Take Your Business Travel To The Next Level

This post is an example of the content I share every Friday in my Living by Experience Magazine. If you’d like your free copy, just click here.

Even if you do a lot of business travel, people typically don’t get to see more than the airport and the inside of windowless board rooms. Not my style of traveling. Even when I’m traveling for my coaching and consulting work I always make sure I have at least an extra day or two to explore my surroundings. Without that extra time, what’s the point? You might as well meet via video conference.

Of course there’s value to meet face-to-face. There’s a level of connection you can have in person that would never work remotely, even if you had state-of-the-art video conferencing solutions. So I’m not trying to diminish meeting in person anywhere in the world – yet make the most of it by seeing some sights and enjoying the experience next time you’re on a business trip somewhere.

Staying A Few Days Extra

Staying a few days longer to enjoy your surroundings might even make financial sense. Especially international airfare is often significantly cheaper when you’re staying over the weekend, flying home on a less busy day. The savings on airfare alone often paid for the extra hotel nights, and gave me the opportunity to explore London, New York, Toronto, Paris and many other cities.

I’ve written about personal credit cards before – including step by step instructions on how to secure free airfare leveraging your credit card. It’s all relatively simple, as long as you stick to my process. To learn the process in detail, visit my Travel Revolution website. I’ve realized many overlook a major source of extra benefits. It’s not only personal credit cards who offer travel rewards and incentives.Business credit card holders can enjoy significant rewards too. The best part? These rewards can either work for your personal life, save your business money, or both.

Peace of Mind

Some higher level business credit cards or charge cards offer discounts on car hire. The discount might work straight off the rental fee. More often it applies to added benefits. For example, my business card offers car rental insurance. This allows me to decline all insurance for most cars I rent. This alone saves me a small fortune. Be sure to read the fine print though. One trip I declined coverage on a high-end luxury Alfa Romeo. I did not realize that the value of that car exceeded my coverage limit on my card. Lucky for me, nothing happened. Many card issuers also offer worldwide emergency assistance, sometimes even travel insurance. This can give peace of mind when either you or your employees are travelling on business.

Travel Discounts

Travelling on business can be a better experience if you know and use your benefits. Some credit cards offer personalized travel service. They help with itineraries and bookings. The rates offered are often better than what’s offered to the public. The travel service might even include emergency assistance if something goes wrong. They’ll help you find alternate flights or accomodations. Most of these services will take collect calls. It sounds old-fashioned but it’s a true lifesaver if you get stuck somewhere. Last, but not least, you might get upgrades to seats and business class lounges. Making business travel a pleasurable experience is all about having the right access.

Travel Reward Points

Most business card issuers have reward programs. They’re pretty much the same as those offered for personal credit cards. You can earn air miles or other travel reward points. These are usually awarded at anywhere between one and four points per dollar spent. This depends on the card level you have. Where this adds up is when your employees are also using business credit cards. Most programs allow the business owner to “double dip”. The business owner earns points for all their transactions too. The sky is the limit.

My Business Card: The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

No secrets here. My favourite business card is my Platinum American Express. I do not get paid anything for saying that, but I do enjoy the benefits of this card has to offer. Having looked at all the other options available, I still recommend this card for anyone who qualifies.

Full disclosure: when you receive your free bonus points (enough for several free flights), American Express also gives me a few bonus points for referring you, assuming you signed up using one of the links on this page. I have enough points for a few flights around the globe, but could always use the extra points. I appreciate your support 

This offer is open to residents of Canada only. Not everyone will qualify for this offer, but it’s worth a shot. Just for the airline lounge access alone it’s beyond worth it for me…

Highlights of this card:

• Earn 1.25 Membership Rewards^® points for every $1 in eligible purchases charged to your Card.
• Transfer your points, at no charge, to many frequent flyer and other loyalty programs.
• Interest-Free Days. Maximize your cash flow with up to 55 interest-free days.
• Expense Management Reports. Quarterly and annual reporting that makes record keeping, expense tracking and tax preparation easier.
• Access to over 850 airport lounges around the world.
• Extras at over 825 world-class properties in the Fine Hotels & Resorts Program.

Earn 75,000 bonus Membership Rewards® points through my referral offer below (enough 3 free flights, depending on where you’re going!). All you have to do is charge $7,000 in purchases to your Card in the first 3 months of Card membership. Offer subject to change at any time.

Get The Book

Do You Dream of Traveling the World… and flying for free? The Freedom Project shows a new approach to travel as a lifestyle. Travel has countless benefits to all areas of life, and they are available to everyone. This book is the liberating blueprint for finding freedom and happiness in your traveling life.

P.S. Questions? Text me: 604-210-8668. Your support means the world to me, so if this post helped you, please consider buying a book (for you), a coffee (for me), or checking out a more in-depth course (for free). Thanks! 🙂