Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Travel Director Suggestions

5 Tips from This Week's Featured Travel Director

Rennette Grace - Duluth, MN
Rennette's Top 5 Travel Tips:

1. SMILE
Meeting Planners and attendees have business on their minds when they first meet you. Smile warmly to let them know you are happy to help them and put their minds at ease. Your ability to meet their needs and your advance preparation is a given; now just convey that with confidence and a smile. Smiles also help brighten the day for your co-workers and suppliers when you are in the middle of those long, long, long hours of a busy day.

2. PLAN your personal meals ahead of time.
Nothing can be more distracting while working than having your stomach rumbling with hunger and losing your concentration due to lack of nutrition. If you know you won't be getting enough time for lunch or dinner while onsite, pack nutrition bars, fruit, and a beverage in a tote bag so you will have something nutritious to eat when you get a 15 minute break.

3. BUY a laptop lock.
Too much valuable information is on your laptop to risk it "walking away" while you are out of the room. We know these things happen sometimes - just don't let it happen to you. Buy a lock and use it faithfully.
4. ALWAYS have paper and pen handy.

Even if you are just heading down the hallway to the restroom you may be stopped by the client, or an attendee, with a request or question that needs research. I keep small post-its and a pen in my pant's pocket so I'm prepared to take a note right then and there with a promise to get back to them as soon as possible. Having it written down, reminds me of the request and who needs the answer or action required.

5. REMEMBER why we are there.
As travel directors we are hired to assist the client in producing a smooth running program. While it may be pleasant for us to discover a new hotel, city or co-workers, these aspects of the job are something we take time to enjoy only if, and when, all of the daily work is done on time. Our number one priority for each day is to focus on the tasks that bring us closer to offering a successful "behind the scenes" operation that contributes to the success of the client's meeting or event.

Want to share your travel tips and be a Featured Travel Director or Tour Guide Member? Contact INTD for details at support@intdonline.org.

Source: International Network of Travel Directors: http://www.intdonline.org/

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