Business Travel Jobs Explained

All travel agent work can be exciting and demanding – but perhaps business travel jobs especially so. Why is this?

If you are providing general travel agent services to the public for things such as holidays and weekend breaks, then although challenges and problems will arise, there may be a core stability around the travel plans that is unlikely to change. For example, someone booking a holiday to Thailand is unlikely to call you on only the second day there and say that they now want to travel immediately to another holiday in Australia. Yet with business travel jobs, that can happen – and fairly regularly!

Global business is characterised by the frequency of how things change. A business traveller may be actually en-route to Hong Kong and suddenly his or her employer will call you to say that, upon arrival, their employee must now travel immediately to Los Angeles. If you think that is simply a question of arranging other tickets from Hong Kong to Los Angeles, then you are mistaken. All existing accommodation arrangements in Hong Kong may need to be cancelled and car rentals and connections likewise. Then you have the problem of trying to arrange those same things to all be in place and ready for when the person arrives at LAX. Just as you finish making all the revised arrangements is the time that your client normally calls you again to ask you what you can do about the fact that the person in transit doesn’t actually have a US Visa!

If that sounds an unlikely scenario, be warned – in reality it happens regularly in business travel jobs. That is also why travel agents are typically demanding in terms of their requirements for people going to work in business travel sections. It is an exciting, dynamic but also potentially highly pressurised environment that may not suit everyone.

Some employers prefer to offer junior and trainee positions in business travel to those who already have general travel agent experience. Others may be willing to offer trainee roles to people without any experience of the travel industry, but they may look very favourably upon those applicants that hold higher academic qualifications in a related travel and leisure field. There is now a wide range of courses offered by numerous colleges, universities and other educational institutions, in various aspects of this industry sector. These may offer qualifications at BA or HNC level and some are accredited by organisations such as IATA and ABTA.

Some employers may be willing to offer business travel jobs to trainees on the proviso that they have reasonable GCSE results, particularly in geography and English although maths is also usually very well received. Employers will also be looking to see evidence that you are the sort of person who:

• enjoys pressure;
• is a natural problem solver rather than problem creator;
• is a gifted communicator (verbally and in writing).

Business travel jobs offer a pathway to success for the right individual. They can be well rewarded, and successful individuals are usually very sought-after by both travel agents and their corporate clients.

Value and Convenience Close the Deal For Business Travelers Throughout Mexico and the Caribbean

As the Caribbean is home to a number of spacious resorts – in many cases larger than those found in American cities – the region is an excellent destination for large groups and corporate getaways. In addition to ample space for large groups, the region’s resorts offer incredible business amenities, numerous on-site conveniences and plenty of exciting ways to spend free time. Best of all, business travelers will find limitless tropical scenery surrounding the resorts, meaning inspiration or relaxation can always be found just beyond their doors.

As nearly all Caribbean and Mexican resort destinations operate under a distinct annual tourism season – generally November to April – the summer and fall months feature excellent values for business travel and corporate functions. During the tourism offseason, business travelers will still find remarkably mild weather throughout much of the region, while popular sightseeing attractions and recreation destinations are often better equipped to handle large groups. Additionally, many of the region’s best resorts typically offer substantial offseason discounts, allowing corporate groups to secure rooms and meeting areas at rates similar to or even below comparable domestic destinations.

Business travelers staying at the best Caribbean and Mexican resorts will have access to all of the latest technology – including flat screen TVs, digital projectors, high-speed internet and multi-use business machines for fax and copy needs. As the best resorts offer easy connectivity for slideshow presentations, speeches and film viewings, business travelers won’t have to waste time setting up for events. For conferences and large corporate gatherings, resorts can also offer fully-equipped meeting rooms with ample space and seating for all types of activities, while catering services allow guests to enjoy the combination of excellent meals and on-site convenience.

As passports can be one of the biggest challenges of international business travel – especially for large groups – the Caribbean stands as an excellent destination for both American and European citizens, as passports are often not required for travel to national territories. For instance, American citizens can visit the U.S. Virgin Islands – most notably, St. Thomas – without a formal passport, just as they would U.S. mainland destinations. Additionally, St. Thomas’ resorts are known for having some of the best business facilities in the Caribbean. For instance, the island’s largest resort – The Frenchman’s Reef and Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort – boasts 15 individual meeting rooms and 60,000 square feet of event space. Business travelers can also enjoy the outdoors in open-air meeting spaces that offer excellent views of Charlotte Amalie and the adjacent harbor. The Frenchman’s Reef and Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort also boasts 479 guest rooms – meaning the resort has plenty of space for large corporate groups – while five on-site restaurants and six bars offer remarkable convenience and help business travelers maintain productivity throughout their Caribbean stay.

Despite the excellent business travel facilities and values to be found throughout the Caribbean and Mexico, the region’s scenery remains the biggest draw. As the most popular destinations in the region are small communities with centrally located attractions, it is easy to take advantage of downtime during business trips. Tropical destinations throughout the Caribbean and Mexico offer guided half-day and full-day tours throughout the year that allow business travelers with tight agendas to experience many of the best sightseeing destinations. Furthermore, as many of the largest resorts in the region boast picturesque waterfront locations, it is easy for business travelers to enjoy all types of active endeavors or simply relax on the beach. For instance, business travelers can often enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, fishing, kayaking and many other water sports by making simple reservations through their resort or, in many cases, simply walking a few steps to the beach.

When combining the values available to business travelers throughout Mexico and the Caribbean with endless scenery and easily accessible attractions, it is easy to see why many of the region’s top destinations have become such popular choices for conferences and corporate getaways.