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Top destinations for business travellers in 2018

dubai for business

For some, the best part of being a company rep or executive is all the travel one does on behalf of their employer. You get to excel at what you do best during the day, and once your job is done, you get to enjoy the best that the world has to offer.

In this article, we’ll talk about three cities around the globe we always enjoy visiting, as their services and attractions appeal to those who love to live the good life. Regardless of which city you go to, make sure to use these essential travel apps wherever you go to get the most out of it.

1) Dubai

Rising from the desert over the past couple of decades, Dubai is emblematic of the new Middle East – a region which sees the writing on the wall as the age of fossil fuels slowly draws to a close. The world’s tallest tower soars above a city blossoming with skyscrapers, representing numerous votes by owners of smart capital in this centre of finance.

When you aren’t checking in on a real estate project or putting out feelers for good deals in this dynamic city, take time to shop for a new Rolex at the Dubai Mall, dine on your choice of cuisine at one of the city’s many five star restaurants, or work on your tan on one of its excellent beaches. 

2) Hong Kong

The handover of Hong Kong to Communist China in 1997 spooked many in the business community, fearing that the financial epicentre of Asia would fall victim to the inefficient machinations of a system obsessed with central planning.

However, the new China has taken a hands-off approach to the territory, allowing capitalism to largely go about its business (so long as you don’t criticize the government). As a result, growth has blossomed, and its banks continue to take the money of businesses and high net worth individuals from around the world.

After you have concluded your business dealings in Hong Kong, hit the streets and grab a bowl of noodles – there are few places in the world that do then better than here.

Feel like treating yourself to a new tie or smartphone? Head down to Causeway Bay – the variety of shops there will keep you busy all evening long. 

Want to be entertained? If you love the thrill only betting can give you, head over to the Hong Kong Jockey Club, place some $HKD down on your favourite horse, and cheer it on to victory.  

3) NYC

New York City – the Crossroads of the World. Within the boundaries of this metropolis, one can find representatives from almost every culture on the planet. This has been the case throughout much of NYC’s history, a fact which has helped make it one of the world’s most significant financial centres.

The NYSE and NASDAQ are headquartered here, trading shares in America’s and the world’s top companies. In short, money can be found everywhere in this city.

After meeting with and doing business with your American colleagues on a business trip, check out the view either from the top of 30 Rock or the Empire State Building, then head out for some of this country’s best pizza or steak.

With plenty of lounges and pubs sprinkled throughout Lower and Mid Manhattan, you’ll have plenty of spots to keep the good times going with new friends and clients after finishing up at dinner.  

How to make healthy living an ingrained habit

Most of us realize we could be living healthier lives, but we struggle with implementing the behaviours that would make such a change possible. While it isn’t super easy to do, following a plan others have set out makes the process easier versus trying to figure stuff out on your own.

In this post, we have put together a road map we hope will get you on the path to a healthier you. Check it out below…

1) Put together a smart eating plan

It’s said that hot bods are made in the kitchen – we agree with this assessment, as it is far easier to adjust the amount of calories we intake than to ramp up physical activity. This isn’t to say that working out isn’t important (it is), but the first step towards health for most people is to start by shedding the excess pounds they are carrying.

By figuring out your daily energy expenditure, and ramping down the amount of food you eat so you are in a caloric deficit, you will lose weight over time. Of course, it is important to ensure you are getting enough vital nutrients and to eat vegetables like spinach to keep hunger pangs in check, but if you are eating less calories than your body needs to maintain itself, your metabolic system will begin to draw on your fat stores.

Finally, to ensure long-term compliance to a healthy eating regime, have one cheat day per week where you are permitted to eat any food you desire, so long as you don’t eat more than 1000 calories over maintenance. Exceed that and you’ll set yourself back on your weight loss goals and you’ll feel like crap the next day – so don’t do it.    

2) Participate in a sport/physical activity you enjoy

While a smart eating plan will help you shed considerable amounts of weight, physical activity has benefits of its own as well. It increases your daily energy expenditure, improves your cardiovascular health, and helps to strengthen bones and muscles.

Unfortunately, many feel they are limited to running or going to the gym, even if these activities bore or intimidate them.  Do look into the endless fitness apps to help you on your way. Fortunately, the ways one can break a sweat are virtually limitless – from swimming to playing tennis, we’re confident there is something out there that is both physically engaging and interesting to you personally.

By taking it up, the motivation to keep going will keep you from breaking the habit, making it easy to tone your body and keep your metabolism in tip-top shape.   

3) Find ways to get your steps in

Even if you are too busy to engage in sports or other physically active pursuits on some days, you can still find ways to up your activity level in the run of your daily routine. 

Bike to work instead of driving, at least during the summer. Take the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator. Park at the back of the lot at the grocery store instead of hunting for a spot near the doors. 

All these acts increase energy use over the path of least resistance, making it easier to stay in an energy deficit or maintain your current body weight.

Essential travel apps you won’t be able to live without

Of all niches, the smartphone has likely affected travel the most. From trip planning to finding accommodation, the experience of moving about our world has changed considerably in less than a decade.

In this article, we’ll share several apps you need to have on your phone before heading out on your next trip.

1) TripIt

The average trip has a lot of moving parts – this makes it easy for something to get overlooked. When this happens, your stress level can shoot through the roof, which is the last thing you need whether you are travelling for business or pleasure. 

TripIt defuses this to a great degree, as it serves as a hub for almost every scrap of information relevant to your journey.  By forwarding all confirmation e-mails to the app, it provides a neat road map of when you need to be in specific places.

It displays gate information, confirmation numbers, directions to way points, check-in times, and so much more, making it easy to stay on track.

2) Trover

Need some inspiration to plan that trip you’ve been meaning to take for some time? Heading somewhere, but have no idea what to see or do? Trover is here to help you out – billed as the Pinterest for travellers, this app is packed to the brim with suggestions by fellow travellers and locals.

See a photo of a place that looks compelling? Click on it, and a description will pop up, along with a map link that will let you know where to go to find the sight they have identified.  

3) GasBuddy

Consider yourself to be an avid road tripper? Now that gas prices are on the rise again, it is important to know where the good deals are so you can avoid getting hosed at the pump.

GasBuddy makes this task an easy one, as it allows locals to constantly update the price of gas as they go – this helps to keep travellers from out of town from filling up at a station which prices their fuel in a way that takes advantage of unsuspecting travellers.

To incentivize users to keep updating fuel prices, the app owner holds regular raffles for free fuel cards – keep at it, and you may find your travel costs greatly reduced!

4) Hotel Tonight

So, you’ve just arrived in town, only to realize you forgot to book your accommodation beforehand. Or, bad weather has you stranded in an unfamiliar town. Or, you’re a traveller who likes to show up and look for a place just for the thrill of it.

No matter which scenario applies to you, Hotel Tonight is an app you’ll want to have on your phone. You see, the value of a vacant hotel room declines as the evening wears on, as it is better to have a warm body in a bed at a sharply reduced price than none at all.

This app collects these last minute deals and assembles them in their app, allowing you to find a room at a moment’s notice when you need it the most.