culturally and/or historically significant. Traveling up a river in a modern-day steamboat is safe, quiet, and even offers corporate travelers a way to relax while getting a little business done en route.
• Ships – Some boats are big enough to be called ships. While the distinction between the two can be a little blurry at times, most corporate travel on ships tends to take place on cruise ships. Cruise events and cruise meetings are also understandably popular.

No matter which style of alternative corporate travel is selected, remember that the choice can be used to portray the company in a certain light to employees, the public, partners, suppliers, and virtually anyone else. How people in a company travel and work says a lot about that company, and where that company holds its meetings and events can be equally important.

While internet booking options may offer some advantages, such as saving money, there are several disadvantages to this type of travel planning. The first and greatest disadvantage to internet travel booking is the lack of personal or direct knowledge in regard to the services being booked. Businesses are not provided the opportunity to speak with an experienced travel agent or meeting planner to assist them with their service booking when using internet booking options. Additionally, businesses are often faced with a limited itinerary that are further restricted by certain conditions. This is especially true if the business is looking for discounted travel options. Furthermore, there are no free perks with internet booking.

For those that still prefer to book corporate travel using online options, it will be important to use an experienced and dependable online travel planning service. Those wishing to book corporate travel will benefit from the expertise of skilled and trustworthy online travel planners. While there are many sites that businesses may use to plan their own travel itinerary, using an online travel service will ensure that businesses get the best prices available and that all travel needs are taken into consideration. Online travel planners can help make booking corporate travel less stressful and more affordable.

Corporate travel is not just average travel. Corporate travel is designed to award top-performers within a company or organization for their hard work, dedication, and innovation. Top-performers and first class employees deserve more from their employer than simply mediocre and mundane corporate travel. Of course, in uncertain economic times the extravagance of corporate travel has to be balanced with the financial resources available for incentive travel expenses. However, businesses do not have to choose between quality and value when planning corporate travel. They can enjoy both by booking cruise ship charter.

An incentive cruise is an ideal way to award top-performers and motivate others within the organization. By choosing to conduct meetings at sea, businesses can save approximately 40 percent compared to land-based incentive travel. Travel incentives such as a ship charter are excellent because they are all inclusive. Cruise event participants can enjoy premium services, accommodations, dining, and entertainment on an incentive cruise. A cruise ship charters' inclusive incentives will be attractive to even the most well-seasoned traveler. Since a cruise event may be less expensive than land-based travel, group cruise planning is a real value to the business. Therefore, businesses do not have to sacrifice quality or value if they choose an incentive cruise for their corporate travel.

There are two extremes to consider when planning corporate travel: all-inclusive options or planning every single detail. Here are some points to consider when deciding which way to go:

If your sole purpose at the company is to plan travel and there are really no other tasks to perform, all-inclusive travel options can still be used at the end of research if they are viable. Using all-inclusive options as a go-to option every single time might be a quick way to end up on the unemployment line or with a promotion, depending on the situation.

All-inclusive travel is often a great way to save time and money, but it sometimes lack in options. This is generally not a problem for the vast majority of people, but those with special needs will probably need to plan at least some of the details. Since many all-inclusive incentive travel options are all or nothing, this means that a few custom options that are above and beyond the call of duty might require planning every single detail.  An all inclusive incentive cruise is a great way to save and thrill your attendees.

Planning every detail might seem like a great way to save money, but it often ends up being more expensive. Add to this the time and effort put into planning and it is easy to see why all-inclusive travel options are so popular with so many business travelers.

Free enterprise and entrepreneurship are the cornerstones of American business and a core part of our collective psyche, of this there is no doubt. Sole proprietorships evolve into small businesses, grow into medium sized businesses, and can even become massive global corporations in much the same was as Wal-Mart has evolved, but part of that growth requires knowing about the role that corporate travel plays in growth. Here are a few points for anyone that runs their own business to consider when it comes to corporate travel:

Networking is essential, and it is not limited to the state, region, or even country any more. Today it is more important than ever to be networking all over the world as soon as possible. Who knows when a single trip will open a door that starts the ball rolling on something big?

Numerous business credit cards offer generous travel incentives and mileage perks, so take advantage of them while learning how to manage cash flow. This is the very essence of killing two birds with one stone.

Being aware of business conditions in other countries and adjacent industries is often the first step in avoiding future problems or being able to exploit future opportunities before the competition. The early bird gets the worm, and those that are late go hungry.

Corporate travel is always a balance between profitability and exclusivity. Simply put, profitability is the benefit derived from any activity minus the costs and opportunities lost by taking the course of action. This causes many to inherently think of affordable destinations for corporate travel, but this is where exclusivity comes into play. Exclusivity is the concept that the more unique or interesting the destination, the more the trip is generally worth in a less quantifiable manner.

For example, an incentive cruise for employees to Hawaii is probably considered to be a lot more interesting than an incentive travel promotion to Nebraska. While there is nothing inherently wrong with Nebraska, it is simply not considered to be as exclusive and/or interesting as Hawaii. The key is to strike a balance between cost effective travel options and here are a handful of destinations that are surprisingly cost effective while generally being viewed as very exclusive:

Bimini – While small, it is a very affordable locale for hosting small gatherings and meetings. Just do not plan anything during hurricane season.

Oregon – Believe it or not, Oregon is home to a wide range of climates and terrain, which makes from some very interesting and affordable locales.

Sedona – Gorgeous sunsets, excellent hiking, top-notch spas and world-class golfing make this relaxed venue a great spot for meetings and corporate events.

When it comes time to start discussing corporate travel options and ways to justify the expenses, which are usually very low compared to leisure travel, it is possible to forget the tax benefits of corporate expenses. While tax law is incredibly complex, the following generalities are often accurate and beneficial to the company’s bottom line:

• By availing themselves of the networking opportunities and other business options, most businesses can find it very easy to allow for their business trips to qualify as business expenses that can be written off as tax deductions.

• Tax deductions related to travel may not necessarily be on a 1 to 1 basis in terms of dollar value, but having a loss largely consumed by tax liability that in turn presents business opportunities or advantages is generally considered to be a great idea.

• Excellent records should be kept of all corporate travel expenses. Consider using inclusive travel options for easier accounting and less time spent planning.

As with any tax-related issue, it would be wise to consult with a qualified accountant to make the final determination regarding what is and is not allowed for deductions. A short meeting with the staff accountant or outside accountant could be the difference between stepping up to the challenge and opportunities available or continuing on a stable but less profitable path.

When most business people think of exotic corporate travel, they start to conjure up passports and visas that are required to travel to some far flung exotic location. Instead, consider some of the more interesting and exotic corporate travel destinations within the U.S. such as:

Las Vegas – There are few destinations within the borders of the United States that have as much variety to offer business travelers as Las Vegas. Even Atlantic City takes a distant second to this jewel in the desert.

Hawaii – Sun-drenched Pacific islands that have been included in countless movies and television shows for their raw natural splendor are obviously the very definition of exotic. That does not mean that Hawaii is not affordable, though a plane ride or cruise will be required due to its location.

Alaska – Looking to cool things down a bit? Try ice fishing in Alaska or simply booking a hotel with an amazing view of glacier-capped mountains and pristine forests blanketed in snow.

The Florida Keys – Florida’s keys are amazingly gorgeous, and full of history. Add to this the number of quality hotels offering inclusive travel options, and the Keys are a particularly exotic yet practical domestic destination.

The Grand Canyon – Looking for a great getaway that still has creature comforts and is perfect for outdoor meetings? The Grand Canyon in the northern section of Arizona is affordable and awe inspiring.