News Releases

    MARKHAM, ON, Oct. 15 /CNW/ - American Express Business Travel, a global
industry leader in business travel management and consulting, today published
10 top cost-saving tips for road warriors. With the global economy creating
new and mounting pressures on bottom lines across all industries, business
travellers can significantly impact the successfulness and efficiency of their
company's travel program.
    "Companies are seeking opportunities to maximize savings without
sacrificing the tangible benefits of a robust travel and entertainment
program," said Lyell Farquharson, Vice President and General Manager, Business
Travel Canada, American Express. "When clients seek our counsel on the best
ways to protect their travel investments during the current economic
environment, in addition to working to shape a unique and comprehensive
policy, we recommend various simple strategies for travellers that help ensure
spending efficiency during trips and increase the return on investment."The top 10 tips for travellers released by American Express Business
    Travel today follow:

    1.  Plan Twice, Book Once - Travellers can incur many fees for changes
        with airlines often charging $150 or more and hotels charging "no
        show" fees of $50 or more. Double-checking to confirm appointments
        before booking can help you save on these potential added charges.
    2.  Pack Light - As airlines move to unbundle services, travellers can
        minimize any costs by packing and checking the least number of bags
        as possible. For longer business trips, the cost of dry cleaning may
        be cheaper than checking extra luggage for extra shirts and pants.
        Overnight delivery and luggage forwarding services are also an option
        if you have a lot of materials or samples to bring on a business
        trip.
    3.  Check Your Paperwork - Ensure that your passport is current and that
        you have any necessary visas for your trip in advance. Expired or
        missing paperwork can delay your trip and add costly charges for
        expedited applications. Most travel management companies can provide
        visa/passport support before you travel.
    4.  Be Flexible To Find Savings - For travel to or from an area with
        multiple airports, ask your travel counsellor to search alternate
        airports or use this option in your online booking tool. For example,
        when flying to New York City, fares may be less expensive enough at
        JFK to offset the incremental taxi fare difference for a trip to
        Laguardia.
    5.  Watch for Waste - Millions of tickets go unused, even though most
        non-refundable fares are valid for travel for up to a year. While
        there may be change fees, travellers can still save money by not
        letting these unused tickets go to waste. There are various products
        available, like TicketTRAX for example, which can help travellers
        keep track of and re-use these tickets.
    6.  Employees That Stay Together, Save Together - Some companies are
        instituting room-sharing policies for co-workers travelling together.
        Along the same lines, sharing car service or taxis to and from the
        airport is an easy way to save. If you're on different flights, plan
        to meet your co-workers at an airport lounge and travel to the hotel
        together, instead of meeting at the hotel.
    7.  Big Ticket Items Can Mean Big Savings - Complex international
        itineraries can offer opportunities for significant savings. Having
        travel counsellors plan these trips for you saves you time (which you
        can use to focus on your business) and allows you to take advantage
        of their knowledge on the best airlines, fare classes, specials and
        more to ensure you get the lowest fare.
    8.  Plan Ahead, and Stay In Touch - The earlier you book air tickets and
        hotel rooms, the more likely it is that you'll find a lower rate.
        Many hotels will offer you a lower rate if the price for your trip
        falls after you've booked it. Plan your trips as early as you can and
        ask your supplier for a discount if you see the rate drop.
    9.  Stretch Your Stay to Stretch Your Dollar - With the resurgence of
        "minimum stay requirements," postponing your return trip from a
        Friday until a Sunday or Monday can create additional savings. If
        possible, considering extending your trip to include a weekend
        vacation in the same destination.
    10. Oldies But Goodies - The "classic" opportunities still exist for
        travellers, and some are even more common now with higher airline
        loads. Whenever possible, you should look for opportunities to get
        "bumped" for a free voucher, select destinations that are "off-
        season" (e.g. for team meetings) and be flexible with your travel
        dates.About American Express Business Travel

    American Express Business Travel
(www.americanexpress.com/businesstravel), a division of the American Express
Company, is dedicated to helping its clients realize the greatest possible
value from their investment in travel through increased cost savings,
outstanding customer service and greater spend control. For small businesses,
medium-sized enterprises and multinational corporations, American Express
Business Travel provides a combination of industry-leading booking technology,
travel management consulting expertise, strategic sourcing and supplier
negotiation support, and customer service available online and offline, around
the world.

    About American Express in Canada

    American Express in Canada operates as Amex Bank of Canada and Amex
Canada Inc. Both are wholly owned subsidiaries of the New York based American
Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., the largest operating unit of
the American Express Company. Amex Bank of Canada is the issuer of American
Express Cards in Canada. Amex Canada Inc. operates the Corporate Travel,
Travel Services Network and Travellers Cheques divisions in Canada. American
Express opened its first offices in Toronto and Hamilton in 1853 and now
employs 3,700 Canadians coast-to-coast.