1. Refine Your Itinerary

The best itineraries for international executive travel reflect the goals of your organization. Meetings with clients, investors, or colleagues should be confirmed and well-spaced out. Executives should never be rushed or late if their flight is delayed or a meeting runs long. Not only do staggered meeting schedules allow executives to avoid experiencing the unexpected, but they can also make time for last-minute meetings or invitations to dine.

Copies of your itinerary should be left with colleagues at the home office, which should include your corporate travel manager, as well as a trusted personal associate or close family member. Depending on your company’s policies and the risk associated with your destination, you should consider scheduling check-ins.

2. Immerse Yourself in the Culture

Before you depart, take time to educate yourself on key differences between how business is conducted at home and abroad. Carolyn M. Brown of Inc. Magazine recommends travelers pay close attention to the following factors:

• Negotiating Style
• Attitudes Towards Punctuality for Business and Social Engagements
• Appropriate Gifts and Gift-Giving Customs
• Use of First and Last Names and Work Titles
• Gestures and Phrases

While it’s likely that your associates abroad will be understanding of any communication missteps, having a basic understanding of customs can prevent embarrassment.

3. Have a Communication Plan

If you’re headed to a country where English is not spoken, it’s essential to establish how you’ll communicate. Even if business translators will be available for key meetings and receptions, Brown recommends having enough understanding to navigate unexpected situations that aren’t on the itinerary. It’s never prudent to expect you’ll be surrounded by fluent English-speakers. Technology has made cross-cultural communication much easier, and if you don’t have the time or resources for formal lessons, check out one of the latest, lightweight electronic translators that can quickly parse entire phrases.

4. Be an Informed Traveler

A first step to preparation for any trip should be to check whether the U.S. Department of State has issued any current travel warnings. The government currently has official cautions against 33 countries, which are explained in detail on the web site. Not all areas of every country present significant danger and it’s wise to keep in mind that reasons for warnings range from political unrest and patterns of violence against visitors to milder health events and natural weather issues.

If you are traveling to an area with significant risk, it’s wise to consider enrolling in the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). By sharing information about your upcoming travels, you are subscribed to receive communications from the closest branch of the U.S. embassy or consulate. Be prepared for the worst, which includes a full understanding of what the consulate can and cannot do to help in an emergency.

5. Purchase Travel Insurance

In cases of the unexpected, enormous financial risks can occur. Jason Kaufman, Senior Manager of McNair Travel, points out that following the earthquake and tsunami in early 2011 in Japan, many business travelers were forced to pay upwards of $5,000 for a single flight home. Ensure that your travel policy additionally covers medical care or evacuations, or purchase additional coverage if necessary.

It’s additionally essential to fully understand what is and is not covered by the policy: significant political unrest and rioting is typically excluded, and some countries are much more difficult to obtain insurance for. Finally, if frequent travel is part of your job, you could save significant funds by purchasing an annual policy, as opposed to purchasing on a trip-by-trip basis.

While it’s highly unlikely that preparations for medical evacuation or emergency contact information for the local consulate will be necessary, it’s always wise to have a plan for the worst just in case.

Depend on Royal Coachman anywhere

Wherever in the world your business or personal travel takes you, Royal Coachman provides the finest Chauffeured Limo Service New Jersey and the world have to offer.

Combining the strength, knowledge, and enterprise of leading chauffeured ground transportation companies throughout the world, Royal Coachman provides our clients with the highest quality limousine service in virtually every corner of the world. Whether you are traveling to London, Caracas, Hong Kong or any point in between, Royal Coachman coordinates all your ground transportation needs at your destination with leading limousine service companies. With representation in more than 600 business destinations worldwide, Royal Coachman is your single point of contact coordinating all limousine service, rates, vehicle safety/insurance, meet & greet requirements, client profiles, special instructions, directions, and billing requirements – for every ride in every destination.

Royal Coachman has set the standard for professional, safe, and reliable airport transportation, for both business travelers, and executives. Our goal is to always provide a comfortable and safe ride for every Royal Coachman customer.

Book your reservation today.

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Booking an Executive Hotel in New Jersey

After being picked up at the airport by a NJ limo service, you can check into any one of these top executive hotels.

• Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort—Located in Atlantic City near the famous Boardwalk, this hotel features an India theme complete with luxurious room accommodations with floor-to-ceiling windows, mirrored ceilings, free Wi-Fi, indoor swimming pool, on-site fitness center, salon and spa, casino, and of course, a variety of spaces designated for business meetings.

• Hilton East Brunswick Hotel & Executive Meeting Center—Even when you’re using a NJ limo service with a professional chauffeur, the convenient location is appreciated. Both the exterior and interior of this hotel is beautiful. You have a choice of traditional guestroom or if you prefer, a luxurious suite. The hotel also boasts a fitness center, whirlpool, heated indoor swimming pool, on-site restaurants, complementary Wi-Fi, a modern conference center, and 42,000 square feet of space for meetings and other venues.

• Executive Suites Newark/Cateret—In addition to an on-site restaurant, this executive New Jersey hotel offers comfortable suites configured for business travelers. Included are ergonomic chairs and work desks, microwave, mini-fridge, 24-hour fitness center, ATM, and a business center. If you need to stick to a tighter budget, Executive Suites is an excellent choice, and doesn’t require compromise on quality of accommodations orservices.

• Westminster Hotel—This executive hotel is both inspiring and inviting. Among luxury hotels in New Jersey, the Westminster has a unique, chic vibe. Located in the heart of Livingston, this AAA Four Diamond hotel is perfect for people with distinct taste. In addition to guestrooms and suites with a classic contemporary design, the hotel offers premier meeting facilities, as well as outdoor event space if needed.

• Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club—This hotel is ideal for conducting business in office space or on the golf course. For a century, this elegant hotel has been a popular choice among top executives from all over the world. Although the hotel is only minutes from Atlantic City, it still makes sense to hire a NJ limousine company for transportation. Along with distinguished guestrooms and suites, you will enjoy award-winning meeting space and 18 holes of championship golf.

Hiring a NJ Limousine Company

Because a reputable NJ limo service has a wide range of vehicles in its fleet, the chauffeur can easily accommodate multiple executives while offering plenty of passenger space and high-tech amenities.

The post The Best Executive Hotels appeared first on Royal Coachman.

Just because you typically dress in a certain way for important meetings does not mean you have to wear a suit and tie or skirt and blouse with high heels while traveling on business. Of course, you want to be presentable, especially if you have a business partner or client picking you up, but there is no reason that you cannot dress down and be comfortably while flying.

Proper Attire

The key to flying on business and dressing appropriately is finding the perfect balance. With the tips provided, you will have no trouble picking out the right outfit for the next time you go out of town on business.

• Layers—When flying, layers are essential. Between airplane cabins, terminals, and in-airport restaurants, you will experience a wide range of climates. Especially when flying on a nighttime flight, the cabin temperature fluctuates. To stay comfortable, consider a lighter weight shirt covered with a cardigan, sweater, light jacket, or perhaps a scarf. As for pants, choose something of medium weight.
• Fabrics that Breathe—To stay comfortable while flying, you should consider choosing fabrics that breathe. These fabrics are ideal, since they allow both moisture and air to pass through. As a result, you enjoy optimal comfort while waiting in the terminal and during the flight. Although silk and linen are options, these fabrics wrinkle. Therefore, you should probably stick with cotton.
• Compression Legwear—When taking long international flights, compression or support legwear is highly recommended. In addition to looking nice, being comfortable to wear, and easy to clean, this type of legwear serves another very important purpose. Compression legwork promotes better circulation, which in turn prevents swelling. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, compression legwear will help reduce the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
• Flat and Comfortable Shoes—There is no reason that you cannot wear quality tennis shoes, loafers, or other flats that are comfortable for your business trip. There are multiple options that look great and are easy to remove when going through security, but more importantly, these shoes make it easy when going through large terminals. For added comfort, consider placing a cushioned insert inside the shoes.
• Loose Fitting—As opposed to wearing tailored clothes, opt for something with a looser fit. You will find the flight to be more comfortable, and this also reduces risk of developing DVT.

Comfort That Carries You Through the Journey

Dressing for a business trip doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort for appearance—it means choosing pieces that support both. When you feel at ease during your flight, you arrive more relaxed, focused, and ready to step into your professional role without distraction. By striking the right balance between style and comfort, you set the tone for a smoother trip from takeoff to your first meeting.

The post The Best and Most Comfortable Airport Clothing for Business Travel appeared first on Royal Coachman.

Google Car Technology

With the Google car, a location is simply typed or spoken. In response, the vehicle drives to that location without the aid of an actual driver. The building blocks of driverless cars are already in place. A prime example is front-crash prevention systems, designed to let a driver know about some type of obstacle ahead if braking is too slow. This technology has been available for a number of years. Another example is ParkAssist, which consists of hands-free parallel parking assistance.

Potential Impact

According to experts, the new technology behind the Google car could cost various car-related enterprises hundreds of billions of dollars, if not trillions. This would affect automakers, suppliers, dealers, parking companies, insurers, and the executive car service industry, including limousine companies, among others. However, the government would also lose a significant amount of revenue in the form of taxes, licensing, and tolls.

There are other ways the Google car, as well as other companies following suit, would have a huge effect on the transportation industry. A car that drives a person to work and then parks but also returns on demand without assistance will reduce the need for short flights, trains, buses, limos, and so on.

In addition, Google is pushing shared rides with the Google car. As such, several people would utilize the same autonomous car, thus impacting gas stations, oil companies, tire makers, and other businesses that depend on there being more cars on the road, not less.

Although self-driving cars could create as much as $87 billion worth of opportunities, specifically for technology developers and automakers, they will also have a negative impact on many travel-related industries, including the executive car service industry.

A large number of experts believe there will be a dramatic boost in annual sales of new and used cars within the US initially after launch, but as people accept the technology and sharing becomes more popular, there is a huge risk of sales dropping significantly.

Limousine Service

Even when the Google car begins rolling off the assembly line, the best, most cost-efficient, safest, and most convenient mode of transportation for business executives will remain the chauffeur-driven limousine.

The post What the Google Car May Mean for the Executive Car Service Industry appeared first on Royal Coachman.

1. Delegate responsibilities to each member. The easiest way to avoid fatigue and frustration is to make sure that each member of your team knows what they should be doing at all times. Don’t give them any room for confusion or error! Make one employee responsible for packing up any company materials, another employee responsible for the schedule and another employee responsible for dealing with things back home — it’ll make the entire trip much easier.
2. Give employees their free time. If you’re full of energy and motivation, it can be easy to assume that your employees want to keep working on your project — whatever it may be — as well, but everyone needs their free time. In an unfamiliar city, it can be important to give employees some time on their own to rest and regroup. Otherwise, they may get overwhelmed.
3. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Travel is full of incidental occurrences, some worse than others. Delays may happen, you may get lost and you may find yourself with canceled reservations. Remember that your team members will take their emotional cues from you. Take a moment to calm down and then ask yourself: How can I best fix this problem? Likewise, if you see another team member having problems, take a moment to ask them how they feel the situation should be best resolved.
4. Keep your schedule as flexible as possible. Every day should be scheduled so that you’re always doing something, but also so that delays will not create a cascading effect that could ruin the entire day. Make sure that you have contingency plans in the event that something does not go as you intended. The best way to deal with problems is to avoid having a problem at all.

Naturally, there are some times when tempers may flare; even the most mild-mannered employee may get upset when, for instance, a flight has been delayed or critical items of luggage have been lost. Try your best not to hold it against an employee who loses their cool as long as they bounce back to their positive, constructive self as soon as possible.

The post 4 Ways to Improve Teamwork and Reduce Employee Stress While on the Road appeared first on Royal Coachman.

Pack Your Luggage Right

Taking equipment with you is an excellent way to get your workout on the go. Water weights and yoga mats are two small items that you can bring with you. Water weights are inflatable; just fill them up in the hotel bathroom and you can begin your routine. Yoga mats can be used for many aerobic exercises — you can even use them in the airport, if you have a long layover coming up!

Invest in a National Gym Membership

If you travel throughout the nation often, you may want to invest in a gym membership with a national chain, such as 24 Hour Fitness or Curves. With a national chain, you can often walk right into a local location without paying anything extra. Even if you don’t have a membership you can often purchase a day pass.

Don’t Forget the Pool

Not all hotels have a gym — or at least, they may not have a gym with the equipment you need — but most hotels have a pool. Swimming is one of the healthiest possible ways to exercise. Just remember to pack your swim suit or trunks! Just doing a few laps in the morning or the night may be enough to keep you charged.

Getting exercise while on your business trips isn’t just good for you — it’s good for your company! Studies have shown that exercising improves mental clarity, ensuring that you’ll be able to concentrate when it really counts.

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Prepare Yourself in Advance

If you’re going on a long haul flight it is very likely that there won’t be any WiFi access; most long haul flights are going over the ocean, after all. You’ll need to be able to work without connectivity, so make sure that all of the files you need to work on and all the programs you need to access work well offline. The last thing you need to do is fine yourself on a flight with nothing to do.

Make Sure You’ve Got Your Tools

It’s very rare that a laptop is going to last you a full 16 hour international flight; even a tablet or iPad isn’t going to last that long. Moreover, you’re probably not going to carry three laptop batteries in your pack. Make sure that you have options. Carrying a laptop, a tablet and a smartphone with you may seem like overkill, but it means that you can continue to work when each slowly dies (and they will die).

Don’t Push It Too Far

If you start feeling restless, fatigued or stressed, get up and walk about the plane. The flight attendants are used to it on long haul flights — in fact, it would be harmful not to. Don’t try to focus too much on your work. You’re already locked in a metal cylinder that’s 25,000 feet in the air; trying to force yourself to work is a surefire way to give yourself claustrophobia. Take music, games and other relaxation methods with you to ensure that you can relax when you need a break.

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A Record of Safety

Airplane accidents have been steadily decreasing since 1960, with the exception of 1984. The reason it may feel as though there are more accidents than there were before is because of the globalization of the world; there are more accidents reported on now than before. The odds of being in an accident in the air are exceptionally low; as of 2012 the odds of being in a fatal accident with a major airlines is one in 4.7 million

Incidental Flukes

Many people wonder why not one but two Malaysian flights have gone down in the past year. Malaysia Airlines actually runs an extensive network of routes throughout the Australasia and Middle East world. To Americans, it could be considered analogous to Southwest Airlines or Alaska Airlines; it’s a major airlines and thus its exposure is significant. It’s not surprising that multiple planes went down because it runs so many flights. Thus, accidents may not always be indicative of the safety of a particular airlines.

Reducing Your Risk

It’s not a coincidence that the largest accidents tend to occur with major airlines; major airlines tend to be targeted. If you want to reduce your risk you should travel during the off season and you should always travel on smaller airlines. An air charter service is one of the safest ways of flying; people will rarely target an independent airline. If you do notice anything suspicious during your flight, you should immediately notify a flight attendant to make sure that the issue is taken care of.

Traveling by plane is no more dangerous than simply driving an equal distance. While it may seem as though traveling by plane is dangerous, this is only because issues with planes are being reported more frequently. Make sure that you take the appropriate precautions, such as booking on less trafficked airlines, and you should be fine.

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