The Horasis meeting was held at the Radisson Blu at the airport — convenient but not very interesting. I stayed in town at the sleek and modern Hotel Greulich and saved enough money on the room to more than make up for the train trips back and forth. The staff was friendly and helpful. The room was spacious if a bit odd in layout — the TV couldn’t be seen from the bed. Bottled water was included as was free wifi.

Staying in town also gave me the chance to explore the city a bit. I was about 12 minutes from the train station and the main retail district along the Bahnhoffstrasse.

The Bahnhoffstrasse offers all of the shopping one could ever want — including an English language bookshop, chocolate shops, and the usual collection of international fashion houses. A bit more original were the shops near the hotel. I was particularly fond of Weisbrod, a  maker of fine silk accessories for men and women. A new purple and grey pocket square was soon mine!

The most memorable meal of the trip was at Caduff’s Wine Loft just around the corner from the Greulich. The restaurant works with fresh, local ingredients — whatever the market has to offer that day — and offers more than 2,000 wines.  I had a simple winter salad followed by an Irish fillet of beef with long beans and spaetzle. There were two amuse bouche: one a corn chowder of sorts and the other a bite of veal with fresh peas. I accompanied this with a hearty Bordeaux. Everything was delicious, well prepared, and served with a smile. It would be a lovely spot for dinner with a business associate although be warned that the menu is only in German (although the staff speaks English pretty well).

Zurich is a business city but it has retained a good bit of charm. Its streets are pleasant for walking and there is ample public transportation. One can get to meetings and still have time to take in a bit of culture and history. We’ve added a new Zurich page to give you all of the tips you need for a great business trip.

I was also a guest of a client at Bourbon Steak at the Westin St. Francis hotel. I am generally not a fan of steak houses as the portions are ginormous with prices to match. The same was true here though I was being treated (that took care of the price) and I was able to get a reasonably sized filet mignon that was tender, tasty, and well prepared. The meat is all from sustainable, organic farms. The side of frites was delicious. We washed it all down with a delightful 2007 Elizabeth Spencer Cabernet from Napa.

I don’t have hotel news to report as I was able to stay at the elegant Olympic Club courtesy of a friend. I had business meetings at The Clift which was, in the Morgans Hotel Group tradition, as self-consciously hip and dimly lit as ever. The Redwood Room remains an lovely spot for a cocktail.

Not as thorough as my usual report, I know. What treats have you found while on business in San Francisco lately? For me, it’s off to Atlanta next week…

Our traveler was unable to get a seat at the time she booked the American flight. She was told to do that closer to the date of the flight. She called prior to her outbound flight and was told she had to wait until she checked in for the return flight. About 24 hours before that flight she logged on to check in. The only seats available were premium seats which carried an extra charge. Concerned, she called American and was told that a non-premium seat would be assigned at the kiosk at the airport. Not to worry, she was told, there was plenty of room on the flight.

When our Nomad arrived at the kiosk she was told that seats could only be assigned at the gate. Now frustrated, angry, and concerned, our traveler went to the gate where she was told that the flight was “horribly overbooked.” The gate agent was also frustrated and commiserated that she, too, thought that the system was stupid. The Nomad managed to get on the flight but had to go through the same exasperating experience when she transferred in Dallas for the second leg of her flight home — but just by the hair of her chinny chin chin: she got the last seat on the plane.

Once on the flight — both legs — there was no food available although “food for sale” was supposed to be on offer. Our Nomad had to get by with a cup of water on each leg.

There are several ways to look at what happened here. One would be that American is simply inept. As an airline that has been in business for decades that should neither be the reason nor the excuse. Another would be that they are doing everything possible to get people to opt for premium seats — after all, airlines are now fee machines and it seems to be the only way they can make money. That doesn’t, however, explain how they failed to load food which should be a profit center. A third would be that American simply doesn’t care a whit about passengers who don’t have some elevated frequent flier status. Our Nomad is not a regular American flier and so was traveling as one of the great unwashed mass of plain old customers.

A fourth view, of course, is “all of the above” and that’s the one I am betting on. I think that they have lost clarity around their purpose, their values, and their business model. I think that any convenience — even a seat — is now up for grabs unless you pay an upcharge. And finally, I think that they have resigned themselves to providing a commodity product with minimal service. Together this is a recipe to disengage both customers and employees. It is a corporate death spiral.

I remember when the slogan used to be, “We’re American Airlines. Something special in the air.” I guess they define “special” a little differently than the rest of us.

What have your experiences on American been like lately?

Cary Grant once phoned hotel mogul Conrad Hilton in Istanbul, Turkey, to find out why his breakfast order at the Plaza Hotel, which called for muffins, came with only one and a half English muffins instead of two. When Grant insisted that the explanation (a hotel efficiency report had found that most people ate only three of the four halves brought to them) still resulted in being cheated out of a half, the Plaza Hotel changed its policy and began serving two complete muffins with breakfast. From then on, Grant often spoke of forming an English Muffin-Lovers Society, members of which would be required to report any hotel or restaurant that listed muffins on the menu and then served fewer than two.

I think that this is a society in which all Nomads should be active. There’s a restaurant in Boston’s Kenmore Square called Eastern Standard. Lovely place and most active in the evenings where it has a lively bar scene. However it is open for breakfast as it is attached to the Hotel Commonwealth. It is a quiet, refined place to start the day — but they only serve one slice of toast. Drives me mad.

It’s good to know that Cary and I have something important in common.

I can choose room service and get a few extra minutes of e-mail, descend to the restaurant, or head off-property. Here’s how I make my choices; I’d love to hear about you make the call.

Room service is rarely an option I choose. Something inevitably arrives cold or incorrect and fixing it becomes a major time sink. Too much thought has to go into when to call (or when to schedule the arrival) and then waiting for the tray to show up. In the end, I wind up paying $25+ for tepid toast, a few berries, and coffee.

I can enjoy some time in the dining room as it gives me a chance to scan the newspaper before I start the day. Call me old-fashioned but I feel a bit odd propping the iPad on the table a restaurant so I’m happy to have the original app: ink on paper. I wish, however, that there was an easy way to control the flow of the meal. I find that hotels tend to pace breakfast as if it were dinner: decidedly slow. And the posher the hotel, the more gently paced the service. This is morning, folks! Up and at ‘em! Unless it is a breakfast meeting when you might want to linger. I wish that there were little disks or some device through which one could easily signal whether service should be fast, medium, or slow.  Speaking with the waiter has only met with limited success for me; the kitchen seems to dictate food flow.

Cost can still be an issue. I applaud Henrietta’s Table at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, MA for providing a healthy, reasonably priced breakfast. I can get out of there for less than $20. That isn’t as cheap as heading to the diner but compared to other hotels, it is downright thrifty.

I often head off property. I scout the neighborhood as I arrive and frequently take a late evening walk before I head to bed. One of my tasks is to size up the services in the immediate area. I scout out independents where I can and The Corner Bakery is a chain that offers great oatmeal for a price that will make your finance folks smile plus free wifi. I particularly like London where there are many options for fresh, low-cost, high health value food such as Pret a Manger and its competitors. When last I stayed at Brown’s, there were four choices within a short walk. Pret also has locations in New York. New York, of course, still has a wide array of greasy spoons with food that can warm the heart (if also boosting your cholesterol).

I know that our hotelier readers will be wondering how to get more of this business. After all, every overnight guest starts the morning on property. Think like restauranteurs (Kimpton restaurants operate separately from the hotel, for example — though I recently had extraordinarily bad service at one of their DC properties). There is no one in the food biz I’ve met who has ever said, “Let’s open a breakfast joint with premium prices and leisurely service.” Only your supposedly captive audience makes you think that it works. If you think about what will bring the most guests into your restaurant as the sun rises, your prices will come down, service will speed up, and you’ll be more in sync with the business traveler. If I can get out with a decent breakfast in about 20 minutes for under $20 you have a reasonable shot at getting my business.

I have a friend who is an accomplished painter. He tries never to spend more than 20 minutes on a canvas because more than that ruins it (sounds crazy, but it is true). When I travel, it’s a philosophy I share when it comes to a plate of eggs.

How do you handle breakfast on the road?

Heaven?

Apparently not if you live in Meadowview in southwestern Virginia. That’s where Steven Hopp is trying to run such a restaurant: Harvest Table. Yet the locals — the very people he is working to benefit — would rather eat at Pizza Hut. Even the farmers are not enthusiastic because they’d apparently rather grow tobacco or monoculture crops for large buyers.

I find the model inspiring. There is a commitment to the local economy and celebrating what the nearby land can produce. They even source all of their wine from Virginia. Hopp told the New York Times that he wants the business to benefit as many local people as possible. And this is no charity — though the restaurant has not yet turned a profit yet the plan is to do so. The service is apparently wonderful. I want a restaurant like this in my neighborhood and am lucky that Boston offers several (though all at higher price points).

What is so depressing is that the local community chooses mass produced, mediocre fare — food that offers fewer nutritional benefits (I’ll leave taste to the palette of the beholder though I know I’d be happier at Hopp’s Harvest Table – Pizza Hut doesn’t even make vey good pizza) served by establishments that will contribute a lower percentage of their profits to the local economy: chains typically do as most profits go back to headquarters. Perhaps the local population are in a sugar-MSG induced coma. Perhaps they are relatives of the folks in West Virginia who fought so hard against Jamie Oliver when he tried to introduce healthier food to their schools. Perhaps they need to wake up and smell the kale.

Let me simply say that I am profoundly grateful to have multiple farmers’ markets that I can visit and many restaurants that support local food producers. And to Mr. Hopp, keep the faith.

I’d like to share three lesser-known attractions with you. The first is a trip to the Boston Harbor Islands. This off-shore national recreation area is easily reached by ferry and offers a great escape from the hustle-and-bustle of downtown. Head out for a hike and picnic and take in both nature and history while you are at it. It is a perfect half-day excursion.

The second is a walking tour of Cambridge, just across the Charles River from Boston. Take the Red Line from the Boston side and you’ll be there in under 10 minutes. I suggest a walk in the Brattle Street neighborhood just outside of Harvard Square for a 60-90 minute urban hike rich in beautiful architecture and historic sites. The houses, now some of the most valuable real estate in the country, includes several that date back to the Revolutionary War period.

To trace one of my favorite routes, start in Harvard Square and head west on Brattle Street. Either side of the street offers much to see so take one side on the way out and the other for your return. Continue on Brattle until you reach your first traffic light at Fayerweather Street. Turn right on Fayerweather and walk until you see Reservoir Street. Take a right again. Take your next right on Highland Street. Go one block until you hit Appleton Street. Take a right. Now take your next left on Brewster Street. Just across from the intersection of Brewster Street and Riedesel Avenue you’ll see Robert Frost’s former house. Take a right on Riedesel and this will bring you back to Brattle. Take a left on Brattle and walk back to Harvard Square.  There are many potential variations to this route so explore to your heart’s content.

If you are starting or ending around mealtime, stop by Casablanca in Harvard Square for a juicy burger or some of their north African inspried cuisine.

The third destination requires a train or car ride north to Salem. There you will find the Peabody Essex Museum, an outstanding museum that is often overlooked by those who stay in town. The Peabody Essex has an outstanding collection of artifacts relating to the China Trade and New England’s seafaring roots. The collection comprises more than one million objects. A must-see is the “Chinese House” that was brought from China and painstakingly rebuilt by hand at the museum. However the Peabody Essex also hosts contemporary exhibits including photography, fashion, and much more.  

On your next business trip to the Hub, find a way to spend an extra night and explore some of the many interesting and unusual sights that make Boston a favorite city for many. See our Boston page for hotel and restaurant recommendations.

Traveling to another city or a different country and locating quality nearby attractions just got easier. These interactive travel apps are designed to help executive travelers find the best deals, the best restaurants and everything they need to enjoy the best travel experience. Here are a few of the top apps that no business traveler should be without:

1. WikiHood Guidebook App

This free travel guidebook is one of the most consistently top-rated apps in the entire iTunes store. WikiHood uses GPS technology to display local attractions and historic information for destinations around the world. Use this app at home and abroad to locate popular tourist attractions and historic sites. The WikiHood app makes it easy to sort by distance, relevance and user rating. WikiHood has data on everything from the best pizza place in the city to where the nearest bus or train station is located.

2. The Phone Book App from YellowBook

The free smart phone app from YellowBook is like having a phone book for the world complete the store hours, phone numbers and integrated maps. The YellowBook app uses technology from Google Maps to locate nearby businesses in a virtual reality format. Users can also use the automated voice search feature to access data on millions of restaurants, hotels and businesses around the world.

3. TripIt Travel Organizer

Now available as a free app and a premium, ad-free app for $1.99, TripIt consolidates travel data and itineraries for multiple trips. TripIt stores flight information along with maps and directions. Users can check-in for flights, verify flight status and check local weather from one location. TripIt is consistently recommended for jetsetters and anyone who needs to organize travel plans for themselves or the entire family.

4. The XE Currency Converter App

This mobile currency conversion tool makes it easy to tell how much you really spent on lunch at the cafe or how much that four-star hotel room will cost at the discounted rate. The XE Currency Converter app is available for free with download options for all phone platforms. This handy app automatically updates conversion rates for 190 international currencies.

5. The TripAdvisor Travel App

Search for affordable airline tickets year-round, from January business trips to December holidays.   Looking for  accommodations, attractions and the best restaurants? There’s and app for that!  The mobile app from TripAdvisor.com is available in one dozen languages and includes business reviews from 35 million travelers. The TripAdvisor app includes information on vacation rentals, hotels, tourist attractions and many international destinations. The large selection of travel data available with the app makes it a go-to choice for selecting the best accommodations and attractions.

Whether you’re traveling near or far this year, download these apps and enjoy great vacation.

Written by FirespinJay a Travel and Tech enthusiast from London always looking at ways to improve the Travel experience.

Manhattan hotel prices swing wildly week to week. An affordable find on one trip can soar out of reach for another making it one of the most challenging markets for finding a consistent home-away-from-home. Ink 48 is a bit out of the way (8th and 48th) in what used to be a printing plant. That location made it affordable — around $250 per night before taxes, etc. – and as most of my business was on the West side, I jumped right in.

Ink 48 has typical Kimpton style and services: free Wifi for frequent guest program members, robes, a decent restaurant (I had

My room at Ink 48

a lovely locavore solo dinner at Print restaurant), and free wine for an hour in the evening. There is a rather spectacular rooftop bar — one advantage of an 8th Avenue location is the view — though it rained both nights I was there so I didn’t get more than a glimpse. The room was comfortable and spacious (I did splurge with an upgrade as the cost was resonable). The staff was friendly and helpful throughout my stay. Best of all, for future stays, Ink 48 is pooch friendly and observes Kimpton’s earth-friendly policies.

There is not much immediately around for food or shopping — plan to walk at least 3-4 blocks — and the subway is a good 10 minute walk away. Aside from that, Ink 48 is a good choice when budget is a consideration.

6 Columbus was the choice of a client and the location was hard to beat — right at Columbus Circle: the Park, subway, restaurants, and shops were all steps away. There is a 24-hour drug store on the corner and a Starbucks just next door.

My room at 6 Columbus

The hotel bills itself as hip and retro — two adjectives that often disappoint as they are code quick-and-cheap renovation of an old property. Thompson has done a decent job though location would be the primary reason to select this hotel again. The room was adequate, featured lovely brand name amenities, and perfectly comfortable but never was I inlcined to shout “wow” and text all my friends. The WiFi was $15 per day and moderately fast. The elevators were small and slow.

6 Columbus also sports a rooftop bar — seemingly all the rage these days. It was a fun oasis as the main bar, part of the Blue Ribbon Sushi restaurant, was small and constantly jammed. I didn’t get the chance to eat dinner at Blue Ribbon though it seemed quite popular with locals as well as guests. Breakfast was a treat as one can get either a Continental or full American breakfast served in a  beautifully presented bento box (as well as a traditional Japanese breakfast).

The staff was quite pleasant though I did have an issue with shoes: a freshly shined pair not belonging to me were placed in my room (and, unfortunately, not my size). I returned them to the front desk. When I later that night I came back to my room I found a letter explaining that the hotel was having a hard time returning my shoes to me. This required another trip to the front desk to explain that they had none of my shoes.  The front desk personnnel were agreeable but didn’t seem at all surprised by the confusion.

The Gem Hotel is a boutique property at 8th and 22nd in Chelsea. I chose it because I was heading to the city for less than 24 hours and it was within walking distance of my main destination in Greenwich Village – and it was a couple of hundred dollars less expensive than the hostelries in Soho. Still, at $329 per night it wasn’t what I would call inexpensive.

The Gem is a minimal service hotel: no bar, restaurant, concierge, or doorman. However, with plenty of places to eat and drink within a block, it is something I could live with. The hard-working front desk personnel (one person seems to have to do everything from check-in to bag storage and switchboard) were pleasant and helpful.

The room was about the smallest I’ve encountered. It was well laid out though so it was functional. I wouldn’t want to spend more than a night here nor would I plan on doing much work in the room. WiFi is free at the Gem and performed reasonably.  The wardrobe didn’t accommodate anything longer than a shirt because a safe was placed on the bottom shelf. A couple of wall or door hooks would have solved the problem of where to hang my Mac.

If what you need is a place to lay your head (the bed was comfortable) and a good Chelsea location, the Gem is worth considering. For a longer business trip or where you need to have room to lay things out — be it work or your evening wear — other options are likely a better fit.

The Shanghai Museum

There is no shortage of diversions in this city located in eastern China on the mouth of the Yangtze River. It is a bustling city built for business but with a vast array of interesting experiences waiting for you. We introduce you to three of the best and quickest to-do things in this happening town. These are activities you can sandwich between business meetings and they are definitely worth the investment of time.

Here are three “must-see” things if you’ve got a few hours to spare in Shanghai. If you don’t have time, make some: Shanghai has too much to offer to limit yourself simply to business.

The Shanghai Museum- This is a museum of ancient Chinese art. What is unique about this museum, is that the building itself is a work of art. From the enormous skylight, to the sweeping staircases. This museum houses collections ranging from beautiful calligraphy, to ceramics, to sculptures, to coins and currency. This museum is a modern building safeguarding the most ancient of relics and treasures. This contrast cannot be missed. Well appointed, with interesting and unusual artifacts, this is a museum that is well worth the hour or so, you may have to spare.

Say you’ve got about two hours or so to spare, it may be a perfect opportunity to fine tune and update your wardrobe! Shanghai fashion is hip and stylish, and the possibilities are endless for what you may be able to obtain. Forget about wasting time going to endless stores, trying to find the best merchandise. Enter the Shanghai Personal Luxury Shopper. This is the fastest and most efficient way to shop in Shanghai when your time (and patience!) is limited. They can take you to couture by appointment, fittings for custom suits, footwear boutiques, and even artisan bedding and household furnishing design houses. Tip: The best personal shoppers live in the city, and have a firm pulse on the latest society happenings and activities. Ask your concierge for a recommendation.

The Bund in Shanghai

Shanghai’s third must-do, is taking a walk on The Bund. The Bund is a one mile long river walk in the Huangpu District on the banks of the Huangpu River. The Bund runs from  Yan’an Road to Waibaidu Bridge. You’ve probably done boardwalks before (think Atlantic City, New Jersey), but this one is different. It is uniquely Shanghainese! From the rich Art Deco buildings that adorn the river walk, to people-watching, to the merchants who want to sell you their wares. If you really love architecture, hire a guide to show you the different buildings and styles that adorn this lively thorough-fare. Otherwise, you can just take a leisurely stroll, and take in the local flavors, sights and sounds. When you’re done, take a seat at M on the Bund, (The super trendy Bund hotspot that is often mentioned as a Shanghai must do as well!) for a pick me up cocktail, or a delectable full course dinner while you marvel at the fabulous views.

Andrea Spooner the founder of Executive Travel by Andrea, a business and first-class travel concierge service for corporate and senior executive business travelers. You can learn more at http://www.executivetravelbyandrea.com

Interested in being a guest blogger? Send us a note using the “Contact Us” tab.