Bizcations combine family trip with corporate travel, and ... · 7/18/2011 · Bizcations combine...
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Last Updated: July 18. 2011 1:12AM Brian J. O'Connor Bizcations combine family trip with corporate travel, and they're becoming popular First we cut vacation costs with the "staycation." And now comes the "bizcation," where the kids accompany a parent on a business trip so corporate travel can double as a family getaway. But it's hardly new to me — as long ago as the ancient 1960s, my brother, mom and I accompanied my dad on his sales trips beyond the Michigan state line, so that we could return to regale the neighbors with accounts of our visits to Wooster, Ohio, or, if Dad was trying to close a big deal, Akron. Dad had a simple definition of "vacation:" If the hotel had a pool and the town had a Golden Arches, it was a vacation. Here's a handy checklist These days, according to the latest work styles study by Homewood Suites, 67 percentof business travelers say they combined leisure travel with a work trip in the past year. That's a 16 percent increase since 2000. If you're a corporate road warrior thinking of joining the bizcation crowd, stop and ponder these important questions first: "Should I turn my next business trip into a bizcation?" Yes: You work for a company that inspects carnival rides or designs video arcades. No: You are a crime scene technician, geriatric urologist or U.N. weapons inspector. "Can my kid help me with my business on the trip?" No: You are a patent lawyer suing over irrigation systems. Yes: You are a state police detective looking for a late-model red Pontiac with out-of-state plates. "I see New Jersey, Daddy!" "What bizcation locales will be particularly kid-friendly?" Good: Orlando Bad: Reno "But won't Orlando be costly, with all those theme parks?" Correction: Take Reno, and stick the kid in front of the dollar slots. Even if he doesn't win, it'll still be a whole bunch cheaper. "How can I balance work and family time on a bizcation?" Work: Say, "Gee, I'd love to see your PowerPoint decks, boss, but I've got to go get the kids." Family: Say, "Gee, I'd love to see your outfits at the American Girl doll store, Aiden, but I've got to go get the marketing director." Bonus: Play both strategies simultaneously, and you can slip away for an afternoon all to yourself, either at the hotel spa or the local lounge. "Are there any bizcation ideas I should absolutely avoid?" Los Angeles: With the shutdown of I-405 causing what's being called "Carmageddon," avoid that car-centric city. If you don't, it'll be you and not your kids crying, "Are we there yet?" [email protected] (313) 222-2145 Most Read On Facebook Shared ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular MSU football 17th in preseason coaches poll; Oklahoma No. 1 New 14th District: a land of opposites Humane Society fight hurts donations New Tiger Doug Fister makes great first impression U-M football poised to take big step forward in 2011; MSU a different story GM to introduce XTS sedan, smaller ATS in 2012 Lions bring back LB Bobby Carpenter 'Bonds & Fisher': Broadcast legends back on the air — at WCAR-AM Sponsored by: Columnists Columnists RSS Feed e-mail headlines Text alerts On your PDA Like Want Monster Drives? This 1 Simple Trick will Add 30 Yards. Watch Free Video Now! www.PerfectConnectionGolfSwing.com Educational Student Tours New York, Boston, Washington DC Hawaii, Ireland and much more. www.edutrips.com Air Rescue Insurance Air Ambulance Rescue Card International Coverage 866-500-0333 TravelAssistNetwork.com E-Edition | Mobile | E-mail New sletters | Text Alerts | Tw itter | PhotoStore Subscribe | Pay Bill | Place an Ad | Customer Service | Contact The Detroit New s Hom e Ne w s Local Sports Autos Business Entertainment Lifestyle Opinion Buy-Sell Jobs Cars Real Estate For Rent Deals Archive: Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Today
Transcript of Bizcations combine family trip with corporate travel, and ... · 7/18/2011 · Bizcations combine...
Last Updated: July 18. 2011 1:12AM
Brian J. O'Connor
Bizcations combine family trip with corporate travel,and they're becoming popular
First we cut vacation costs with the "staycation." And now comes the "bizcation," where
the kids accompany a parent on a business trip so corporate travel can double as a family
getaway.
But it's hardly new to me — as long ago as the ancient 1960s, my brother, mom and I
accompanied my dad on his sales trips beyond the Michigan state line, so that we could return to regale the
neighbors with accounts of our visits to Wooster, Ohio, or, if Dad was trying to close a big deal, Akron.
Dad had a simple definition of "vacation:" If the hotel had a pool and the town had a Golden Arches, it was a
vacation.
Here's a handy checklist
These days, according to the latest work styles study by Homewood Suites, 67 percentof business travelers
say they combined leisure travel with a work trip in the past year. That's a 16 percent increase since 2000.
If you're a corporate road warrior thinking of joining the bizcation crowd, stop and ponder these important
questions first:
"Should I turn my next business trip into a bizcation?"
Yes: You work for a company that inspects carnival rides or designs video arcades.
No: You are a crime scene technician, geriatric urologist or U.N. weapons inspector.
"Can my kid help me with my business on the trip?"
No: You are a patent lawyer suing over irrigation systems.
Yes: You are a state police detective looking for a late-model red Pontiac with out-of-state plates. "I see New
Jersey, Daddy!"
"What bizcation locales will be particularly kid-friendly?"
Good: Orlando
Bad: Reno
"But won't Orlando be costly, with all those theme parks?"
Correction: Take Reno, and stick the kid in front of the dollar slots. Even if he doesn't win, it'll still be a whole
bunch cheaper.
"How can I balance work and family time on a bizcation?"
Work: Say, "Gee, I'd love to see your PowerPoint decks, boss, but I've got to go get the kids."
Family: Say, "Gee, I'd love to see your outfits at the American Girl doll store, Aiden, but I've got to go get the
marketing director."
Bonus: Play both strategies simultaneously, and you can slip away for an afternoon all to yourself, either at
the hotel spa or the local lounge.
"Are there any bizcation ideas I should absolutely avoid?"
Los Angeles: With the shutdown of I-405 causing what's being called "Carmageddon," avoid that car-centric
city. If you don't, it'll be you and not your kids crying, "Are we there yet?"
(313) 222-2145
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poll; Oklahoma No. 1
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in 2011; MSU a different story
GM to introduce XTS sedan, smaller ATS in
2012
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on the air — at WCAR-AM
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