Current Hospitality Industry Challenges and Solutions

It has been a little more than two years since the corona epidemic broke into our lives, and already closures and travel restrictions seem like a distant reality. With the return to normal life there is also a significant increase in the demand for domestic and international travel, both business and leisure.

While occupancy levels have recovered faster than expected in the hospitality industry (nearing 2019 levels in most markets), this industry, and the travel industry in general, are facing many difficulties in returning to their pre-pandemic performance.

Current Hospitality Industry Challenges and Solutions

The leading difficulty, experienced across many industries, is a shortage of qualified manpower.

Due to the nearly complete halt of travel in the first year of the pandemic, many hospitality employees found themselves unemployed for a long period of time, which led many of them to a career change.
Now, many of them are reluctant to return to this industry that feels insecure at times, not as financially rewarding and far too demanding. These concerns are even strongly felt by people from outside of the industry that are in search for a job.
Some hotels had to rebuild their workforce from scratch and are still struggling to do so while occupancy levels are extremely high.

On the customer side, the shortage of manpower leads to long queues, delays, lower levels of customer service, lower availability and an unproportioned rise in rates.
As we have shared back on our June review, the global hospitality analytics company STR has recently conducted a study on hotel ADRs (average daily rates) across US and Europe, comparing April-May 2022 rates to April-May 2019 rates. The results show an average 14% increase in ADR in the US and 6% increase in ADR in Europe.

This manpower shortage will most likely force the hospitality industry to adapt to new ways of working. One of the leading trends we see is the fact that this industry is focusing on implantation of digital and automation technologies, across several departments.

Hospitality human resources departments now utilize digital platforms in the process of hiring and training.
On the one hand those platforms allow job seekers to create profiles that demonstrate their skills, and on the other hand the employer can select the most fitting candidates to specific positions more easily.
This promises a more accurate, efficient and cost-effective hiring process.
Digital platforms also can be used in the process of training employees by centralizing the learning process and getting direct feedback on their training programs.

Operations departments deal with the manpower shortage by increasingly using mobile and SaaS-based technology to simplify operations and enhance costumer experiences.
These uses include automating administrative tasks (room assignment, check in and report scheduling), guest messaging platforms that allow a single employee to manage multiple requests at once, and a mobile property management system (PMS) that automatically delegate tasks among team members like the housekeeping team to maximize efficiency.

Hotels also reduce the workload by using mobile check-in or kiosk-based contactless self-check-in, a digital payment system and keyless entry system that allows guests to get into their rooms in a matter of minutes.

Digital platforms are also supporting from the customer side. Using smart booking platforms helps to facilitate the booking experience and avoid some of the nuisances due to manpower shortage.
Booking with Arbitrip for example will not only help you save at least 15%-25% on you travel expenses, but also give you access to exclusive deals, 24/7 costumer service centralized payment options and access to valuable analysis reports – and all of that free of charge.

One thing is certain – that technology can not completely replace human interaction. There is of course a great importance in the hospitality industry for that personal touch between the costumer and the hotel employees. However, automating some of the tasks and using digital platforms, results in a more personal and exceptional service from the hotel staff.

For more information on the Arbitrip platform and how we can help make your booking process better – please contact us at [email protected].

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Rising Hotel Rates & Pro Tips On How You Can Save

After a couple of challenging years in the travel industry, hotel prices worldwide have already soared beyond pre-Covid rates. This is attributed mainly to the fact that after two years of lockdowns and travel restrictions there’s a newfound lust for travel, both for leisure and business purposes, which is leading to a prompt increase in occupancy levels. This presents an opportunity for the hospitality industry to try to regain some of the lost revenue from the long months of the pandemic.   

The global hospitality analytics company STR has recently conducted a study on hotel ADRs (average daily rates) across US and Europe, comparing April-May 2022 rates to April-May 2019 rates. The results show an average 14% increase in ADR in the US and 6% increase in ADR in Europe.

The leading countries that presented the highest ADR increases in Europe were Italy (23%), Ireland (21%), Portugal (18%), Spain (14%) and the UK (12%).

London, which is a leading business oriented destination, reported its highest monthly occupancy since 2020 in May 2022. These high occupancy levels have a double impact – both on hotels availability and of course on the ADR, which has increased by 46% from last year in this location.

Comparing 2022 hotel rates to 2021, Bloomberg research presents a staggering rise of up to 69% on hotel ADR across US central destinations (with an average of 33% increase).
As expected, New York has shown the highest increase of 69% in hotel ADR, Chicago hotels ADR showed an increase of 41%, Miami hotels ADR showed an increase of 55%, and San Francisco hotels ADR showed an increase of 37%.

When you add to the equation the significant rise of flight ticket cost in the past few months (airline fares presented a 18.6% increase in April 2022 alone) – traveling for leisure or business has become much more expensive than we can recall.

The current indication from the combination of the above trends is that travel cost is now considered the biggest inhibitor to travel.  

And yet, regardless of your destination, there are a few things that can be done in order to reduce travel expenses.

Our travel specialists have gathered the top tips that can help you save money when you plan your next trip:

  • Book in advance.
    Since we can see a steady increase in travel prices on a weekly basis, we recommend booking in advance in order to guarantee a lower price. If you want to feel more reassured, choose hotels that offer a free-cancellation policy or a flexible rate that allows you to change the dates without penalty, so you can always update your booking if there’s any need.
  • Book new hotels.
    Try to scout for hotels that have just recently opened, as sometimes their opening rates might be lower for a limited period of time – and you’ll get a chance to enjoy their new facilities at a very special rate.
  • Go outside of the city center.
    If you are staying in a location where there is reliable and convenient public transportation, we recommend you to stay in hotels just outside of the city center. This usually helps you decrease expenses dramatically and can give you higher value for your money. Also, take into account that many business centers in big cities are actually located just outside city centers, so when you travel for business this can be a big plus.

  • Match the hotel type to your dates.                                                                                                      As mentioned above – hotels determine their rates according to availability, and you can use this to your advantage. Business oriented hotels for example will usually offer better deals on weekends, and Leisure focused hotels will offer better rates on weekdays.
  • Book with Arbitrip!
    Booking with Arbitrip smart platform helps you save at least 15-25% on your travel expenses. Through our user-friendly platform you can access exclusive deals, plus you get to enjoy 24/7 customer service, centralized payment options and access to valuable analysis reports – and all of that free of charge!
    For more information please contact us at [email protected] .

 

Follow our blog to be updated on the latest hospitality industry news and trends.

 

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The top 7 Tech conferences in the coming year

As the world is finally coming out of a long period of travel limitations and social distancing, it seems like it’s the perfect time to get back on that in-person networking & career development horse, and what better way to do so than attending some of the top conferences worldwide?

For that exact purpose, we at Arbitrip have put together an “A list” of our client’s most popular tech conferences that are due later in 2022 and early 2023:

  1. CES

The annual CES (Consumer Electronics Show) event, owned & produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), is considered one of the world’s largest and most significant technology events.
To cut a long story short – this is where tech magic happens!

CES is considered to be the place where the most innovative, futuristic and breakthrough technologies, in almost every tech sector (including healthcare, automotive, VR, sports, robotics, machine intelligence and more), are being revealed.

CES 2023, January 5-8, Las Vegas NV & Digital Find out more

 

  1. RSA Conference

If you are a cybersecurity professional, RSAC 2002 is the right place to be seen this year. This 4-day conference will be held in San Francisco and will offer a high-level learning experience along with the opportunity of gaining valuable knowledge & new insights regarding the latest cyber threats, newest solutions, and most popular trends.

This conference will present a rich lineup of high-level speakers from leading organizations such as ISSA, IBM, SAP, BDO, GOOGLE, APPLE, LINKEDIN, and more.

RSA Conference San Francisco, Moscone Center & Digital, June 6-9, 2022 Visit website

* Note that a digital pass is also available for those of you who cannot attend in person this year.

 

  1. MWC Barcelona

Over 61,000 attendees from almost 200 countries visited the MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2022 held in Barcelona.

This annual 4- day conference is considered to be the largest mobile event in the world and the most influential in the connectivity industry.

Each year, this event features speakers & exhibitors from world-leading companies such as Amazon, HP, Amdocs, AT&T, Huawei, Nokia, Vodafone, and many more.

MWC Barcelona, February 27 – March 2, 2023 – Read more

 

  1. Black Hat

With a record of 25 years of events, the Black Hat Technical Security Conference series is highly recognized and well respected by the global security community.

The Black Hat events aim to bring forward the most relevant information, technical research, and new developments, together with an exclusive technical training experience.

This year, the next Black Hat events will be held both in Singapore and Las Vegas, and in both you can expect a 4-day hybrid event where the participants will be able to choose whether to attend the live, in-person, conference or to connect remotely.

Black Hat USA 2022, August 6-11, Mandalay Bay / Las Vegas + Virtual – go to event page

 

  1. Affiliate World

One cannot address the subject of affiliate and e-commerce conferences without mentioning “Affiliate World”. This is a top-notch event that will be held in both Europe and Asia, connecting the world’s top affiliate marketers and e-commerce entrepreneurs of the industry.

Attending this conference will provide you the opportunity to engage with the industry’s top experts and be exposed to new visions, different approaches and advanced ideas on affiliate & e-commerce marketing. Read more about Affiliate world

Affiliate World Europe, Fira de Barcelona, Spain 6-7 July 2022. Event website

Affiliate World Asia, Bangkok, 30 nov-1 Dec 2022. Further details will be published soon.

 

  1. Affiliate Summit East

At the iconic venue in the heart of Times Square, New York, ASE22 will be the place where 3,000 of the best e-commerce entrepreneurs, affiliate marketers, media buyers (and more) will join together for learning, networking, and exploring the latest and most cutting-edge technologies and innovations of the industry.

This will be a 2-day conference packed with over 60 sessions – workshops, meetups, and lectures – combined with fun perks such as a rooftop party and a VIP lounge.

Affiliate Summit East 2022, May 24 -25, New York – at the New York Marriott Marquis Times Square. Learn more

* Won’t be able to attend this year? No worries! You can already mark your calendar for next year – Affiliate Summit West 2023 will take place on January 23-25, 2023 in Las Vegas.

 

  1. AWS Summit

AWS Global Summits are free of charge events held in 30 major cities all around the world.

These events are designed to expose new customers from all industries to the AWS platform, but also to provide existing customers with a deeper learning experience by hearing from AWS leaders, experts, and partners, as well as attending technical sessions, demos, workshops and team challenges.

The next AWS Summits:

  • May 18, 2022 | Tel Aviv, Israel
  • May 18-19, 2022 | Atlanta, USA
  • May 23-25, 2022 | Washington DC, USA
  • Jun 21-22, 2022 | Milan, Italy
  • Aug 02 – Aug 03, 2022 | Seattle, Washington, USA
  • Aug 31, 2022 | Canberra, Australia

Find an AWS Summit near you

 

There is no doubt the world has gone through so many changes in the past two years, but it finally feels like it’s “getting back on its feet”. Business travel is back with a bang and so is attending those in-person events and world-leading business conferences.

The list of international tech conferences and events is long, and we hope that the hand-picked A-list we have compiled above can help you find the ones that are best suited to your business needs.

From our experience, the demand for accommodation during these top tech conferences is high and room supply is limited, so we recommend planning ahead and booking in advance.
The best way to prepare is building an annual event calendar and pre-book all the hotels in order to enjoy the best rates and availability.

Our team is here 24/7 to answer your questions and assist you with any reservation needed – contact us on [email protected].

Want to recommend another event not on the list above?
Send us a note! We’d love to hear from you.

 

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New Business Travel Trends in 2022

As worldwide vaccination levels increase, and Covid restrictions are gradually being lifted, our clients return to their business travel routine with a surge of individual and group travel bookings.

While booking numbers increase, and Q1 2022 figures already exceed 2019, we at Arbitrip identified a few interesting trends among our business travelers that we wanted to share with you.

 

Equipped for work

More organizations have shifted to hybrid work models, allowing employees to do work practically from any place on earth. Salesforce for example, launched Success from Anywhere, which offers their employees the flexibility to work from any location and at any convenient time for them.

This change allows more travelers to work while traveling around the world, and we can see the rise in demand for hotels that offer work-friendly rooms that are quiet, equipped with a more convenient work station, and stream fast and reliable Wi-Fi.

These travelers will also usually prefer hotels that have shared working spaces for the use of the hotel business guests. The Hoxton Chicago for example has a “Work-Stay-Play” package, which allows guests access to the facility’s in-house co-working space.

 

Tech and Modern

With the progress of technology accelerating rapidly, and rising number of corporate travelers from high-tech organizations, another characteristic of the new business traveler is to search for modern, futuristic, high-tech hotels.

Those travelers expect to have the most up-to-date technology in their hotel rooms. Extra USB sockets and docking stations are a thing of the past, when the new hotels now offer a variety of features from smart rooms, underwater speakers and mood-themed LED lights to signature-scented meeting rooms.

The room design in these increasingly popular hotels will usually be modern, clean and artsy. For example, you can have a look at a typical room design of the Copenhagen CitizenM, the trendy Netherlands-based boutique hotel chain, which has properties in cities like London, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

“Bleisure”

After 2 years of scarcely traveling the desire to enhance the experience during the business trip became ever more important. And so, it does not come as surprise that another trend is one that we have already started seeing pre-Covid, but is now picking up.

We are of course talking about the traveler’s desire to combine their business trip with a vacation – and create the perfect blend of business and leisure. There’s even a name for this trend – they call it “Bleisure”.
A standard “Bleisure” travel is usually comprised from a 3-4 day work trip, to which the traveler add a few vacation days at the beginning or the end.

For this type of trips, the travelers seek to stay in an extraordinary unique hotel, whether this is exhibited in the hotel design, its’ offered culinary experiences or its’ shared spaces and culture events concept.

Also, while booking these trips our travelers usually gave a much higher importance to the hotel location and its distance from the city center or popular attractions.

 

As we progress into Q2 2022 it seems that business travel is finally back to stay.
Live worldwide conferences are being scheduled, companies re-build new travel policies for 2022 and re-recruit for travel positions.
As stated by GBTA in Q4 2021, YOY increase of 38% is expected in 2022, with a further increase in 2023.

We will of course keep our eyes open for spotting new trends and share the latest news with you, so keep following for more.

 

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Companies to be more optimistic about Business Travel, survey says

Industry leaders give higher importance to safety and health than ever before.

During the past few weeks, we conducted a large-scale survey, in order to measure the Coronavirus effect on Business Travel industry. The survey included companies from all over the world and was answered by industry-leading professionals. We are excited to share the results with you. The full report is available here.

Among the main findings:
Most of the respondents, 53% to be exact, assume their company will return to business travel between July and September (Q3) of 2020.
However, almost half of the respondents (48%) assume it will take more time to get back to the same volume of travel as it was before the Coronavirus, expecting it to be back to normal only in Q1 2021.

Nearly half of the respondents believe that virtual meetings and video calls will replace business travel in 30-70% of business trips following the Coronavirus pandemic, and 74% believe that only essential trips will be allowed in the near future.

Furthermore, 26% anticipate that additional approval process will be required and 21% have already implemented that kind of process within their company.

Approximately 75% of companies would be willing to pay more for using hotels and airlines with strict health and hygiene practices.
As it seems by the results, the most crucial factors when choosing a hotel is health, safety, and hygiene standards. Hotel cancellation policy and distance from the destination point, which were previously very important factors for choosing a hotel, come only after health and safety. Surprisingly enough, only 36% of respondents said price is important in their decision when choosing which hotel to book.

To summarize with cautious optimism, the Travel industry will gradually increase its activity and hopefully will return to the same volume as known prior to the pandemic. However, our world will look different, and it will be necessary to make adjustments; by travellers, travel coordinators, hotels and suppliers

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Top 5 Business Travel Tips

5 Useful Business Travel Hacks

When it comes to travel, you’re always worried you’ll forget something at home or make a mistake with your booking. At least when it comes to your hotel plans, we’ve got you covered. So when you’re planning your next on-site client meeting or annual conference, you’ll want to make sure you’re all set.

Check out our top business travel hacks to keep you organized and on-track:

1 – Extra Phone Charger

Ok, this one’s kind of obvious, but you know what they say about assumptions. The last thing any business traveller wants is to have low battery or – dare we even say it? – no power. Bring another charger & keep at least one of them in your briefcase or purse. 

Travelling internationally? Make sure you’ve got some converters so you can stay connected, uninterrupted.

2 – Back It Up, Baby!

Have you ever watched someone’s presentation on stage and the screen suddenly goes dark? Do you live in fear that you’ll misplace contracts or strategic plans or forget them in your hotel room? Awkward…

So backup everything: presentations, audio & video files, client & staff contact details, medical info, emergency contacts, whatever you’ve got. Use cloud storage or just stick a USB thumb drive in your pocket.

3 – Play it safe

We can’t say this one enough. It happens far too often that a client cancels at the last minute, or an important meeting has to be rescheduled. Hey, it happens; we get it & you can’t control that. But what you can do is stay a step ahead of the game. Before travelling, make sure that you have a ‘no cancellation fee’ deal; that way, if the unexpected happens and you need to cancel, you’re covered. An extra few minutes now can save a lot of stress later.

4 – Pack Smarter

Pack light, just for what you think you’ll need. You don’t have to bring everything to survive a nuclear apocalypse, just enough for your actual time away. Use versatile outfits. Pack 1 black set of trousers or a pencil skirt and a few shirts or tops that go together. It’s a lot easier to mix & match vs. bringing half your closet.

5 – Bring a Pen

Even in the Information Age, this little device is a sure-fire way to stay organized. Have you ever exchanged business cards with someone, only to completely forget who they were later? Have a pen with you & jot down notes on business cards. You’ll easily be able to follow-up with new connections days later.

Forgot to bring your pen with you? Steal one from your hotel room as suggested by CitizenM.

Have you got other #travelhacks that work for you? Share with us in the comments below! 

Happy travels!

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7 Reasons to Attend the 2019 PA Show in London

Seen one corporate conference, seen ‘em all, amirite? BZZZT! I’m wrong. (That was the wrong-answer buzzer sound, for those of you who aren’t into game shows.)

 

I personally am looking forward to the London PA Show, coming up next week on February 26th and 27th at the Olympia London convention centre. Meant for PAs, EAs, VAs and Office Managers, the two-day trade show is the largest of its kind in the UK.

 

If you’re in need of a hotel, check out our list of top business hotels in London.

 

Keep reading to find out why you should come out from behind your office computer screen and join us at the PA Show.

 

  1. Become a pro

 

 

I’ll admit it, you seem to be pretty good at what you do. (I’m guessing.) But don’t you want to be even better? Don’t you want to be the best PA/EA/VA/Freakin’A the business travel industry – nay, the world – has ever seen? Well, now’s your chance. Come hear industry experts (yes, that includes me!) speak and share their insider knowledge with you. The exhibition is a great way to become more professional at what you do and advance in your career.

 

  1. Make your life easier

 

Be the first to find out about the latest innovative technologies and tools that can help you work more efficiently. Whether it be a handy business travel management platform or a user-friendly project management system, the PA Show is the place to discover useful methods to make your workdays smoother.

 

  1. See and be seen

 

The thought of networking can sometimes make the best of us want to call in sick and crawl back under our covers. But once you get out there, it can be fun. More importantly, it can be game-changing for your career. 87.6% of business is about who you know. I may have just made up that statistic, but you get the point. Meeting face to face with relevant people in your industry can get you far. Not to mention, there’s even a Networking Bar.

 

  1. Meet suppliers

 

It’s one thing to do research online to find potential vendors you can work with. But actually meeting them in person is so much more effective. You can skip all the first steps of endless research, emails, scheduled phone calls, and rescheduled phone calls. Talk to suppliers or vendors and make a deal on the spot, or at least form a personal and memorable connection and get business cards for later.

 

  1. Get inspired

 

Workin’ 9 to 5 can get you feeling like you’re stuck in a rut. Sure, you’re getting your work done, but you’re probably also getting sick of the monotony of office life. Routine can lead to less motivation, resulting in less productivity. Attending the PA Show will let you remember why you do what you do, will give your brain a kick in the behind, and will boost your creativity. Hearing from other individuals in the industry will give you new ideas and improve performance.

 

  1. Get a live demo

 

We’ll be presenting Arbitrip’s personalized business travel program on February 26th. Come visit Booth H40 and experience a live demo of our travel platform. We’d love to meet you! Email us to schedule a demo at [email protected]

 

  1. IT’S FREE

 

Need I say more?

 

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Hope to see you there!

 

Where: Olympia London, Booth H40

When: February 26th-27th

Register Here

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How to Create a Badass Business Travel Policy

Now that the new year has begun and your holiday hangover has worn off, it’s time to refresh your corporate travel policy or to create one from scratch. There are several things to keep in mind when coming up with an effective policy that will maintain balance between company needs and employee satisfaction. Read on to find out how you can kick off the new year with a business travel policy of steel.

PLANNING THE POLICY

Before you begin writing the travel policy, make sure you set goals and negotiate deals.

#Goals

Okay fine, when most people use the popular “#goals” hashtag, they probably don’t have corporate travel policies in mind. But most people aren’t you! As Travel Manager, it’s important that you set goals before writing up the policy. Meet with the relevant people in the office to discuss the business plan for 2019 so that you can create a travel policy that’s the right fit for your company this year. Goals can include anything from cutting corporate travel costs to making your employees happy so they stick around longer. Once you’ve established what your goals are, you can get to work on ensuring the travel policy matches those goals.

Hotel haggling

Now that you’re clear on your goals, you’re ready to negotiate. All employees appreciate the flexibility, so you’ll want to negotiate travel discounts with various hotels in specific cities to keep your travelers’ options open. The idea is to save your company money through great discounts while giving your employees as much of a selection as possible. Not a great negotiator? Ask your accommodation partner to help you close deals. We’re an excellent haggler.

WRITING THE POLICY

You’ve set your goals and negotiated deals with hotels. Next, you’ll want to include the following elements in your travel policy.

Expense rules

Even the most loyal employee can exaggerate their travel expenses. By writing a crystal clear section on expenses, your employees will know what they’ll be reimbursed on, and you’ll limit the element of surprise when it comes to crazy expenses. No more “Surprise! I bought my dog a cashmere sweater with company money, because of course I had to take him with me on the business trip, and he gets cold.”. A travel management platform can greatly help you establish approved expense categories and non-refundables so your employees will know exactly what they will and won’t be reimbursed for.

Expense reporting process

You’ve listed the allowed expenses. Now you need to lay out the process for reporting expenses and getting reimbursement. This can vary from company to company, so it’s up to you to choose what works for your business. Be sure to describe what documentation you’ll require from your travelers (such as receipts), and when the deadline is for submission. Do you require pre-approval for any expenses? Mention that in the policy, as well as who should be contacted for pre-approval. The more specific you get, the less room your employees will have for asking for reimbursement on irrelevant expenses.

Employee safety

If you want your employees to be an asset to your company, you’ll probably need to keep them alive! Detail safety procedures in your travel policy so your travelers can stay protected. Explain what kind of travel insurance the company has, and who should be contacted in case of emergency. Also, a little light stalking never hurt anyone! Use an online booking tool that lets you track your travelers during their trip. That way, if anything goes wrong, you can know where they are. Not in a creepy way.

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Of course, there are more details to consider when creating a business travel policy, but these points should help get you started! To best manage employee travel, try Arbitrip’s personalized travel platform.

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Top 5 Business Hotels in London

Top 5 Business Hotels in London

So your employees are planning a business trip to London, baby, yeah! (Protip: never say what I just said to your employees – or anyone, for that matter – if you’re not in the mood to get an eye-roll as a response. I just couldn’t resist.) There are so many great choices of business hotels for your travelers to stay in, and we’ve narrowed them down to our top 5, just for you.

Radisson Blu Edwardian, Mercer Street

Right in the midst of famous London theaters and in the heart of Covent Garden, this Edwardian hotel is a favorite among business travelers. After a long day of meetings, your employees can throw off their suits and throw on their tuxes (do people still go to operas in tuxedos?), for a classy night at the opera, at the nearby Royal Opera House. If they’re feeling especially fancy, they can even enjoy a luxurious spa treatment right from the comfort of their hotel room (because heaven forbid they should be forced to take a taxing elevator ride down to a spa!).

Guests of the Radisson Blu are particularly pleased with the competent, friendly staff, the central location, and the boutique feel of the hotel. Although the rooms are not exceptionally lavish, they’re modern, clean and comfortable.

The Montcalm Royal London House

This one’s an excellent choice for business people who like to party. Situated in Finsbury Square and right near beautiful Finsbury Park, travelers who stick around for the weekend can dance the night away at a warehouse party. Young employees (or not-so-young employees who are young at heart) will feel at home in the area, which is full of students and drunken soccer (I mean football) fans.

The Montcalm Royal, formerly the Royal Mail headquarters, has a striking style: a combination of mid-century and contemporary design. Guests are fans of the quiet rooms, excellent beds, and pleasant showers.

H10 London Waterloo

South Bank’s H10 is optimal for first-time travelers to London. Right near Big Ben, the London Eye, and the Tate Modern, this hotel is the place to stay for those who want to fit some must-see London sights in between business meetings. Visitors can relish in the vibrant London culture, take a walk along the Thames, and admire the stunning skyline from the hotel bar.

The hotel features bright rooms and unique architecture with asymmetrical shapes and a touch of elegance. H10 guests can’t seem to get enough of the wide, delicious selection at the breakfast buffet, or the complimentary chocolates and cakes that await them in their rooms.

Dorsett City London

This chic Asian-inspired 4-star hotel is located in London’s financial district, not far from lively Shoreditch, where your employees can stroll through boutiques, art galleries, and markets during their free time. The Tower of London and Tower Bridge are right nearby as well.

Dorsett City guests can work out whenever they please at the hotel’s 24-hour gym, and pamper themselves afterward with a refreshing rain shower. Review after review mentions the excellent amenities, including shaving kits, complimentary water bottles, and toothbrushes. Guest also appreciate the closet space and marble and gold-plated bathrooms, fit for Marie Antoinette.

The Marylebone Hotel

Posh (or posh wannabe) travelers should go for the stylish Marylebone Hotel, situated in Marylebone (surprise!), one of London’s trendiest neighborhoods. They can shop till they drop (as long as they get up for work, that is) in the fashionable area, and wine and dine themselves to their hearts’ desire in first-class restaurants.

Marylebone guests love getting spoiled by the wonderful staff, especially the team who takes care of the meeting rooms. They enjoy socializing in the lobby, drinking at the refined cocktail bar, and jumping into their cozy beds after a long day.

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Great! You’re all set with a selection of business travel hotels for your employees. Now it’s time to implement a business travel program to help you stay within budget. Get started with Arbitrip’s personalized travel program.

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5 Ways to Cut Business Travel Costs

As a travel manager, you’re no doubt well aware of how critical corporate travel can be to your company’s business. I mean, if the title of this article had been “5 Reasons to Stop Business Travel,” you’d probably be pretty bummed out, since that would put you out of a job! Lucky for you, the Big Boss at your company already knows how important employee business trips are – that’s why he hired you!

The fact that your company acknowledges the need for corporate travel, however, does not mean that they’re happy about all the money it’s costing them. Thankfully, there are things you can do to decrease costs. Trust me – your CFO will thank you. Read on to find out some simple tricks to help you cut down on business travel expenses.

  1. Plan like a pro

Scheduling your employees’ trips ahead of time can save you a lot more money than you think. If you book flights over a week prior to departure, you can help save your company more than $100 per employee plane ticket.

In addition to scheduling in advance, you can also save money by considering the specific time you have your employees travel. You’ll want to avoid the dates of major events like London’s Fashion Week, for example. Same goes for spring break – try to avoid it (unless you’re eager for an “employees gone wild” sort of trip), and work around the specific dates of spring break. I know, I know, this isn’t a perfect world, and you have to allow for last-minute needs. But when you can, booking in advance and being careful about timing is a must.

  1. Make saving a win-win

If you have kids, you probably know how well the rewards system works with them. Rather than focusing on the punishment your child will get every time they break a rule, offering them a treat each time they do something good makes them feel proud and accomplished for good behavior.

Newsflash: adults are just like kids. We like to be rewarded too – whether in the form of praise or free stuff. That’s why rewarding your employees for saving money instead of punishing them for spending too much can be wise. Face it – your employees don’t care about saving your company money. They need an incentive. There are different ways you can go about this. You can choose to set a specific budget for your travelers, and if they spend less, give them credits for future trips. Alternatively, you can allow your travelers to keep a percentage of whatever they save. That will help keep them stay within budget without making them feel like you’re cheaping out on them.

  1. Perfect your policy

Establishing an effective corporate travel policy is no easy feat. There are tons of things to consider, including booking flights and hotels and setting an allowance that makes sense. Check out the travel policy you currently have in place, and decide if it needs improving. Make sure everything is laid out clearly so that your travelers know everything they need to know in order to stay in budget.

  1. Set up pre-approvals

How many times have you seen employee trips being canceled and money being wasted? Probably enough for you to know that a good pre-approval system is key. If you set one up, you’ll be able to save your company money on unnecessary costs. Make sure all employees understand who they need approval from for travel, so you can avoid canceled trips.

  1. Get smart with travel tech

Your phone’s smart, your watch might be smart, (hopefully you’re smart), now it’s time your travel management processes be smart! Gone are the days of pretty much anything manual. By using travel management technology, you can do everything I mentioned above in a fast, simple way. A travel management platform will help you plan business trips, set clear budgets, establish a pre-approval system, and come up with an optimal travel policy.

Check out Arbitrip’s business travel program to get you started on decreasing business travel costs today.

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