Special advertiSing Section // forbeS 2010 Small buSineSS travel inSider
Smartbiztravel
the Small “Killer app”
By Michael Roney
Superior travel value is no longer the exclusive province of large companies with in-house travel
departments and volume-driven bargaining power. In fact, never before has there been such a wide
range of opportunities for great deals, valuable perks and general travel ROI for small biz.
imply being smart with these 3. Take advantage of online booking: check-in from mobile devices, while
choices can amount to a “killer Travel sites such Expedia, Orbitz, Price- international hotel chains such as Hil-
app” for small businesses. line and Travelocity have become a ton, Hyatt, InterContinental Hotel Group,
With that in mind, here are real boon for small businesses, as they Marriott and Starwood provide lobby
seven smart strategies that provide big enhance your comparative shopping kiosks where you can print boarding
biz returns: for travel arrangements. Settle on a site passes for upcoming flights.
1. Stay loyal: Focus on select loyalty that provides price comparison tools 6. Make smart use of social media:
club memberships such as Delta’s and allows you to view information Use Yelp, LinkedIn, Facebook and
SkyMiles, Hilton’s HHonors or National based on the parameters most mean- Twitter to tap fellow travelers in order
Car Rental’s Emerald Club to maximize ingful to you. to discover the best “insider” values in
flexibility (multiple ways to earn and 4. Be selective with airports: Top local transportation, dining and enter-
spend rewards), currency (points that choices in recent Skytrax surveys offer tainment.
are transferable to other programs) convenient gate access, streamlined 7. Ask for discounts: In addition to
and earnings power (how rapidly you security checkpoints, plentiful business using all of the high-tech tools avail-
earn elite levels and awards) for your facilities and superior track records in able, remember to simply ask about
travels. on-time departures. Keep in mind that discounts. The economic climate of
2. Use an affinity credit card: Almost smaller legacy airports such as Lon- the past few years has increased com-
every loyalty program has an associ- don City and Midway in Chicago also petition for your travel budget, leading
ated credit card. Many of these offer are earning high marks from frequent to special deals that may be available
special incentives for small businesses travelers, thanks to terminal upgrades, but not advertised.
and allow you to further accelerate easier parking and close-in locations.
your reward accumulations with each 5. Use online check-in tools: Most A killer app can be a powerful tool for
travel purchase. top airlines now offer advance online any business. Use yours wisely.
advertiSement 2 // forbeS 2010 Small buSineSS travel inSider
national car rental
focuSeS on Small buSineSS advantage
he best travel providers are
mixing technology with inno-
vation to give small businesses
more competitive power than
ever before. A prime example is National
Car Rental, offering some superb tools
to help create success for smaller com-
panies.
“You’re a small business. We get
it: You’re on the road; you don’t have
the luxury of spending extra time to
get things done,” says Rob Connors,
National’s Assistant Vice President.
“You’re cramming three days of work
into two, and our job is to make that time
as efficient and pleasant as possible. So
we do everything to make that happen.”
Greater Speed
Time is money, and efficiency is essen-
tial for any small business. With this in
mind, National has taken “express” More Choice the individual business traveler. “Our
to a higher level with its Emerald Club National’s Business Benefits Program monthly statements keep you informed
program, free and available in 56 cities (www.nationalcarbizben.com) provides and in control of your rentals,” says
nationwide. ease and customization for any size Connors. “They list not only rental
“You begin your Emerald experi- organization—including special con- activity, but free rental days earned,
ence by reserving a midsize car. Upon tract terms and rates, free-day rewards, how many days to earn for the next tier,
arriving at the airport, you bypass the account management tools, one-way what’s included in the next tier and how
counter and head straight to the Emer- rentals and more. “We created this Web many upgrades you’ve received since
ald Aisle where you will find a selection site to make it easy for small businesses the last rental period.”
of midsize and above vehicles. Simply to enroll, sticking with the philosophy
choose which car you want to drive and that one size doesn’t necessarily fit The Bottom Line
make your getaway. You only pay your all,” Connors notes. “You choose the National’s innovative offerings support
reserved midsize rate, even if you drive program’s components to suit your com- a comprehensive small-biz strategy
away in a larger-class vehicle,” says pany’s needs.” for competing successfully in any mar-
Connors. “On your return, just drop off ketplace. “Business travelers are our
the car and jump on the bus without Maximum Control heroes,” Connors states. “So we stay
waiting while your receipt is e-mailed to Belonging to a top loyalty club focused on whatever we can do to make
you. You can really cut it close and not assures maximum control over earn- their lives and work more efficient when
have to worry about stopping. That’s a ings, flexibility and rewards for small they’re on the road—providing speed,
huge time saver.” businesses. National’s Emerald Club choice and control.”
The Emerald Club is free to join. You recently was named by the Market
can instantly enroll or learn more by Metrix Hospitality Index as the best
visiting www.emeraldaisle.com. There around, adding to number one honors
you also will find the Emerald Aisle already received this year from the
Education Site, which provides a vir- National Business Travel Association,
tual tour for new members wanting to Wall Street Journal, Smarter Travel,
familiarize themselves with the choice TheStreet.com and others.
and efficiency they’ll experience with The award-winning Emerald Club For more information, visit
every rental. also provides top-notch service to www.nationalcar.com