Business Travel Tips

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) offers a clarification about the laptops you need to remove from you bag at airport security checkpoints.

First, they say electronics the size of a standard laptop or larger must be removed from their bags and submitted separately for x-ray screening.

They consider a “12×14” laptop as a “standard size” one.
So if your laptop is approximately “12×14” or larger it needs to come out of your bag.
Laptops smaller than “12×14”, tablet computers, netbooks, and e-readers can stay in the bag, because, TSA explains: “they are less dense than your typical laptop, so it’s easier for our X-ray operator to inspect your bag”.

However TSA also says if you choose to leave the laptops smaller than “12×14” in your bag, there is always a chance they might ask you to remove it to give them that clearer view.

‘Heathrow By Invitation’, the exclusive VIP Service at London’s Heathrow Airport, will be extended to VIP travelers other than heads of state and dignitaries.

With the ‘Heathrow By Invitation’ service guests bypass the main terminals, enjoy total privacy from public and a number of very exclusive VIP benefits, such as taking advantage of an experienced team taking care of all passport and customs checks and baggage retrieval.

This exclusive VIP airport service costs £1,500 + tax per single journey for up to six passengers. The rate also includes personal VIP lounge for up to six passengers, light refreshments in the private lounge, use of the lounge as a private conference space for up to three hours, and a dedicated private security area for screening formalities.

U.S.-issued Visa Signature card holders can enjoy Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum elite status for 90 days.

In order to participate in this offer you must be an active Hyatt Gold Passport member and must register your U.S.-issued Visa Signature card number at visasignature.hyatt.com by May 11, 2012.

After registering, members will be able to receive Platinum benefits for all stays through 90 days after registration date.
Platinum benefits include 15% point bonus, free internet, possibility of room upgrades, expedited check-in and 2pm late check-out.

Members can maintain Platinum membership through February 2013 if they complete eight nights at any Hyatt worldwide within the 90 days.

Business travel is expected to grow at a moderate pace in 2012 according to the latest Business Travel Quarterly Outlook – United States.

The report by Global Business Travel Association, sponsored by Visa, predicts that business travel in the U.S. will reach its pre-recession levels in the third quarter of 2012.

One of the main findings to emerge from the Business Travel Quarterly Outlook is that the number of business trips will decline while the average spend on a trip will increase, a trend that is continuing since 2000.

Other main findings include:
- business travel spend will grow by 4.6% in 2012;
- in 2011 total spending on U.S.-initiated business travel was $251 billion, up from $234 billion recorded in 2010;
- total “person-trip” volume was 445 million in 2011, up from 437 million in 2010;
- international outbound travel spend is expected to reduce its growth to about 3% in 2012, down from 8.5% recorded in 2011.

The Business Travel Quarterly Outlook – United States by Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) projects aggregate business travel trends over the next eight quarters.

According to a study assessing the current perceptions of travel in the United States, business travel intentions for the next six months remain essentially flat compared to the same period in the previous year.

The report released by the U.S. Travel Association and the marketing firm MMGY Global, is based on a survey conducted among 2,200 U.S. adults in February 2012. It also shows travel trends in the past year.

The two other main findings of the study about business travel were:
- 22 percent of respondents said they took a business trip in the 12 months ending in February 2012 (down from 24 percent recorded in February 2011 for the previous 12 months);
- 41 percent of those who traveled for business in the past 12 months were traveling for general business, 31 percent were traveling for conference or convention purposes.

The fact that business travel intentions of Americans for the next six months remain somewhat restrained suggests that economic growth will be moderate in the short term.