Innsider Travel

Innsider Travel Vol .01 Autumn 2024

INNSIDER TRAVEL Welcome to the first edition of Inntel’s new quarterly Business Travel newsletter! As we enter Q4 – traditionally a busy period for our clients – we’ve compiled a handy round-up of news and advice to help you get the most out of your corporate trips.

From the latest tourism levies being introduced to the busiest travel days coming up between now and the end of the year, it’s all here for you. We’ve also included ideas on ways to support business travellers' wellbeing, as well as lots of other tips to make your trips go smoothly.

And, exciting news: Inntel is now a B Corp! Learn more about this and our recent award wins in the pages ahead!

Warm wishes, Inntel’s Business Travel Team

NEWS IN BRIEF Reasons to Celebrate The travel and events industry’s award season this year has been a dazzling one for Inntel and our people. We notched up a total of nine shortlistings and 12 award wins – including Small TMC Travel Partner of the Year at the Business Travel Awards Europe! Plus, our very own team were finalists in the Business Travel Team of the Year category at the Business Travel People Awards! This type of recognition means a great deal to us, but nothing is more important than feedback from our clients. If you’d like to share your thoughts on how we’re doing, please do leave feedback via LOGiC when receiving your booking confirmation or email: CustomerServices@inntel.co.uk

Happy as can B In September, we shared the good news that Inntel is now a certified B Corp! This certification reaffirms our commitment to sustainability and prioritising people and the planet alongside profit. It’s external verification that we meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance and accountability. For our valued clients, this means you can trust that your travel partner is ethical, transparent and responsible.

TRAVEL NEWS & UPDATES

Latest Visitor Levies

More countries are now imposing tourism levies (or tourist taxes) for business travellers, with Frankfurt being the most recent after Berlin.

Below is s a list of popular European locations and their charges to factor into your budgets. Please note, tourist levies charged in Europe cannot be billed back or paid for by Inntel - they must be paid directly to the hotel. However in the UK, they can be added to our Billback service.

Germany: In cities including Hamburg, Frankfurt and Berlin, the standard tourist tax is around 5% of the accommodation price.

France: The ‘taxe de séjour’ varies depending on the city, ranging from €0.20 to approximately €4 per person, per night.

Belgium: Antwerp and Bruges charge a rate per room, while in Brussels it depends on the hotel's size and rating, but the cost is typically around €7.50 per night.

Italy: Charges vary from city to city, but are usually €1-5 per night. In Venice, a day-tripper ‘Access Fee’ of €5 was introduced during peak season, with this fee proposed to double in 2025.

The Netherlands: The average tourist tax here costs around €2.50 per person per night. But it’s higher in Amsterdam, where the rate was increased to 12.5% of accommodation price.

If you’d like a full breakdown of tourism levies for a specific location please contact a member of Inntel’s Business Travel Team.

Busy Dates to be Aware of Events that could cause travel disruption coming up: 31st October: Leicester Diwali Day celebrations 3rd November: New York City Marathon 1st-17th November: Leeds International Film Festival 15th-24th November: London Jazz Festival, Southbank Centre 21st November-5th January: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London 29th December-1st January: Hogmanay, Scotland 9th-12th January: Autosport International, Birmingham NEC 17th-21st January: Milan Men’s Fashion Week 21st-26th January: Paris Men’s Fashion Week 31st January-15th March: Six Nations Championships (UK, Ireland, France and Italy)

Emirates has opened a new lounge at London Stansted Airport

WELLBEING TIPS FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL Done poorly, corporate trips can be stressful, exhausting and lonely; but when handled well, they can be energising, motivational, and boost team bonding. Exercise is one of the best ways to offset stress and support both physical and mental wellbeing. Here are some simple tips to help business travellers incorporate movement into their busy schedules: Step up: Walking is an easy way for business travellers to stay active. It also benefits the environment, beats traffic, and allows for extra exploration of destinations. So, make an effort to get in more steps where you can – take the stairs, get off public transport one stop early, and walk instead of using cabs.

Meet mindfully: Movement while working boosts concentration and productivity. Try walking meetings, and factor regular breaks into your schedules. Working during long flights or rail journeys? Don’t forget exercises like ankle rotations to improve circulation and comfort.

Enjoy a brain break too, so you arrive fresh. Why not take the opportunity to listen to a guided meditation or some relaxing music?

Set goals: Fitness challenges (e.g. 20,000 daily steps or even running a marathon) increase motivation. Compete with colleagues, friends or family while travelling, through apps like Fitbit.

Consider creating a work Strava group to compete or collaborate with teams and set overall goals or even create a prize pool.

Utilise hotel facilities: Pack workout gear to use hotel fitness facilities. Even a short, 20-minute gym or swim session can work wonders for reenergising and relieving stress.

Connect with tech: If there’s no gym and pounding the pavements doesn’t appeal, try fitness apps or YouTube for guided routines.

TRAVEL TEAM SPOTLIGHT Meet Laura Rogers, our Head of Business Travel.

We caught up with Laura to ask her a couple of questions…

How long have you been with the company?

“I’ve worked at Inntel for around 18 months, and in the travel industry for 24 years.”

What first attracted you to working in the business travel industry?

“This industry is the tool that facilitates in-person interactions in an increasingly dispersed world. It’s key to bringing people together to enhance business success – it’s honestly an honour to be a part of such an interesting industry.”

Tell us an interesting fact about Inntel’s Business Travel Team?

“Our four longest serving members of staff have over 65 years of industry experience combined!”

What’s the best thing about Inntel’s Business Travel Team?

“We pride ourselves on the customer service we deliver. Every member of the team is very responsive and quick to react to the ever changing industry that business travel is! We’re all genuinely committed to what we do – and we’re super proud of our high client retention levels and customer satisfaction scores.”

Stay tuned for our next issue in the coming months!