The 2008 Global Business Travel Forecast by American Express predicts that the costs of business travel in 2008 will rise by as much as 10 percent for airfares and 8 percent for hotels.
Some tips for easing the pain, from Barbara Weltman, creator of the online newsletter "Big Ideas for Small Business":
¢ Use teleconferencing. Check out www.freeconferencepro.com, www.constantconferencing.com and www.budgetconferencing.com.
¢ Consider alternative transportation. An Amtrak ride may be quicker than flying. Use AAA's Fuel Cost Calculator, at www.fuelcostcalculator.com, to compare driving to flying.
¢ Schedule better. List all service calls you plan to make for the week, then plot out your route so that you'll travel the shortest distance possible.
¢ Limit the scope of your business. If you can't service distant customers without extensive, expensive travel, decide whether the extra cost to travel to them is worth the revenue they generate for you.
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