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Can anyone offer some tips on how to conduct myself on a business trip?

Posted by Hotkiss (aka hotkiss7348) Jan 30 '13, 09:16

I work in the very, very casual travel industry, but there must certainly be some standards to stay by. I expect to meet my boss in a nice sundress and ballet flats, we address each other by first name, and put emoticons in our company emails.

Next month, I have a business trip to the Galapagos. I will be staying in some 4/5 star hotels, and going on a 4 day cruise. My role will be as an "inspector" or representative, to check out the quality of the hotels and boats and such. My questions are:

- My stay at the hotels and lodges are complimentary. Does that mean meals will be too?

- These cruises are about $4k/week for guests, and they tip accordingly. Should I leave a tip for the service staff, even if it's not going to be nearly as much as they'd get from a typical guest? (I know how this was working in Alaska... reps were the worst, but I understood why they didn't tip sometimes)

- Meeting suppliers, though in a casual industry, must I dress up any fancier?

Responses:

Get to the choppa! (in a non-emergency way) -- nm - Dr.Vermin Jan 30, 09:41
Free rooms doesn't mean the house keepers aren't cleaning up after you. Tip them as if you paid full price. Meals...that's a company thing. We get - Jim Jan 30, 09:36
Ask your boss if there's a per diem to cover stuff like meals and tipping. -- nm - Ender Jan 30, 09:35
i would expect meals are included, but you really need to confirm that. - Andie Jan 30, 09:27 8
- (Unless of course they're not supposed to know that she's not a tourist.) -- nm - Ender Jan 30, 09:35 1
  - right, but if she's meeting suppliers i don't think it's a secret assessment type situation. -- nm - Andie Jan 30, 09:36
- addendum - dressing professionally, doesn't mean a suit, but a notch or two above tourist, -- nm - Andie Jan 30, 09:28 5
  - agreed, and also, don't dress in short shorts on your off hours. There are no off hours on a trip. -- nm - loosilu Jan 30, 09:50
  - this helps, thank -- nm - Hotkiss Jan 30, 09:30 3
    - one more thing about meals - it is possible they will expect you to pay up front and then submit as an expense. - Andie Jan 30, 09:32
    - Andie is right but check with your boss about how formal the supplier meetings are - zork Jan 30, 09:31 1
      - and some cruises (though not all) have a formal night - make sure you are ready for that as well if it applies. -- nm - Andie Jan 30, 09:34
you are a representative of the company. how do you want it to be perceived? act accordingly, also, just because you are not paying, you are getting - zork Jan 30, 09:27
get drunk and make out with the cabin boy -- nm - decline Jan 30, 09:25
Don't be an idiot is always rule one. - spamlet Jan 30, 09:23 3
- and check if the tips are reimbursed and keep a record of those. (keep a record of everything) ... - zork Jan 30, 09:30
- 4) don't get hammered -- nm - Beaker Jan 30, 09:24 1
  - see rule number one. -- nm - spamlet Jan 30, 09:25
I would ask your boss alot of these. Are meals included, tipping protocols, etc - Beaker Jan 30, 09:20 1
- if it's a business trip, meals should at least be comped. -- nm - loosilu Jan 30, 09:21
you should probably ask a co-worker or your boss most of these questions. -- nm - loosilu Jan 30, 09:20
F the concierge -- nm - zork Jan 30, 09:17

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Can anyone offer some tips on how to conduct myself on a business trip?

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