Description

Welcome to the ERW podcast. I’m your host, BpB, fellow RW, home this full week which is rare but enjoying it and the heat of a Chicago summer.
As you may know, the even-numbered episodes are interviews. We’ve found in Elite Road Warrior Group Research that business travelers prefer two things in podcasts:

1. Shorter and to the point
2. Variety yet Consistency

Many of us that travel rely on technology to travel smarter whenever possible. But I’ve found one of two things occur: (1:30)

1. We get set in our ways, I call a Road Rut, and we stop learning and experimenting
2. We’re unaware of all the options out there and hence today’s interview..

Jeff has been working in the consumer electronics and telecom industry for over three decades. Currently he is with Verizon as a Client Partner focusing on IoT based Resale Partnerships, traveling throughout the US to meet with prospective new businesses. 

 In a moment we’ll be joined by Jeff and I’ll be asking him the following questions:

• What should we think about or maybe pre-plan to make things maybe go a bit smoother?
• What if I forget something really important like my passport
• What websites that can help us better plan travel so that we can make traveling just a little easier and maybe more palatable?
• What “equipment” do you suggest we carry when we travel for business?

BpB - I’d like to break this interview down into three specific categories: Behaviors / Technology / Products 

Traveling, especially air travel, can be a bit of a hassle. What should we think about or maybe pre-plan to make things maybe go a bit smoother?

• 5 Ps (Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance)
• FFOD- Take first flight of the day if possible. Minimize travel time and makes for more productive day
• For important meetings always fly in the night before if possible or FFOD
• Sign up for Global Entry ($100 includes Pre-Check!) or TSA Pre-Check ($85) thru Trusted Traveler Program, https://ttp.dhs.gov 
• Watch for seasonal connections! I.e. connecting thru Denver in December. 
• Don’t check a bag unless you have to
• Pick a hotel near a club you attend I.e Orange Theory - much more likely to go if nearby 
• For trade show, Stay at Host Hotel , never know who you’ll run into. Position A!

What if I forget something really important like my passport? 

• Airlines Counter to Counter services!

What websites that can help us better plan travel so that we can make traveling just a little easier and maybe more palatable?

• Use airlines/hotel/car rental apps if don’t already.
• Google.com/flights 
• Expertflyer.com  for seat selections
• FlightAware.com  for flight and airport tracking 

Nearly every business traveler carries a smartphone, Can we leverage additional capabilities from those devices?

• Using Apple Notes to document scan receipts and add notes such as persons attending. 
• For Android users, Google Drive will create PDF scans. Choose + then Scan

What about the “equipment” we carry when we travel for biz? Are there some cool things there?

• Carabiners - great multipurpose device. Use with rental car keys. - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Carabiners&ref=nb_sb_noss / https://www.rei.com/c/carabiners
• Tom Bihn luggage. Tombihn.com&nb