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Posts Tagged ‘business travel’

CLC Announces Hotel Locator iPhone app – Coming Soon!

Friday, August 10th, 2012

Workforce travelers and administrators – business lodging with CLC just got even easier. CLC Lodging is proud to announce its Hotel Locator iPhone app – available for free through Apple’s iTunes store in Q4 of 2012. With its hotel search tool using iPhone’s built-in GPS capability to instantly map CLC hotels to a traveler’s current location, CLC hopes to ease the hectic business travel life of many of its customers.

CLC Lodging’s Hotel Locator iPhone app coming soon!

The Hotel Locator mobile app takes full advantage of iPhone technology – allowing users to:

  • Easily search from CLC’s broad network of hotels using current location orcity, address or ZIP
  • Map hotels using GPS technology and get directions in seconds
  • Fine tune hotel searches by distance and rate ranges
  • Toggle hotel search results quickly between a hotel list and map view
  • Filter by breakfast, high speed internet and truck parking
  • View hotel details, amenities and photos
  • One-tap dial to the hotel to make reservations
  • Access CLC’s 24-hour Traveler Support Center support line

An Android version of the Hotel Locator app is in development. It will offer the same features and functionality as the iPhone app and will be available this coming September.

Not a CLC member yet? Call (866) 857-9783 or e-mail: sales@clclodging.com. Smaller companies can receive free membership by using the key code “APPNEWS” during registration at www.clclodging.com or by calling 1-866-857-9747, Option 1.

 

 

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Posted in CLC Hotels For Workforce Travelers, CLC Workforce Lodging, Money-Saving Tips, Tips for Workforce Travelers | No Comments »

How to Evaluate a Workforce Lodging Program

Thursday, June 21st, 2012

 

Evaluating Hotel Programs

Know what to look (and look out) for before you sign on the dotted line.

 

Look For:

  • An Industry Leader. How long has the lodging management company been in business? Does it have an established hotel network?
  • Program Flexibility . Look for a program that offers diverse products that can serve small and medium size businesses as well as Fortune 1000 corporations.  Do you have crews or teams that stay weeks or months at a time? Do you have management employees that stay only a few nights?  Make sure you select a program that can accommodate both.
  • Volume of more than 10 million  room nights annually.  The best negotiating power comes from delivering the most volume.  Look for a lodging management company that purchases more than 10 million room nights per year. That’s $500,000,000 worth of negotiating power in your corner.
  • Traveler flexibility. Make sure your traveler has more than one option to check-in. Sign in sheets may work best for a transient work force while independent travelers may need a card.  Can your traveler walk in or reserve ahead of time? Without flexibility, compliance and savings suffer.
  • Comprehensive hotel network. With over 40,000 economy and midscale hotels in North America, you should select a provider that has at least 10,000 under contract. This creates convenience for the traveler and ensures auditable electronic billing at thousands of hotels.  Can your program provider offer a list of hotels in their network?

Avoid:

  • “Turnkey” lodging programs. “One size fits all” can indicate a lack of financial, network and operational resources to manage products that truly meet your company’s lodging needs.
  • Lack of Transparency . Does it seem like a programs’ low fee is too good to be true? It probably is. Often times, these programs make up the difference with a hidden hotel commission.  If the program makes money based on a percentage of the hotel rate, their incentives are mismatched with yours.
  • Centralized reservations. Do you have to call one number to use the program for every reservation?  What about last-minute walk-ins?  What if plans change later that night?  Can they handle the call volume?  What kind of wait times should you expect?
  • New programs. Establishing a hotel management program sounds easy, but do you want to risk your business with a program still trying to establish its reputation with hotels and customers?

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Posted in Money-Saving Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Free Wi-Fi? Do Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

Many workforce travelers look forward to a free Wi-Fi connection to when staying in a hotel for business travel. Whether they’re checking work email, catching up with friends and family, looking  for  transactions in their bank accounts or just surfing the net after a long day, Wi-Fi is a definite  plus when spending  time on the road. Unfortunately, hackers also enjoy the service, making the idiom “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” a falsehood. You should definitely look at these horse choppers and purchase some bite insurance.

According to Business Travel News, hackers are using free hotel Wi-Fi to load malware in the form of software updates onto your smart phone, computer or Ipad. A warning was issued by the Internet Crime Complaint Center (ICCC) after several instances were reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other government agencies. As if road warriors didn’t have enough to worry about, now you need to be doubly cautious and ensure your data and hardware is protected.

Malware, short for malicious software, is software designed to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems. Malware includes computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, etc.

What does this mean for the business traveler? There are a variety of possible outcomes depending on the type of malware. Slow load times, loss of personal data and computer failure are all possibilities. What can you do to protect yourself? The ICCC recommends that you check digital certificates of all updates, perform software updates before you travel and only download updates from trusted vendor websites while on the road.

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Posted in Tips for Workforce Travelers, Travel Safety | No Comments »

Control Your Business Travel Expenses

Monday, May 14th, 2012

Tips for Success

Auditing your company's workforce travel expenses improves the bottom line.

Have you audited your company expense reports or travel policy lately? Many of your fellow business owners are. Mary Ann McNulty of Business Travel News reports that company audits are up, perhaps in part to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) spending debacle. While you can probably rest assured that your expenses aren’t as egregious as the GSA’s, it’s always a good idea to take the pulse of your travel program.

Are your workforce travelers turning in justifiable expenses, or sliding unwarranted expenditures through a loose interpretation of your company’s travel policy? If your answer is: “I don’t know” or “I’m not really sure,” it may be a good time to take a closer look at employee expense reports. You can only manage what you measure.

Do certain trends appear upon analysis of expense reports? Do you notice that employees are staying a little too close to home? Do some expenses look more pleasure, than business related? With data in hand, the next step is to make changes to your travel policy and put additional controls in place.   

A good travel policy is an evolving document that is reviewed annually. It should explicitly identify what is acceptable such as per diem policy, hotel rate range and personal use.  Control hotel prices by limiting hotel types, prices and locations. Describe what receipts are needed for per diem allowances. Spell out the consequences for abuse and enforce them. Controls increase efficiency while limiting unpleasant surprises at the end of the year.

Unsure where to start? With savings of 20-40% on hotels nationwide and in Canada, CLC Lodging provides the service and metrics to improve your travel policy and bottom line. Go to www.clclodging.com for more information today.

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Posted in CLC Hotels For Workforce Travelers, CLC Workforce Lodging, Money-Saving Tips | No Comments »

Hotel Pet Peeves – And How to Solve Them

Friday, March 23rd, 2012

Travel Powerstrips - Avoid Frustration of Too Few Outlets

Apparently, this experienced workforce traveler isn’t the only one who’s exasperated when there aren’t enough outlets next to the bed to charge my cell phone or laptop. In a recent article by USA Today’s Barbara De Lollis, former press secretary for President Bush, Dana Perino tweets about her hotel pet peeves.

Her laundry list of tweets include:  coffee-flavored hot water and stubbing her toes moving the heavy bedside table to get to an outlet. A few of my pet peeves are dirty towels and cigarette smoke in a non-smoking room.

How to solve them:

Power outlets

  • Pack a compact, travel sized power strip in your lap top case
  • Ask the front desk if they have a spare power strip

Coffee-flavored tea water

  • Pack a coffee urn cleaner packet in your luggage
    • You’ll only need 1/3 of the packet due to the smaller size of hotel coffee makers
  • Go to Starbucks

Dirty Towels

  • Call the front desk and ask for replacement towels
  • Invest in a micro-fiber travel towel – it will dry in a few hours and it’s eco-friendly

Cigarette Smell

  • Report the smoke smell to the front desk
    •  the previous occupant may incur a fine for smoking in a non-smoking room
  • Request a room-change
  • No non-smoking room available?

 Above all, make sure you make the effort to fill out customer surveys or talk directly to the hotel manager. Hotels take customer feedback seriously. Another great way to avoid frustration is to make your next workforce travel hotel stay a CheckINN Direct stay.

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Posted in Green Business Travel, Tips for Workforce Travelers | No Comments »

Cheers for CheckINN Direct — the Super Bowl of Hotel Savings

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

Hotel rooms are booked at 91% occupancy Sunday night in Indianapolis, where this year’s Super Bowl takes center stage. No doubt at premium prices, too.

But your company can score the best hotel deals for your workforce travelers 365 nights a year with CheckINN Direct from CLC Lodging.

20-40% Discounts On Hotel Rooms & More

When you sign up for CheckINN Direct, it’s game on with these features:

  • Hotel room rate discounts that are 20-40% lower than hotels’ published rates.
  • More than 10,000 hotels in the CheckINN Direct network (familiar brands like Best Western, Super 8, Holiday Inn, Red Roof Inn, Hyatt Place, Hampton Inn and many more)
  • A convenient online hotel directory that lets you know where you’re staying before you stay (unlike some other online hotel deals).
  • You can choose the kind of hotel – and the price range – that works for workforce travel needs and your company’s travel budget.
  • A Lowest Rate Guarantee that ensures you won’t find a lower rate for the same room. (If you do, CheckINN Direct will pay you the difference and give you $30 in CheckINN Dollars for your next stay).

The Best Room Rates for Your Company Travelers

CheckINN Direct rates are privately negotiated for companies like yours, thanks to CLC Lodging’s purchasing power in the lodging industry.

CLC Lodging clients use more than 10 million room nights worth nearly half a billion dollars a year for their company travelers. CLC translates that buying strength to negotiate low rates that drive your room prices far below what’s publicly available.

Find out how it works, and then sign up today.

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Posted in CLC Hotels For Workforce Travelers | No Comments »

Turn Your Smartphone into Hotel Remote Control

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

 

Here’s an exciting new innovation for workforce travelers (almost as good as CheckINN Direct saving you 20-40% off hotels). Now a new smartphone app lets you control the TV remote in some hotel rooms when you’re traveling for business.

That’s great news for frequent company travelers who may consider in-room remotes as germ magnets.

USA Today reports that travelers staying in hotels that get in-room TV entertainment from LodgeNet can use its free app for iPhones, iPads and Androids.

Here’s how it works:

  • Download the app, called LodgeNet Mobile, from your mobile device app store
  • Follow the directions on how to link to a specific hotel TV
  • Use the app to control free TV channels, pay-per-view movies and on-demand TV shows
  • Pay-per-view selections can be charged to your hotel bill or you pay for them separately with the app

Download Before Traveling

Be aware that before you hit the road, you may need to download the app via a computer since its size makes it too large to immediately download on an iPhone, for example.

Currently, LodgeNet has updated its TV systems in about 2,000 hotels for its new app, so it may take awhile before you can put it into practice at your specific workforce lodging. But since LodgeNet can be found in around 500,000 hotel rooms, the app eventually will be useful in many more locations.

You’ll also find that adult-only selections aren’t accessible through the app. But in addition to channel surfing, you can use it to control the TV volume, program guide and TV menu.

Just another convenience for workforce travelers – just like CheckINN Direct from CLC Lodging. When you’re a CheckINN Direct member, your business travel is discounted at more than 10,000 hotels across the U.S. and Canada.

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Posted in Tips for Workforce Travelers, Workforce Travel | No Comments »

Find the Lowest Rates at 10,000 Hotels for Business Travel

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

Want to know the hotels that are in the CLC Lodging hotel network for CheckINN Direct members? There’s an easy way to check – and it gives you an idea of pricing, too.

Simply go to the Find A Hotel tool on CheckINN Direct’s home page. Enter the City/State or ZIP Code for your company’s travel destination.

You instantly get an overview of the hotels in the area where your workforce travelers can save 20-40% once your business signs up for CheckINN Direct.

Plus, you’ll see how many participating hotels are in the CLC Lodging network in your travel area. The tool also tells you the savings range you can expect, depending on the hotel you and your travelers choose.

Don’t forget that CheckINN Direct’s Lowest Rate Guarantee ensures that you’re paying the lowest rate. If you find a lower qualifying rate, CheckINN Direct will pay you the difference and give you $30 in CheckINN Dollars to use for your next stay.

Have fun checking out the Find A Hotel tool. If you like what you see, it’s easy to become a CheckINN Direct member!

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Posted in CLC Hotels For Workforce Travelers | No Comments »

CLC Lodging: Stay Safe On The Roads This Holiday Season

Sunday, December 18th, 2011

 
 CLC Lodging provides a discounted hotel rate when roads are full of holiday travelers
OK, workforce travelers, here it comes! This week combines the official start of winter with the heavy holiday travel rush.

CLC Lodging hopes you’re among the road warriors who will get a break over the next two weeks. But if you remain out on the road for business this holiday season, know that you’ll have lots and lots of company.

AAA is forecasting 91.9 million U.S. drivers will be traveling 50 miles or more from home Dec. 23-Jan. 2. That’s up 1.4% from the numbers last year, and it’s the second highest in the past decade.

For those of you who like stats, we’re talking about 30% of everyone in the country. So be careful out there!

And with winter officially getting under way at 12:30 a.m. ET on Dec. 22, here’s a reminder to be especially cautious if highways are affected by a wintry blast. (Don’t forget to frequently check the NOAA forecast.)

As travelers whose jobs put you on the road frequently, you know the drill when driving conditions are hazardous: Slow down and stay alert.

If the roads get too unsafe for travel, CheckINN Direct members are encouraged to check in to a participating hotel in the CLC Hotel Network (there are more than 10,000 hotels to choose from across the U.S. and Canada. With your CheckINN Card, your member rate always saves you 20-40% off the hotel’s lowest published rate. (Don’t forget that you’re protected with CLC’s Lowest Rate Guarantee.)

Safe travels and happy holidays!

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Posted in CLC Hotels For Workforce Travelers, Travel Safety | No Comments »

Save on Hotel Costs As A CheckINN Direct Priority Member

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

Become a Priority Member in CheckINN DirectCompanies that have an average of 30 or more business travel room nights within a three-month period become eligible for Priority Member status in CLC Lodging’s Savings Card program.

Priority Members gain special benefits, such as additional reporting on your account and extended member account support. Plus, you and your workforce travelers always are the first to know about new features and other benefits.

Priority Member privileges are free to qualifying CLC Lodging Savings Card accounts, based on your room-night stays. Priority Membership is granted for a one-year term.

Just like every CheckINN Direct account, Priority Members save 20-40% off hotels’ Lowest Published Rates at the more than 10,000 hotels under contract in the CLC Lodging network.

Want to be a Priority Member in CheckINN Direct? All it takes is an average of 30 or more hotel stays for your workforce travelers over three months.

After sign-up, you will be alerted when your business travel stays qualify your company for Priority Member status.

 

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Posted in CLC Workforce Lodging, Workforce Travel | No Comments »