An April article fromBusiness Insider Magazinewritten by David Seaman touched on somemajor credit cardsbeneficial for the frequent traveler. Below are the credit cards that he highly recommended based upon how many bonus miles are received, annual costs, company savings, etc.: ·        Delta Airlines’ Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card– Perks for travelers who frequently fly Delta. There is a $0 introduction annual fee for the first year. Cardholders who spend at least $500 on the card in the first 3 months after the account has been opened will be rewarded with 30,000 bonus miles toward Award Travel. This credit card also provides the cardholder with priority boarding, 20% off on all Delta flights, and the first bag is checked for free for the first 9 people on the reservation on every Delta flight. ·        Citi Platinum Select / AAdvantage Visa Signature– This is the card for travelers who choose to frequently fly American Airlines. Cardholders who spend at least $1,000 in the first 3 months receive 30,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles. Other benefits of this card include 25% off eligible purchases with American Airlines, priority boarding, and the first checked bag is always free. ·        Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card– this is a perfect card for travelers who do not use the same airline repeatedly but will still give them miles to be used at any airline, hotel, car rental company, etc. This card is offering 10,000 bonus miles for new enrollments; 0% introductory APR on all purchases until March 2013; no annual fee; and no foreign transaction fees. Plus, for every $1 spent on every purchase, you gain 1.25 miles. There are many other mileage cards on the market today – ones specific to one particular Airline and ones that will give you miles for every purchase made. The choice is up to the individual traveler but we hope that this information will keep you the best informed of all options before making a decision on which card (or cards) to apply for. ...read more

           While reading an article posted oncbsnews.comby Laura Vanderkam about packing for a business trip like packing for a backpacking voyage provided much insight from a new perspective: 1.     If everyone were to pack for a business trip as if they were going to be strapping everything to their back and hiking 40 miles, then most people would not pack as much as they usually do currently. Laura suggests that everyone use the smallest carry on possible so that it can be easily stowed underneath the seat in front of you. You should not need to rely on the overhead bins. Most airlines are now charging each passenger for checking bags. Most people have now started carrying on in lieu of this new trend. Overhead bins are getting filled much quicker and you might end up having to check your bag anyway (though it will now be free). To avoid all the hassles think the smaller the better. 2.     Most business travel is not to the wild but to a major metropolitan city where access to modern day stores will be available if need be. Laura suggests that you wear your bulkiest clothes on the plane and bring only one pair of shoes (which you should also wear on the plane). Keep it simple. Don’t bring a lot of un-necessary things. If you forget something, you can pick it up when you arrive to your destination. The message to take away from what Laura has found is clear: only bring what is absolutely necessary and make your business trip a snap with less worries and hassle. It’s a definite no brainer. ...read more

Many believe that travel insurance is unnecessary and costs too much to be used regularly. The following tips and facts about travel insurance fromInsuranceHotline.commight make you reconsider purchasing travel insurance for your business trips and/or vacations this summer. 1.     Myth – travel insurance is only needed while traveling outside of the country. Traveling within your country does provide less of a risk of financial trouble but risk is still present. If you have to cancel your trip or have a medical emergency while traveling, your travel insurance policy can cover you for these costs incurred. 2.     Myth – airlines cover costs for cancelled flights. Whenever a flight is cancelled because of weather or other natural causes, the airlines do not help pay for your hotel stay, food, or re-booked flights the majority of the time and these costs would all be up to you, the traveler. If you purchased travel insurance; however, you would be one happy camper as it will cover these costs for you. 3.     Myth – short trips don’t need travel insurance. It is common thought that risks are decreased depending on the length of time and this frankly isn’t true. Accidents happen all the time and no one sees them coming so be prepared even when only traveling for short periods of time. 4.     Myth – if an emergency comes up bookings will be refunded. Airlines, hotels, and attractions have specific cancellation policies and unfortunately are not that understanding. The majority of pre-paid tickets are non-refundable and many hotels still require payment for at least one night. Travel insurance would get your money back from all of your pre-booked accommodations, flights, attractions, etc. 5.     Myth – insurance is too expensive, especially with multiple people and vacations. Travel Insurance is actually pretty affordable these days. Some companies even offer policies that are good for an entire year and multiple trips and family policies which covers everyone listed on the plan. To review different insurance companies offering travel insurance, visit InsuranceHotline.com which acts as a free online insurance rate comparison service with more than 30 insurance companies. All quotes are based off of the lowest rates available on the network. This site is designed to give consumers a truly unbiased quote. ...read more

It’s easy to let anxiety set in while you are traveling for business, staying in a strange place, and worried that you are not going to wake up on time for your early morning meeting. Take the following advice compiled by Dave Johnson in a recentCBS Money Watcharticle: 1.     Wake-up call Smake-up call.There are many factors why a wake-up call might not take place as scheduled. An example being the phone was left off the hook so the phone did not ring in the morning when it was supposed to. 2.     Alarm Apps.Scheduling a wake-up is fine but also setting an alarm on your phone is also a good idea. There are some cool apps out there for all the iPad and iPod users out there where you can customize the alarm you want including different alarms for different days. One on the market currently is calledNightstand Centraland it is exclusively for the iPad. This app can also lull you off to sleep with music and then wake you up with a random song from your itunes. Very cool! 3.     Move the Clock.A surprising number of people will continually press the snooze button if the alarm clock is right next to their heads, and sometimes, they don’t even realize they have done so. If you move the clock to the other side of the room so that you will have to get up to turn it off, you will be much more likely to stay up. 4.     Is your phone too quiet?Put your phone into a drinking glass which will amplify the sound. 5.     Refresh with a Mint.Popping a mint into your mouth after first waking up has been found to increase alertness and will help energize you so you will get up instead of going back to sleep for a few more rest-less minutes. Hopefully the next time you need to wake up bright and early for a business meeting while traveling abroad these tips will come in handy. ...read more

Many of us will be taking a plane this summer. Whether it is for business or pleasure will not matter when it comes to being charged additional fees by the airline. Here are several fees that you may not be aware of to keep you ahead of the game and prepared prior to arriving to the airport: ·        Luggage.Most airlines are now charging you a hefty fee anywhere from $15-$25 depending on the airline to check a bag. The one airline that is still an exception to this rule isSouthwest; however, they only fly domestically within the United States and do not fly to certain cities so they might not be a match for your destination. To find out if the airline you will be flying on charges baggage fees, visit their website for a detailed fee list. In most cases, the overhead bins get full really fast since no one wants to pay the ridiculous luggage fees. The airline now has to check all carry-ons that will not fit – only they can’t charge you once you are at the gate. Plan to always carry-on if applicable. ·        Seat Selection.Be sure to read the fine print before selecting your seat online as this may cost you extra. When you arrive at the airport an upgrade to a better seat may be available. Check in at the counter to find out. ·        Food.Most airlines do not offer free meals or snacks any longer (unless you are flying internationally) but instead are charging you if you want these items. Complimentary drink service is still provided free of charge (except for alcoholic beverages of course). Prices of food and beverages inside the airport have also gone up significantly. The best route would be to purchase food and snacks prior to arriving at the airport. Bringing an empty water bottle that can be filled after you have passed through security is also a great idea to avoid incurring the expense of airport bottled water. ·        Entertainment.Most of us probably would enjoy watching a movie or TV show while on a long flight. This service is no longer free on most airlines but instead, a movie can now cost you $8. Instead of paying the airline, bringing your own portable DVD player, iPod, iPad, or laptop can save you these costs. Airlines have started charging for everything it seems these days. But, by planning ahead and being smarter than the airlines will save you some additional fees in the long run. ...read more

Many companies planning to relocate a few to a few hundred individuals should contact their local corporate housing provider to begin researching to find the best rates and locations available. It is best to plan ahead in order to save the company money and ensure employee satisfaction. Some important questions to ask your corporate housing provider are: 1)     How many employees will need fully furnished housing? 2)     How many employees will have their families accompanying them to the new city? 3)     Approximately how many units will be needed and what is the breakdown in terms of how many bedrooms/bathrooms are needed for each? 4)     What is the desired arrival date(s) and how long of a lease term is needed? 5)     How important is the location of the unit(s)? Where would the ideal location need to be? 6)     How much can be spent per unit per month? Depending on how many employees need housing and the specific requirements, it may not be possible to house all employees in the same building or area. In order to accommodate your needs, the corporate housing company may ask you if it is possible to split your employees into multiple buildings and/or locations and/or increase the distance radius from the new corporate location. If your corporate housing provider is unable to find enough housing or meet all needed requirements, hotels may be used as a last (and more expensive) resort. Planning ahead when it comes to minor or major relocations is imperative to save the company time and money. Utilizing a local corporate housing provider will also allow the local experts to do what they do best: find a temporary housing solution for all relocated employees. The company will be able to rest assured that they are using a licensed professional in the industry that will meet all or most of the company’s requirements. Obviously each relocation scenario is different so contact your corporate housing agent as early as possible to get the best results. ...read more

These days it is so easy to get caught up in the day to day that it is easy to over complicate things. Here are 5 simple tips to make your life whilst traveling that much easier: 1)     Pre-Enter All Addressesinto your GPS or smart phone ahead of time. Enter in the address of the airport, hotel, meeting places, etc. and pre-plan your route(s) before even getting to your destination city saving you time and keeping you on track. 2)     Electronically Store All Important Documentationon your mobile device. Things such as passports, driver’s licenses, tickets, and reservations should be kept here also for easy accessibility. 3)     Keep a Trip Itinerary and Meeting Agendashandy to get the most out of your time. TheTripIt app(for iPads, iPhones, Android, and Blackberry) can be used to store all of your trip’s itinerary information including flight reservations, hotel reservations, and car rental reservations. There are a ton of differentmeeting appsas well for all different types of meetings and needs. 4)      Send large items ahead of youto your hotel or corporate rental before your flight so you won’t have to worry about checking in these items or transporting them to and from the airport. 5)     Become a member of frequently used travel companies.If you consistently use the same airlines, rental car companies, hotels, etc. for all of your travel needs, becoming a member of their rewards programs will pay off in the end. They tend to offer discounts on pricing and some of them even allow you to skip the lines keeping you on track and ahead of schedule. Planning ahead before any business or leisure trip is always a great idea. Hopefully these tips will ultimately maximize your time much more quickly and efficiently so you can get where you are going that much faster. ...read more

This week we are going to be featuring five free apps that will aid you in your business travels, leisure travels, and in your home town as well. 1)     Kayak AppThis app is an easy and convenient way to search all hotels in your price range at once. You can also use this app for last minute hotel bookings as it uses the GPS on your smart phone device to locate the closest hotels. Booking is a snap too and can be done directly from the app. This app also allows for you to check your flight status and look up airline baggage fees. 2)     Gas Buddy AppThis app is your perfect travel companion on the road whether you are going on vacation, driving in your local city, or going on a business trip, this app will tell you where you can save money at the pump. It will also give you specific directions to the cheapest gas stations so you don’t waste money driving around aimlessly. 3)     Trip Advisor AppThis travel app will keep you on your toes before you decide to splurge on a specific tour, hotel, or restaurant. It allows you to read reviews posted by other travelers just like you to aid in your decision process. 4)     Meal Ticket AppThe perfect app to help you find the best and least expensive local restaurants – find hundreds of coupons for instant, eco-friendly savings as you don’t need to print them out – just show your server. 5)     Yelp AppThis app is your go to app to find anything and everything local from restaurants, bars, coffee shops, gas stations, etc. You can read reviews and lets you know how much you will be spending before you even head out. We know that there are a ton of free smart phone/tablet applications out there but we hope that these 5 will be a great addition to the ones you might already utilize. Happy Travels! :) ...read more

Frequent travelers know how many hassles can come from journeying across the United States or internationally for business. These 4 user friendly apps were designed to make your business travel’s whether abroad or domestically a breeze and will get you in with the locals too. 1.     Packing Prowas designed to make the first step of any trip – packing – organized and seem-less. This app stores tons of items that could possibly be needed for your trip which can be customized based on the local weather at your final destination; the number of persons traveling with you; and whether your trip is domestic or international. There are also sample lists already created that you can choose from. This application uses iCloud support as well making it available in multiple platforms. 2.     AllSubwayis a beautiful application that doesn’t even require an internet connection! This application give you access to over 151 public transit systems in 5 continents. All cities offered are listed alphabetically and you can zoom in and zoom out for better viewing of the maps. If you do have access to the internet this will also give you access to official city websites for fares and additional information. This app is only available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch for $0.99. 3.     LocalEatswill give you access to independently owned and operated restaurants across the United States and in some international cities as well. You will be able to choose from a variety of critically acclaimed restaurants in the city you are visiting. You are able to filter how to select the restaurants and you can also search the app for restaurants near your particular location or landmarks. Whenever you choose a restaurant, you will then be able to make reservations, book a taxi there or find any applicable coupons. This application is only available on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch for $0.99. 4.     TripLingowill make communicating whilst traveling abroad a breeze! When you purchase the app, it will ask you some basic questions to get to know you better and find out what you might need to know how to say in the local language. The app then customizes some phrases for you before your trip and creates flash cards for key words/phrases applicable to you and your trip. There is even a neat feature that will allow you to see how to speak in the formal and informal tenses so you can better fit in with the locals. There is also a 2,000 word dictionary in the language you choose – it’s available in over 14 languages and each one is $9.99. This application is available for the iPhone, Android, and Nook. All four of these applications will make traveling anywhere an immediate piece of cake – well at least for speaking, eating, packing, and using public transit systems. We hope that you will be able to impress your colleagues and clients utilizing these great applications! Bon Voyage!:)  ...read more

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We have over 3 years in the carpet cleaning business.  Our focus has primarily been servicing residential clients all over Denver. We are ready to expand into the commerical market.  If you are an office manager etc... and responsible for keeping things looking good around the office for your customers, give us a call.  I will not only show you a cost savings but more importantly, provide you with clean, great looking carpets.  Give us a try.  Contact our call center for scheduling at 303-292-2932 or me direct at 720-280-5121.  ...read more

New Image Furniture Leasing is excited to announce 11 brand new packages to enhance our short term leasing line up!  Three room packages (living room, dining room and master bedroom) start at just $179.00 per month.  Visit our website for all the selections!  Custom pacakges for home staging!  Lease a little or a lot!  We are your leasing specialist! ...read more