Will technological advances make biz travel obsolete?
#1
Original Poster
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Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Fulltime travel/mostly Europe
Programs: UA 1.7 MM;; Accor & Marriott Pt; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 17,927
Will technological advances make biz travel obsolete?
There's a full-page an ad in my local newspaper today for web conferencing. It's aimed at biz fliers and makes the pitch that you can forget about jet lag and being away from your family because with a Web browser and a phone "...you can hold live, interactive meetings with up to 2,500 people over the Internet."
I also met someone who's involved with one of these companies who thinks that (or maybe hopes that) this is going to dramatically reduce the amount of business airline travel in the near future.
Business travelers, what do you think? How much of your current business travel could be replaced with something like this?
I also met someone who's involved with one of these companies who thinks that (or maybe hopes that) this is going to dramatically reduce the amount of business airline travel in the near future.
Business travelers, what do you think? How much of your current business travel could be replaced with something like this?
#2
Join Date: Apr 1999
Posts: 3,709
We do an awful lot of customer support via modem and fax, but for involved things like training, there is no substitute for being there.
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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."
#3




Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: ABQ
Programs: SPEBSQSA
Posts: 3,794
I think it really depends on your business.
As a Project Consultant, I have run projects for my company in the Bay Area remotely from Arizona since 1996. The only real travel has been for training staff on software applications across the country.
It made things a little interesting this past year when I switched departments. They wanted me to move to CA; I refused. After seeing my track record (and talking with my previous managers,) I got the job anyway!
I miss the travel, but also enjoy being home all the time. By the way, I have yet to meet my manager face-to-face!
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The only difference between ordinary service and extraordinary service is a little EXTRA.
-- Bob
As a Project Consultant, I have run projects for my company in the Bay Area remotely from Arizona since 1996. The only real travel has been for training staff on software applications across the country.
It made things a little interesting this past year when I switched departments. They wanted me to move to CA; I refused. After seeing my track record (and talking with my previous managers,) I got the job anyway!
I miss the travel, but also enjoy being home all the time. By the way, I have yet to meet my manager face-to-face!
------------------
The only difference between ordinary service and extraordinary service is a little EXTRA.
-- Bob

