adminfgx, Author at City Lodge Hotel Group - Blog

SNEAK PEEK INSIDE HIS SUITCASE

January 23, 2013 No Comments

Are you a high-flying businessman prone to travel and long-haul flights? In addition to clothes and other everyday articles, there are a few indispensable items which really should be inside every businessman’s suitcase. Take a look… A DOPP BAG All travelling gentlemen should own one of these – the Dopp bag is the original men’s toiletries and shaving bag, and in times gone by was given to older adolescents as a symbol of their transition to manhood. The Dopp bag was also issued to American GIs in World War II, and although the original manufacturers, Doppelt’s, have since been taken over by Samsonite, there are many equally decent, equally manly versions of this timeless classic still on the market. Remember – fill your Dopp bag with travel-size, not full-size, toiletries. Not only are they much easier to pack, but many international flights forbid carrying cosmetics bottles over 100ml on board.…

MANAGING STAFF FROM A DISTANCE

January 7, 2013 No Comments

For business travellers constantly on the go, being out of the office conjures up images of slack employees lazing by the water cooler or surfing social media sites for hours on end instead of working… It really needn’t be this way, though – selecting the right team members is the first step. The people you need on-side are qualified, capable, hardworking, responsible, and conscientious, and most of all, independent workers. Get that part right, and the rest is easier. Once you’ve assembled the right team, here’s how to manage them when you’re travelling… SET CLEAR TASKS Before you leave on your business trip, sit down with your team and go through the tasks you’ve assigned to them for the time that you’re gone. Make sure that each and every person is clear about what has to be done and when. Address any questions or concerns they may have and assure…

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE DELAYED

December 28, 2012 No Comments

There’s nothing worse than missing your flight … except perhaps sitting around the airport when you’re on time, but the airline isn’t! Here’s a quick guide to coping with those annoying travel delays … MINIMISING THE RISK OF FLIGHT DELAYS For a smooth schedule, planning is key – so don’t cut it fine! When organising your flights, follow these sensible guidelines: Research the available airlines before making a booking – do some have a worse history of delays than others? Speak to friends and colleagues; look at the airlines’ websites and scan their social media profiles to assess compliments and complaints. Before booking, check the airline’s policies for cancelling or changing flights Wherever possible, book the earliest flight of the day – generally, these early bird flights leave on time. When flight delays occur, they cause back-ups down the flight schedule as the day wears on. Leave yourself plenty of…

10 OF THE BEST BAGS: LUGGAGE FOR THE FREQUENT FLYER

December 20, 2012 No Comments

There’s nothing worse than lugging around a large suitcase when you’re only going away for a short business trip, or finding yourself out of space when trying to squeeze all that you require for a long voyage into a tiny wheelie bag. Different trips definitely call for different types of baggage! But do you know all your luggage options? THE TWO-WHEELED CABIN TROLLEY What could be easier than extending the handle on your suitcase, tipping it backwards and wheeling it away? That’s what’s made the two-wheeled cabin trolley the most popular luggage item of the modern traveller. And now, the four-wheeled version has arrived, with the promise of expending even less energy to cart it around! PERFECT FOR: SHORT TRIPS, BE IT BUSINESS OR PLEASURE. THE WEEKEND BAG Somewhere between a gym bag and a suitcase, this carry-on smart-casual bag is roomy enough to carry all you need for a…

TEN THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT CAPE TOWN

December 12, 2012 No Comments

Affectionately known as the Mother City, Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest city and the second largest after Johannesburg. The seat of the Parliament of South Africa, Cape Town has a rich history, cultural diversity and scenic splendour. As if you needed any more convincing, here are 10 facts about Cape Town that will definitely persuade you to visit this beautiful city! 1. TABLE MOUNTAIN What would Cape Town be without Table Mountain? Known as Hoerikwaggo (‘sea mountain’) by the original inhabitants of this area, the Khoekhoe, this iconic landmark, flanked by Signal Hill and Devil’s Peak, not only provides the city with a spectacular backdrop but provides locals with a handy navigational beacon. Ask a Capetonian for directions and you’ll be shown the way to go with the Mountain as your guide! As you drive around Cape Town and surrounds, it’s easy to see why – Table Mountain seems to remain…

HOW TO ORGANISE A BUSINESS BREAKFAST IN ANOTHER CITY

November 26, 2012 No Comments

Going on a business trip and wanting to host a networking or business event for clients, colleagues, or other industry players in their city? Follow our ultimate guide to organising an out-of-town business breakfast! Work functions have traditionally taken the form of a business breakfast or dinner. Increasingly though, the business breakfast is gaining in popularity amongst professionals because they are: More informal in nature, making networking less strained Quicker, leaving the rest of the day free for work Cheaper – important in these budget-conscious times Easier and less time consuming to organise. 11 STEPS TO HOSTING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS BREAKFAST 1. SET A BUDGET All business networking events start with a budget! Your budget will dictate what sort of event you can host, where you can hold it, what sort of food and beverages you can serve, how many people can attend, and what corporate gifts you can give…

SUIT YOURSELF: STYLE FOR THE SAVVY BUSINESS TRAVELLER

November 16, 2012 No Comments

Deciding what clothes to pack for business travel can be a real headache – do you stick with the tried and tested (that trusty but boring grey suit), or go for broke with that colourful ensemble you’re dying to show off? For , there’s a fine line to tread between safe and savvy, but it can be done! Here’s how to compile a travel wardrobe which is both fashionable and professional…. CLASSIC STYLES FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL Unless you’re in a fashion-forward industry like advertising or film, save the high-fashion look for the weekend. Corporate executives tend to be a conservative bunch and anything too outlandish could lose you that deal. Think carefully about the image you’re trying to portray – professional, capable, reliable; not gimmicky, flippant and frivolous. Stick to suits and separates with classic lines – this approach also means you can spend a bit more, since classic styles don’t date. Happily, classic…

SUIT YOURSELF: STYLE FOR THE SAVVY BUSINESS TRAVELLER

November 16, 2012 No Comments

Deciding what clothes to pack for business travel can be a real headache – do you stick with the tried and tested (that trusty but boring grey suit), or go for broke with that colourful ensemble you’re dying to show off? For , there’s a fine line to tread between safe and savvy, but it can be done! Here’s how to compile a travel wardrobe which is both fashionable and professional…. CLASSIC STYLES FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL Unless you’re in a fashion-forward industry like advertising or film, save the high-fashion look for the weekend. Corporate executives tend to be a conservative bunch and anything too outlandish could lose you that deal. Think carefully about the image you’re trying to portray – professional, capable, reliable; not gimmicky, flippant and frivolous. Stick to suits and separates with classic lines – this approach also means you can spend a bit more, since classic styles don’t date. Happily, classic…

TEN THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT DURBAN

November 8, 2012 No Comments

Planning a business trip or holiday to Durban anytime soon? You may know Durban as a popular surfing city, but here are 10 facts about Durban which shows it’s South Africa’s playground, with more to it than just sea and surf… PORT NATAL, DURBAN AND ETHEKWINI On Christmas Eve, 1497, Intrepid Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama sighted the natural harbour where the current city of Durban was later founded. He named the site Rio de Natal (Christmas River in Portuguese). In 1824, the British colonised the area and named their settlement Port Natal. In 1835, it was renamed Durban, in honour of Governor Sir Benjamin d’Urban. The Zulu call it eThekwini, from itheku, meaning bay or lagoon – a reference to the large natural harbour and the large lagoon (Blue Lagoon) formed where the Umsundusi River meets the Indian Ocean. AFRICA’S BIGGEST PORT The Bay of Natal, as it was known, is one of the very few natural harbours…

WHERE TO FIND WI-FI WHEN YOU’RE ON THE MOVE

October 15, 2012 No Comments

Being away from the office on a business trip used to mean you were out of communication until you were back at your desk and near your fixed-line internet connection. No longer! With Wi-Fi, you can continue to browse the internet, check and send emails, and continue work as usual when you’re out in the field. Here’s a short guide on how to use Wi-Fi and where to find it across South Africa… WHAT IS WI-FI AND HOW DO I ACCESS IT? Wi-Fi is a wireless local area network which allows data to be transmitted, via a device, using radio waves instead of wires. Wi-Fi-enabled devices – PCs, laptops, smartphones, and tablets – can connect to Wi-Fi via a wireless internet access point (called a hotspot). Wi-Fi allows you to have internet access on the go – which most of us are these days. These days, most devices are Wi-Fi enabled, meaning that they’re…