Before You Travel

A business trip starts long before you step foot on a plane. Success is built on proper planning, an understanding of your objectives, and a dash of research about your destination. Get your pre-trip preparations right, and you’re already halfway towards an experience you’ll never forget.

City Guides

Check out a few of our city guides for business travellers below, or visit the City Guides page for more.

During Your Trip

So you’ve finally arrived at your destination. You’ve packed everything you need, you have your business meetings booked, and you’re looking forward to getting stuck into your trip. What’s next? There’s still plenty to consider even after you’ve turned up. 

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NEW YORK

Barcelona Pride Parade Lights

SAN FRANCISCO

The top things to do for LGBTQ+ travellers in San Francisco:

🏳️‍🌈 The Castro District: The city’s Castro District has been a central hub for LGBTQ+ culture and activism since the 1960s, with Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S., as one of its most famous residents. Protests and riots erupted throughout the city when Harvey Milk was assassinated, along with the Mayor on November 27, 1978.

🏳️‍🌈 Lookout: A fun gay bay bar with good drinks and a large balcony area right in the middle of the Castro.

🏳️‍🌈 Harvey Milk Plaza: Visit this public space dedicated to Harvey Milk, featuring murals and a large rainbow flag.

🏳️‍🌈 Dolores Park: Relax in this popular gathering spot known for its lively and diverse crowds.

🏳️‍🌈 Pink Triangle Park: Pay respects at this memorial honouring LGBTQ+ victims of the Holocaust.

🏳️‍🌈 Folsom Street Fair: Experience one of the largest leather and fetish events in the world, celebrating sexual diversity and freedom.

BARCELONA

The top things to do for LGBTQ+ travellers in Barcelona:

🏳️‍🌈 Eixample District (Gaixample): Known as Barcelona’s LGBTQ+ district, this area is filled with LGBTQ+-friendly bars, clubs, and restaurants. It’s the perfect place to experience the city’s nightlife and meet like-minded people.

🏳️‍🌈 Barcelona Pride: Celebrate diversity and inclusivity during this annual event, which features parades, parties, and cultural activities throughout the city.

🏳️‍🌈 Sitges: Just a short train ride from Barcelona, this coastal town is a renowned LGBTQ+ haven, with beautiful beaches and a lively nightlife scene. Note: much of the offering in Sitges is targeted towards gay men.

🏳️‍🌈 Parc de la Ciutadella: Relax in this beautiful park, a popular gathering spot for the LGBTQ+ community, especially on sunny days.

🏳️‍🌈 Circuit Festival: Experience one of the largest international LGBTQ+ events, held in Barcelona every August, with a week of parties, cultural activities, and beach events.

🏳️‍🌈 La Sagrada Família and Park Güell: While not specifically LGBTQ+, these iconic landmarks by Antoni Gaudí are must-visits for any traveller, showcasing Barcelona’s unique artistic and architectural heritage. • La Sagrada Família is the longest-running construction project in the world having been started in 1882. Highly recommend a tour here otherwise you won’t fully grasp the genius and detail of Gaudí

🏳️‍🌈 Tandem Bar: Simply put the best cocktail I’ve ever had in my life. Not a gay bar but a traditional Catalonian cocktail bar. No menus but the mixologists can make you any drink you like or are happy to recommend. Please don’t tell too many people of this wonderful place.

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How to Tip in North America

The culture of tipping in America is probably the most different to what we’re used to in the UK. Servers in the US are often poorly paid so they make most of their money from tips.

Eating out

Any meal or experience where there’s table service, you should tip at least 15-20% of the total bill. If you’re particularly impressed, you can go up to 25%. Servers in buffet restaurants who clear your plates and bring drinks are expected to get around one dollar per diner.

Tipping isn’t necessary or expected if there’s no table service. You can pop a few coins in a tip jar in line at Starbucks, but don’t feel obliged.

Drinks

There’s a different culture when you’re at a bar in the States. You’re expected to tip for every drink you order. A dollar per drink if you’re paying for each upfront, or 15-20% of the total tab is enough for a good tip.

Taxis

Some people tip around 10-15% of the total fare, but most cab drivers would be fine with a dollar or two.

Hotels and Accommodation

Keep dollar bills handy to tip any bellboys – a dollar per bag is enough – and leave some out for housekeeping at the end of your stay – many hotels in the States leave envelopes out for you to tip the cleaning staff. If you use a car valet service, a tip of a few dollars is customary.

How to Tip in Central America

The LAC region (Latin America and the Caribbean) is a hugely popular destination for holidaymakers, even if not for business travel, and luckily tipping culture isn’t too difficult to get right.

Tipping in Central America

Central American destinations like Costa Rica and Ecuador follow a similar attitude to places in South America when it comes to tipping. Often restaurants around Central America will include a 10% charge labelled as “propina” or “servicio” – especially if it’s a more tourist-heavy area.

Tipping in the Caribbean

Tipping is standard throughout the Caribbean. If your hotel doesn’t automatically add service charges to the bill, tipping is welcome for employees such as bellhops and maids.

Generally, Caribbean bellhops receive 1-2 dollars per bag, but this amount goes up as the class of the hotel does. Restaurants will most likely add a 10% service charge. Additional tipping is up to you, but isn’t expected.

Tipping in Mexico

There’s no ‘one tip fits all’ rule for tipping in Mexico but rounding up bills by 10-15% is considered a nice gesture for good service. What you should remember is to tip in pesos where possible. You can tip in US dollars if you have them, but Mexican locals can’t exchange or use US coins, just notes.

How to Tip around Asia

Tipping in Singapore

In Singapore, most restaurants will add a 10% tip to your bill so a tip isn’t necessary. You’ll also find that many taxi drivers and other service workers will try to return any tip you try to leave them. It’ll be appreciated if you give a few Singapore dollars to workers in your hotel, though.

Tipping in Thailand

It’s common to tip at least 10% of the bill for a sit down meal. Tipping street vendors isn’t expected, and tipping at a bar is really up to you. If you give a tip for your first drink at a bar with table service, you might find that the waiter comes around to check on you a bit more frequently.

In your hotel you might find a tipping envelope left for housekeepers. It’s polite to leave something in there at the end of your stay, but it doesn’t have to be too much.

Before entering a taxi or a tuk-tuk in Thailand make sure to agree on a price in advance or make sure there’s a visible fare running so you can keep an eye on the price. It’s common to round up to the nearest bill and leave the change as a tip.

Part of the Thailand experience is enjoying an authentic Thai massage. If you have one, you should tip around 10-15% and hand it to the masseuse directly.

Tipping in China

Tipping isn’t a common practice throughout China, though if you take a tour, it’s customary to thank your guide with a small tip.

Tipping in Japan

It’s all made simple if you’re holidaying in Japan: don’t tip. It’s considered rude to give money to a server, and many will try to return your money.

Tipping in India

In India, tipping isn’t necessary but will be appreciated. a 10% tip on a restaurant bill is considered generous, and tipping hotel workers will also be considered a nice gesture.

If you visit temples, you’ll likely be asked to give small amounts of money. If you are ‘blessed’ by someone, you should tip as this is considered a kind act. However, be careful of people who might be waiting around tourist areas who’ll give you information and then demand a tip.

Use your judgement; be safe and sensible, but don’t feel like you must tip everyone who’s asking for one.

How to Tip in Africa

Tipping is expected throughout most of Africa, especially in popular destinations like Egypt and Marrakesh.

If you have a bit of leisure time after your business trip, you may have the opportunity of going on safaris or wildlife expeditions in lots of countries, like Kenya and South Africa, you’ll likely have questions about tipping the tour guides. A good rule to follow is:

• Add 10% tip to the overall cost if it’s a shorter tour.
• Give 20-35 Egyptian pounds for a tour lasting a few hours/half-a-day.
• Give generously if it’s a private tour or a longer tour.

How to Tip in the UK

The UK is fortunate enough to have a minimum wage in place for all service workers, so not leaving a tip isn’t quite the faux pas it is in the States. But it’s customary to leave 10-15% of the total bill when dining out, or more if you had particularly good service.

However, some restaurants might automatically add on a service charge (usually 12.5%), especially if you’re eating out as a large group, so check your bill to avoid tipping twice. Under the Consumer Rights Act, you won’t have to pay the service charge if you feel you received poor service.

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1. Cycling

The ultimate person-powered vehicle since 1817, bicycles are an extremely green alternative to almost every other form of transportation. Although carbon is emitted during the manufacturing process of a commercial bicycle, riding one produces absolutely zero pollution, and the CO2 cost of their production is quickly offset.

Cycling to and from meetings, particularly in urban environments, is brilliantly cost-effective and healthy to boot. It’s a great option for business travellers who are looking for a truly carbon neutral experience. Plus, with over 1040 bicycle-sharing systems across the world*, there’s plenty of choice.

*According to a collection from Wikipedia

3. Car Sharing

Car sharing has been a staple of the workplace commute for decades. There’s nothing better than getting picked up by a colleague and sitting tight as they drive you to work, even if their music taste leaves a lot to be desired. 

Car sharing is a fantastic option for businesses that need to get multiple employees to a local meeting or conference while keeping their carbon emissions low. It’s super  straightforward – if one employee fills a standard 5-seater car with his or her colleagues, the business has immediately taken four other cars off the road. 

It might be simple, but the difference is huge. According to a 2019 study from BEIS, a car with one passenger accounts for 130g more CO2 emissions per kilometre than a car with four passengers.

5. Video Conferencing

Modal shifts are not always about changing the way you get from A to B. Sometimes they can be used to eliminate travel altogether. When arranging a meeting, think about whether it is essential it is carried out in person. Can you conduct your business over video conferencing software instead?

Obviously travelling for meetings is an important and often necessary part of business, and it is unlikely to ever go away, but sometimes it can make more sense to stay home and set up a conference call instead.

It’s pretty green too. According to a CO2 calculator from Utility Bidder, two people meeting on an HD quality Zoom call for an hour produces 0.23kg of CO2, equivalent to driving 1.2 miles in a petrol car.

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With long-haul travel firmly and safely back on the agenda, are you looking to make up for missed holiday opportunities? Now is the perfect time to gather your bucket list itinerary and get back to travel with a bang.

Are you an island lover? How about seeking a luxurious escape to Seychelles. Or if you’re a lover of outdoor pursuits, Canada should be at the top of your list.

And we cant forget the ultimate California road trip! From the iconic San Francisco to the City of Angels and beyond – this itinerary is hit after hit.

Check out our top bucket list destinations below, handpicked by our team of luxury travel experts.

Serenity in Seychelles

For 5* luxury, breath-taking natural landscapes and unbelievable marine life, Seychelles is the perfect choice.

With 115 islands to choose from, island-hopping is the perfect way to get the most out of the islands. Soak up the main island’s culture on Mahé, exploring its beautiful national parks and not forgetting their rum distillery! Take in the picture-perfect beaches on Praslin and explore the Vallée de Mai where the famous Coco de Mer palm grows. Then end in complete exclusivity on one of the many private islands – a touch of pure opulence alongside world-class snorkelling.

Best for: Island lovers seeking a luxurious escape, with the option to explore.

California Dreaming

When it comes to bucket list trips, this is a classic.

From iconic San Francisco to the City of Angels, this itinerary is hit after hit. Don’t miss a trip down to San Diego to discover the world-famous zoo, iconic Gaslamp Quarter and relaxed atmosphere, or the dramatic scenery on Big Sur as you drive south on the coastal road.

Wine-lovers can rejoice with wine-tasting aplenty in Napa Valley, while nature-lovers should go whale-watching in Monterey, as well as exploring the famous Yosemite National Park. Not ready to go home? Las Vegas is only a short drive away…

Best for: Tailoring your trip, no matter your interests! Also great for a first-time self-drive.

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International Human Solidarity Day has been developed as part of the UN’s new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda.

Find out more about the initiative on the UN website.

It’s strong evidence that building a diverse workforce not only makes for a better, fairer future for all, but can directly boost business success. Put simply, inclusivity is a win-win for all involved.

However you choose to celebrate, we’re with you!

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GBTA research from earlier this year reveals 88% of the business travel sector sees addressing climate as the top priority. In addition, 80% of companies surveyed already have a sustainability program or sustainability team.

While carbon reduction efforts are already in play at many large corporations, one area, or “black box,” companies have less insight around is what an employee’s carbon footprint is as they move through cities.

To help push employees into making more sustainable transport decisions while commuting or on the road, mobility platform Iomob is launching its WheelCoin app, which rewards employees for making greener choices.

The concept is modelled on the popularity of “move2earn” projects, such as SweatCoin and Step’N, that reward consumers for exercise.

Boyd Cohen, co-founder and chief executive of Iomob, says: “The big black box for companies is how employees move around cities, how much emissions are generated by coming to and from the office and when traveling to other cities for work and once they’re there.

“They know about flights, but the rest of mobility on the ground they have no knowledge about. The idea is not to penalise an individual employee but create some transparency around and knowledge for the company around the overall emissions from employee mobility to get them thinking about how they can encourage employees to move more sustainably.”

The app also serves as a way for companies to demonstrate their green credentials, which helps with attracting and retaining talent, Cohen says.

App users earn WheelCoin by opting for lower-carbon options. A single WheelCoin equals 1kg of carbon avoided, and users can see how much carbon they have avoided over the course of the day.

Behavioural change

The gamification element allows users to compete with others via leaderboards that display who is saving the most emissions in a city or at a club, for example.

To earn WheelCoin, users must buy or earn an NFT with the tokens available for various types of bikes, trains and other modes of transport.

“The app detects movement and triangulates data to detect and validate what mode of mobility you are using. We detect walking, biking, public transport, trains, car and planes, but we’re not rewarding cars and planes because they’re not low carbon,” Cohen says.

“If you want to create an engaging way to nudge people to go green, you need to make it fun, you need to do things to stimulate people to want to earn more so they actually change their behaviour.”

David Bishop, chief operating officer of Gray Dawes Group, a U.K.-based travel management company, sees the potential.

“… using this concept from a green angle looks like a smart and enduring way to do the right thing. The environmental concern of flying is not going away and will only get greater as Gen Z’s voices become more prominent in the debate,” he says.

“We have one client who we met this week, and their new policy is focused on environmental impact and they are debating a ‘leader board’ per department/project for environmental impacts. It’s an odd one as some departments/projects will require more travel than others – but it’s then about using this as a baseline to take data based on travel choices (mode/aircraft) types into the future.”

Opportunities

In addition to the corporate travel use case, Iomob also sees potential in partnering with airlines to build WheelCoin into existing loyalty programs.

“With a commercial airline, one of the things on the table is a branded WheelCoin app. Could an airline have its own ground mobility loyalty program built off our green mobility gamification scheme? Airlines are trying to figure out how they can be part of the low-carbon economy given that there’s only so much they can reduce emissions from the planes themselves,” Cohen says.

“Is there a path for creating some kind of exchange between an interoperable ground mobility loyalty program and an airline loyalty program? It’s a better way than doing just carbon offsets.”

The WheelCoin initiative also plays into Iomob’s own strategy going forward, with Cohen insisting the development is a “powerful synergy” between WheelCoin and the Iomob mobility platform.

“Within 2023 we will be injecting the Iomob network inside the WheelCoin app. It’s fundamental to our business and revenue, but it’s actually what will make it really sustainable long-term. And the economy of the app will work better when you can earn WheelCoin not just for doing good things but also earn more for actually booking green mobility inside the app,” he says. 

“So, the incentive scheme will evolve, and we believe WheelCoin will become what we call our demand partner. We think it will be our largest demand partner for the Iomob mobility network.”

He adds that going B2C via WheelCoin means the company is no longer constrained by waiting for the industry to form partnerships.

“We can go big and go fast and it allows us to accelerate our vision of being the world’s largest mobility network.”

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