We’re really excited to announce our partnership with Zenefits as part of their roll-out at HROne. Together, we’re focused on building a completely seamless suite of products for our small business partners, connecting HR and travel systems to increase productivity in the workplace. View more information about the partnership here.
On January 27, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order suspending entry of citizens from seven countries – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen – to the United States for at least the next 90 days. Since then, a federal judge has issued an emergency stay temporarily halting the removal of detained individuals. Regardless, we recommend that individuals from these designated countries do not travel until the travel ban has been lifted.
You and/or your employees may be affected by these changes, either with employees stranded away from home or unable to enter the country.
Please contact us directly for any travel plan changes and we will work towards helping those affected as much as possible. In addition, our partners at Airbnb are offering free housing to anyone affected by this event – please contact us or go directly to Airbnb.com.
For more information on the travel ban, please click here.
Wen-Wen Lam
Founder, CEO
We’re really excited to announce that we now work with companies internationally. After hearing hundreds of companies ask about working with their offices across the world, we’ve recently partnered with WTravel to provide best in class service globally. What exactly does this mean?
Over the next few months, we’ll be working toward initiatives that provide a truly global experience for our customers. Rather than having customers set up each of their offices for travel individually, we allow our customers to do so with a one time global implementation.
As a team, we’re really excited to be doing things differently and bringing a new, better travel experience to our customers. Over the the past year and a half we saw so many things that we thought we could improve, and this is a huge first step for making business travel simple- globally.
Technology is all about making our lives easier. Boarding your flight after noticing a few potential crying babies or chatty neighbor; you’ll need all the aid you can get.
We have compiled a list of cool gear and tech hacks that can keep you from losing it 30,000 ft in the air. Our goal is to keep you being productive as ever.
Thank goodness for smartphones; but curse their short lifespans. A Mophie slips onto a phone as easy as a regular case fitting like one as well.
They can hold anywhere from 80-120% of your iPhone battery depending on the case. As a bonus it also allows you to charge your phone without even removing the case with a micro USB charger.
Available here: www.mophie.com/Charging_Cases
Carry on bags take on a lot of shapes from Nike duffel bags to beach totes; but how many of those allow you to get through TSA checks faster? None.
TimBuk2 bags open up flat for security checking. Whilst still providing fantastic laptop support and enough space to secure your belongings.
Available here: www.timbuk2.com/
Sure paper books are great, but who has space in their bag? And wouldn’t it be better used by snacks or an extra power bank. Kindles have an impressive battery life and a ton of space for the reading you’ve been putting off.
Available here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I15SB16/ref=topnav_storetab_kstore
This pen memorizes not only everything it writes but also uploads them on your app. Which makes them accessible at any point.
As opposed to the notebook now serving no use in a conference room halfway around the world.
Available here: http://store.livescribe.com/smartpen.html
Smart suitcases are the best new thing that used to be stuck in the old age. Bluesmart offers a builtin scale, USB chargers, a digital lock, and location trackers!
Depending on the duration you board with a brave face and hope that nothing runs out of batter before you land. Did we mention they raised 2M on indigogo?
Available here: www.bluesmart.com/Suitcase
Toshiba encrypted flash drive-
The Flash Drive incorporates a rechargeable battery enabling users to authenticate access before plugging into a USB port.
Users simply enter their secure PIN and plug the drive into any USB 2.0 port on a compatible device. Once access is authenticated, the drive “unlocks” the media.
Available here: us.toshiba.com/storage/usb-flash/
Slim enough to never consider leaving it behind but important enough to never forget to pack it.
The credit card sized charges 1% of your microUSB compatible device in a minute!
Available at: www.linearflux.com/lithiumcard/
Charger sports 10,000 mAh, enough to charge your smartphone multiple times.
This is a blessing on a 12 hour flight with no layover.
Available: www.moshi.com/power-charger-battery-portable-ion-bank-10k-usb
The Knomo Knomad packs your work essentials in a sleek and easy to use lay out.
If you fly with a small tablet for work or entertainment such as the iPad mini a knomad will help to organize and prepare.
Also juicing your tech if you’re not using it.
By producing counter waves against background noise you can sit in some long over due peace and quiet. They ensure the best sound cancelling on the market.
Finally you can keep participating in mental Karaoke without being interrupted by criers, snorers or chit chatters.
Did we mention they’re gorgeous and just as great to use in the office?
With so much new tech out there tell us below in the comments which one you think needs to be added onto the list.
If you liked this article be sure to check out our tips for long flights.
We all know that long flights are a an incredible pain. Such hauls test your patience, professionalism, and how well you can occupy yourself at 40,000 feet above ground.
Here are the essential tips we’ve collected over the years.
1- MOVE!
Keeping your body in a sedentary state will drive you crazy if you’re used to a high paced environment. Maintain your activity level.
Being stuck in the middle seat of the 20th row, may not leave you with much space to stretch your limbs. Yet getting up often will aggravate your neighbors unless you fly the aisle seat.
Setting an alarm for every few hours (*3) can aid in both issues. Reminding yourself to stretch out and use the restroom and toss in a few stretches when you’re ready to throw on the eye mask.
2- Fly light
Keep your carry-on light. Check everything you can, take advantage of the service.
If you were considering bringing a carry-on and a “handbag” remember that it must be stored under your feet. There will be more space left for you in that already offensive amount of legroom if you don’t carry on too much.
3- Dress for the occasion
You don’t need to be all dressed up for the flight anymore so why do it.
Flights tend to get chilly so boarding in a light jacket and a comfortable tee and switching slacks for lounge pants is also a good choice.
To shorten your check-in process slip on shoes and wool socks make it a breeze to go through security especially if you are going through a multi-stop itinerary.
If you need to be fully suited coming off the plane, bring on your suit in hanger bag. Flight attendants are often more than willing to store it in the cabin closet.
Airline blankets are a germophobes worst nightmare. Consider bringing your own; which often come with travel pillows.
4- Bring it on!
Don’t count on airline food to sustain you, but take it as a pleasant treat when it does come around.
5- Don’t forget your must need gear!
Here’s the gear we consider near essential to bring with you. Technology will keep you occupied as time passes.
Noise canceling headphones~ Do not rely on the ones they hand out, they will disappoint you and likely lead to unnecessary stress. Always plan on a crying baby and a chatty neighbor.
Eye mask- Light dimmers only go so far.
Battery pack-Electronics will die fast. Worst thing to have your screen go black as you are just about to finish and save a file or at the high point of the show you’re binge watching.
Count on bringing a long lasting tablet to save space and an extensive battery.
Long flights are a cruel and unusual test of endurance.
Meaning that people who like long flights are about as rare as marathon runners. More often than not, we sabotage ourselves by not having a course of action that seasoned flyers have acquired.
One year ago, we launched NexTravel. At the time, we were still two people booking travel on a blue screen for clients. We had one big client signed.
A year later, we have over 500 active companies a month and process millions of dollars in bookings. We are so lucky to learn from and build products for some of the most innovative companies in the world.
Our mission is to make corporate travel as seamless and painless as possible. We’re rewriting the future of corporate travel by tackling an industry that is slow and resistant to change and changing the way things have been done for decades.
We’re just getting started. We’ve already built innovative products like Hire and plan to build many, many more.
We’d like to say a special thank you to all of our early believers and customers that took a chance on a brand new company. We have learned so much from you about building something that companies and people love to use! Thank you so much for joining us on this journey and we look forward to working with you for years to come.
Wen-Wen and Alexey, Founders
Today we are really excited to be launching NexTravel Hire, our travel product that helps hiring managers and recruiters arrange travel for candidates.
NexTravel Hire allows hiring managers to allow candidates to book their own travel. They can do the following:
They then send an invitation that allows the designated candidate to book travel while following the restrictions.
Administrators can than specify whether they want to pre-pay on the company card or work with one of our partners for reimbursements. We will also be launching integrations with several ATS and HR partners in the coming months.
We have tested this product with hundreds of hiring managers who complained about the the constant back and forth with candidates to book travel as well as dealing with fair employment compliance issues.
Please sign up at www.nextravel.com/hire for a 30-day free trial and let us know what you think.
