GoCourtyard's Weekly Round-Up – Feb. 26, 2010
February 26th, 2010Here’s this week’s round-up of travel news, tips and info that we found to be the most interesting and helpful. Don’t miss the article on how to find the most comfortable airline seat. If you are flying any time soon, you can definitely use this to your advantage. Also, feel free to use the comment section to let us know if we left out any articles that should have made it into this week’s roundup. Enjoy!
NTSB Asks To Monitor Pilots’ Talk In Cockpits
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-02-23-recorders_N.htm
Government investigators are looking into routinely recording pilots’ conversations in the cockpit to make sure they are focusing on their job. This has led to anger amongst pilot unions who think this is an invasion of privacy. Check out this article to learn more.
The World’s 18 Strangest Airports
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/transportation/4346192.html?page=1
When designing airports, engineers need to ensure the structure is as safe as can be for pilots and passengers alike. Sometimes, this requires extra creativity to make the best use of the space they have. Take a look at this article to see the world’s strangest airport designs.
How To Find The Most Comfortable Airline Seat
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/deals/inside/2010-02-25-airplane-seats_N.htm
Airline seats seem to be getting smaller and smaller as the years go by. However, there are ways to make sure you end up with one of the more comfortable seats on your next flight. This article gives you all the information you need to find one of these seats on your next flight.
Magazine Ranks Most Bike-Friendly Cities
http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/magazine-ranks-most-bike-friendly-cities/
Do you like to bring your bike along with you when traveling, but aren’t sure which cities are the most bike friendly? Take a look at this article to learn about the most bike-friendly cities for visitors.
Leaving The Trash Behind
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/business/energy-environment/23recycle.html
Recycling is a large problem at airports and has the potential to create environmental problems. Even though most airports have recycling receptacles available, airport procedures often make it hard for travelers to use the system properly. However, the environmental group Green America has now begun a campaign to assess this problem.
Dos and Don’t In The Developing World
http://www.gadling.com/2010/02/22/dos-and-donts-in-the-developing-world/
Traveling to other countries can be a huge culture shock for many people. In order to make sure your next international trip goes as planned, plan ahead. Take a look at this article for some tips on what to do and not to do in the developing world.
10 Great Free Smartphone Apps for Travel and Work
February 25th, 2010If you’re a long-time smartphone user, you’ve probably read a few “best apps” lists already. And if you’ve just stepped up to a Blackberry or an iPhone, you’ve likely heard about productivity apps like Dataviz’s Documents to Go, Mint’s iPhone app for managing your finances, and far more Twitter apps than you’d ever need.
We wanted to chime in on the subject too, so here are 10 free apps that we really like. Some of them are fantastic tools for travel or business networking, but some of them are just plain fun apps that make your smartphone do more than make calls, check email, and surf the web. If you want to find out about other excellent apps for your phone, check out these articles:
Networking:
Bump – http://bu.mp
Why we like it: Swap contact information with someone just by tapping your phone to theirs. No need for business cards.
Info: Anyone who has Bump installed can share contact information by tapping their phone against another phone with Bump. Right now, it’s only available on the iPhone and Android phones, but Bump’s developers are working to create versions for every smartphone platform.
Reservations/Entertaining:
UrbanSpoon – http://www.urbanspoon.com
Why we like it: It’s the quickest way to find a restaurant that you’ll probably like.
Info: UrbanSpoon’s slot-machine layout takes the place of the usual searching by category or location. If you’re in an unfamiliar city and need a quick recommendation, put in your location, the type of food you want, and the price you’d like to pay into UrbanSpoon’s clickwheels, and give your phone a shake. The app will recommend a restaurant and pull up the contact info and a map. And, if you’re an iPhone user, you get the UrbanSpoon Scope, an augmented reality function that overlays restaurant info wherever you point your camera.
OpenTable – http://www.opentable.com
Why we like it: UrbanSpoon helps you find restaurants, but OpenTable is the app for making reservations on the fly.
Info: OpenTable’s app allows you to make reservations at any restaurant in OpenTable’s network. You can also search for restaurants and see menus in the app. OpenTable doesn’t have as large of a database as Yelp or UrbanSpoon, but it’s got the stylish, upscale places you’ll want to use for entertaining clients and business associates.
Travel:
Tripit – http://www.tripit.com
Why we like it: Tripit organizes all your travel information into a single online itinerary.
Info: Full disclosure—we love Tripit, and we have their widget on our blog. There are a lot of travel apps out there, such as Worldmate and TripChill, that collect all your important travel data, but Tripit has the best combination of features, updates, and social sharing tools. If you travel a lot, or even if you’re just prone to losing documents and confirmation emails, Tripit’s free app will save you a lot of stress.
There’s a paid version too, which will send you updates on flight delays and allow you to manage frequent traveler points.
Transit Maps — http://www.felttip.com/maps/
Why we like it: This app has the largest library of public transportation maps.
Info: Transit Maps searches the Web for transit maps and puts them into a readable format on your phone. With both apps, it might take a second to find and view the appropriate image, but it’s a lot easier than trying to use Google Maps or running around looking for subway signs.
News:
Newspapers – http://www.dalejefferson.com/
Why we like it: 70 newspapers, available in full text, for no charge.
Info: There are plenty of e-reading apps, magazine apps, and apps for individual papers available for most smartphones, but Newspapers collects most of the major ones into a simple interface so you don’t have to read them in your browser. It’s simple and it gives you plenty of reading material for a long drive or train ride.
Just Plain Cool:
Layar – www.layar.com
Why we like it: It’s one of the more interesting and more useful augmented reality apps.
Info: Layar is an augmented reality browser that can put the content layer of your choice over whatever you look at through your camera’s viewfinder. You can see who’s Tweeting nearby (and how far away they are), or see what places near you have Wikipedia entries. There are layers that show restaurant info, addresses and telephone numbers—even layers that integrate with Foursquare and other location-based services.
Dragon Dictation – http://www.dragonmobileapps.com/apple/dictation_demo.html
Why we like it: It accurately converts your voice notes to text.
Info: A fairly new dictation app for the iPhone with very accurate speech-to-text conversion, Dragon Dictation makes it easy to keep your important notes and ideas together when you’re in a rush or don’t want to fiddle with your keyboard. Check out the demo video in link above.
Pandora – http://www.pandora.com
Why we like it: Free streaming music with customized channels.
Info: This is still our favorite streaming music app, although your should try last.fm’s as well if your phone supports it. Pandora’s recommendation engine is a fantastic way to discover new music.
Buzzd – http://www.buzzd.com
Why we like it: It makes finding nighttime entertainment in an unfamiliar city easier.
Info: A very cool “nightlife social network”. Buzzd has been around for just over a year and a half now, but they’ve recently begun to pick up quite a bit of steam. Buzzd collects reviews about bars, clubs, and other nightlife spots from a number of different online sources and puts them together on one dedicated page. But the really clever part is the realtime review feature. Users can post comments about a restaurant or bar they’re in to Buzzd, and you can get a sense of how lively (or reserved) the crowd is right then.
GoCourtyard's Weekly Round-Up – Feb. 19, 2010
February 19th, 2010Here’s this week’s round-up of travel news, tips and info that we found to be the most interesting and helpful. Make sure to check out the article on great destinations for outdoor adventure. If you are traveling to one of those destinations on your next business trip, maybe you will have time to fit in one of the recommended adventure activities. Also, feel free to use the comment section to let us know if we left out any articles that should have made it into this week’s roundup. Enjoy!
How To Pack For Back-To-Back Trips
http://www.gadling.com/2010/02/11/how-to-pack-for-back-to-back-trips/
Packing for one trip is hard enough, but do you ever have to pack for back-to-back trips? It can be very difficult and a bit overwhelming at times. Check out this article for some tips on how to pack efficiently when you are traveling to more than one destination.
Regional Air Safety Gains Questioned
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35355868/ns/travel-business_travel/
Regional air safety is extremely important. However, many of the changes that have been made and have yet to be made in the regional air safety laws are being questioned. Take a look at this article to hear more.
10 Great Destinations For Outdoor Adventure
http://www.gadling.com/2010/02/11/10-great-destinations-for-outdoor-adventure/
Have you ever wondered where to go in order to experience an adventurous vacation that you will never forget? This article points out ten amazing destinations for outdoor adventure.
Booking A Flight The Frugal Way
http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/click-it-and-ticket-booking-a-flight-the-frugal-way/?ref=travel
Have you noticed that flight fares differ from one travel website to another? This often makes finding the lowest possible airfare when planning a trip a bit complicated. Take a look at this article to find out how to book a flight the frugal way.
Decoding TSA Security Bins
http://www.gadling.com/2010/02/18/decoding-tsa-security-bins/#continued
Have you noticed that security bins are now labeled with letters and numbers? Airports are now rolling out this new system to improve communication at airport checkpoints. Check out this article to learn how this is done.
Business Travel Deductions: Tempting But Complex
http://www.inform.com/article/Business%20travel%20deductions%3A%20tempting%20but%20complex
Mixing business travel with leisure travel can be complicated when it comes to tax deductions. This article shares with us rules on what can and cannot be counted as a tax deduction.
Thanks for helping us keep Courtyard on the go.
Courytard Celebrates 100 Hotels with the New Lobby!
February 17th, 2010
This week, we are celebrating an important milestone as we now have 100 Courtyard hotels that feature our new Refreshing Business lobby. Since we first introduced this new lobby in 2008, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our customers and have seen significant increases in guest satisfaction.
Guests enjoy the lobby’s sophisticated, modern design and the functionality that allows them to work, socialize or relax wherever and however they like. They have described the new lobby as “upscale” and “innovative.” By the end of the year, we expect to have nearly 300 hotels with this new lobby in place.
For more information about the new lobby and its features, as well as locations that currently have the lobby in place and those that will soon, visit the New Lobby section of our site.
As always, we love to get your feedback and we want to know if you’ve stayed in one of the 100 Courtyards with the new lobby. If so, what did you think and what were your favorite features?
Thanks for helping us keep Courtyard on the go.
GoCourtyard's Weekly Round-Up – Feb. 12, 2010
February 12th, 2010Here’s this week’s round-up of travel news, tips and info that we found to be the most interesting and helpful. Make sure to check out the article on the top five Valentine’s Day destinations. This could come in very handy if you are trying to plan a last minute trip this weekend. Also, feel free to use the comment section to let us know if we left out any articles that should have made it into this week’s roundup. Enjoy!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35184674/ns/travel-business_travel/
Do you ever feel like adding some leisure time into your business trip? The next time you go away on a business trip, take an hour between meetings to enjoy yourself and do some sightseeing or go to a museum. This article is a guide on what you should do in America’s top business spots when you have some free time between meetings.
The World’s Most Delayed Airports
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35080515/ns/travel-business_travel/
Flight delays are normally caused by weather or air traffic. No matter what causes these delays, having your flight take off late is one of the most frustrating things that can happen while travelling. Take a look at this article to see which airports are known for their delays.
Top 5 Valentine’s Day Destinations
http://www.fncimag.com/imag/Travel/Top+5+Valentine%27s+Day+Destinations
Valentines Day is right around the corner. Chocolates and flowers are always great on this special day, but weekend getaways with your significant other are even better. Take a look at this article to see the top 5 Valentine’s Day destinations. If you are looking for a mini getaway, why not try out one of these spots?
Airport Body Scanning Raises Radiation Exposure, Committee Says
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601209&sid=aoG.YbbvnkzU
Airport body screenings may be a health risk because they are said to expose the public to higher levels of cancer-causing radiation. Read this article to learn more about this health issue and if the public is really at risk.
How To Be Comfortable On A Long Airplane Trip
http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Comfortable-on-a-Long-Airplane-Trip
Traveling to a destination that requires a long and grueling flight is never fun. However, if you are prepared, it may go by a little quicker. Check out this article for some great tips on how to be comfortable on a long airplane trip.
Travel-Sized Everything: 3 fl oz
http://www.gadling.com/2010/02/09/3floz-com-launches-with-everything-you-need-tsa-approved/
Do you ever have trouble buying travel-sized products that are TSA approved? 3floz.com is a great new website featuring the best of what in a TSA-approved size. Check out this article to learn more.
Thanks for helping us keep Courtyard on the go.
Courtyard Enters Uncharted Territory – Scandinavia!
February 10th, 2010This week, Courtyard entered uncharted territory with the opening of the brand’s first hotel in Scandinavia. The Courtyard Stockholm Kungsholmen opened on Monday and is located in the Kungsholmen neighborhood of Sweden’s stylish capital city. It is Courtyard’s largest hotel in all of Europe with 278 guest rooms and more than 1,000 square meters of meeting space.
The hotel design is beautiful – it’s evokes a contemporary feel with bright, bold colors, and incorporates many elements of the local Swedish landscape. The public areas give guests the space and functionality to both work and socialize, offering complimentary WiFi and flexible seating options. And the guest rooms are some of the largest standard size guest rooms in the city, with 26 square meters of space to spread out and relax.
An interesting feature of the hotel is its full service restaurant, Bjork Bar & Grill, named after the Swedish word for “birch tree.” It is an urban, loft-style restaurant, perfect for dining and lounging. Renowned designer Henry Chebaane designed the restaurant to represent a virtual forest filled with the colors and textures of the local trees, moss, lichen, granite and berries. It features dishes and cocktails made with regional Swedish produce, and a very unique offering is sparkling wine made of birch sap from the trees in the local forest.
Located within walking distance of the city center and next door to a metro stop, it’s very easy to get around this vibrant city. If your travels take you to Stockholm, we hope you’ll check out this beautiful hotel.
Thanks for helping us keep Courtyard on the go.
GoCourtyard's Weekly Round-Up – Feb. 5, 2010
February 5th, 2010Here’s this week’s round-up of travel news, tips and info that we found to be the most interesting and helpful. Make sure to check out the article on ten great ways to spend a layover. You may be able to put some of these ideas to use on your next trip. Also, feel free to use the comment section to let us know if we left out any articles that should have made it into this week’s roundup. Enjoy!
Business Travel: A Guide To Luggage Delivery Service
http://www.inc.com/magazine/20090501/business-travel-a-guide-to-luggage-delivery-services.html
Have you ever waited by the luggage carousel after a long flight and found that your luggage has been lost, stolen or damaged? For any of you who have had this happen, you know how frustrating it is. A way to avoid this is to use a luggage delivery service on your next trip. Take a look at this article for more information on if this service will benefit you.
Ten Great Ways To Spend A Layover
http://www.forbes.com/2010/01/26/layover-airports-delays-lifestyle-travel-jfk-lax.html
Nobody likes waiting at the airport hours upon hours in between flights. Check out this article for ten great ways to spend a layover.
10 FlyerTalker Tips To Maximize Your Miles
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/502261
There are several ways to earn extra miles, but you need to be strategic about it. Take a look at this article for ten tips on how to maximize your miles.
E-Mail Saves Time, But Being There Saves More
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/business/26road.html
Has one of your clients ever taken an e-mail that you sent the wrong way? E-mail is a great thing to use, but it still does not replace face-to-face interaction. This article explains why in person meetings are still the best way to communicate important information.
Spas That Cater To Businessmen
http://www.inc.com/magazine/20091101/spas-that-cater-to-businessmen.html
Men: Have you been thinking about going to the spa for a day of relaxation but feel spas are not manly enough? If so, take a look at this article to learn about a few different spas that cater to men.
How To Protect Valuables While Traveling
http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/29/how-to-protect-valuables-while-traveling/
One thing that can ruin a trip in just seconds is noticing that the expensive jewelry you brought along or your brand new laptop has been stolen. Protecting your valuables while traveling is extremely important and easy to do. This article provides tips on how to make sure your valuables are safe at all times.
How To Make Plastic Fantastic
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/502256
Have you wondered if the fee to own an American Express Platinum Card is worth it? Many people swear by it, but does it make sense for all travelers? Check out this article to find out what types of people will benefit from an AmEx Platinum.
Green Travel – It's Simpler Than You Think
February 3rd, 2010You don’t need a hemp backpack or a bike with recycled-rubber wheels to make your vacation or business trip earth-friendly. Eco-tourism (or “green travel”) is less complicated than it seems.
It’s easy to forget, but there are a number of things you can do to make your trip greener before you even hit the road. Save energy and lower your utility bill by unplugging appliances and turning the heat or air conditioner down. Appliances eat electricity as long as they are plugged in, not just when they are on. You can also reduce the amount of trash you create in transit by carrying your own reusable water bottle and snack containers.
When you stay in a hotel, there’s a tendency to act differently than you would in your own home. Do you wash your sheets and towels every day at home? Most people don’t. When you check in, request that the sheets be left on the bed for the entirety of your stay, or changed only once a week if you’re there more than 7 days. Make a similar request for the towels, which can usually be used several times before needing a wash. Conserve energy by turning off lights, televisions and adjusting the thermostat when you leave your hotel room. You may not be paying the utility bill in your temporary home, but you’re passing that debt off on the environment.
Making wise transportation choices is another key to a “green” trip. If you’re hitting the road, be sure to efficiently use the space of your vehicle and carpool if you can. If you’re flying, check to see if your hotel offers a shuttle service from the airport – many do. If you must rent, choose a hybrid or a smaller vehicle with good gas mileage. If you’re visiting an urban area, look into using the public transportation system. It’s a great way to get to know the city, costs less than a tank of gas and enables you to read a book or enjoy the sights while in transit.
Another way to reduce waste is to tap into your sense of adventure and try new things during your travels. Instead of choosing familiar items that had to be imported, try to eat, drink and shop locally. Local goods will generally cost less because the cost of transit is not factored into their prices like items that had to be flown in from across the world. You may find something great that you would never have discovered otherwise.
Finally, let your hotel know what you think. Here at Courtyard, we’ve developed a prototype for LEED-certified hotels. The first one based on this model will be opening this summer and we’re going to be opening a lot more as part of our commitment to preserving the environment. Some of our other brands are also working on finalizing their LEED-certified prototype plans as well.
If you like what we’re doing to go green, let us know. If you have a suggestion, be sure to pass it on. We’d like to hear any ideas or suggestions you have for us.
Thanks for helping us keep Courtyard on the go.
