With a mission to inform, empower, celebrate and advocate for British Columbia's current and aspiring business leaders, BCBusiness go behind the headlines and bring readers face to face with the key issues and people driving business in B.C.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1512670
CARRY ON If you've felt the pinch when hosting colleagues who visit Vancouver, Amex's annual Global Business Travel report confirms record-breaking hotel occu- pancy over the past year in the city: 89 percent. The Hotel Monitor report predicts an average 7.8-percent rise in hotel rates across Canada in 2024. BEHIND THE DESK Checking in on hotel rates and the latest airline and airport perks, plus travel tips from an industry insider by Charlene Rooke Charlene Rooke is a Vancouver-based wine and spirits journalist and educator, and a former editor of travel publications like Air Canada's enRoute, Fairmont and a private-jet magazine J E T S E T T E R In the fast-changing public relations industry, a decade-old company has the lustre of true longevity. Vancouver-based Serena PR recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary, although founder Laura Serena initially discov- ered her passion for travel at what's now called Destination Vancouver, promoting the city around the globe. Serena frequently tours travel writers around both luxe and rugged spots in B.C. and the Yukon. In cold-weather season, she packs Davines OI Hand Balm and Travel Yukon's stylish, artist-designed toque and buff. For warmer climates, she protects her skin with Q-Mist, infused with molecular hydrogen. The seasoned business traveller recommends joining hotel loyalty programs for points and perks—think late check-outs and upgrades or more unique amenities, like a Westin Bayshore teddy bear that's "fun for business travel- lers to bring home to the little ones." Hotel reviews and feed- back, she says, are incredibly important, and are avidly read by staff. "It's an opportunity to address errors and gather suggestions for better service." Along with cash tips, she suggests posting kudos for extraordinary staff members in an online review or on social—it's one way for travellers to dabble in the power of good PR. WINE WITHOUT FEES The bottles aren't free, but flying them back could be. Fly a case of wine free within the U.S. between 32 Alaska Airlines destinations (including many in Wash- ington, Oregon and California) under the Wine Flies Free program (alaskaair.com/ wine). It's also partnering with the Wine Check (thewinecheck.com), which makes sturdy nylon wheeled wine-carrying bags. Now, if only getting that wine across the Canadian border was so cheap and easy... CUSTOMS WITHOUT LINEUPS Helsinki Airport could become a no-lineup paradise for Finnish citizens if the world's fi st Digital Travel Credentials pilot takes flight. Currently testing for some Finnair departures to the U.K., fast and smooth customs passage is possible with voluntary pre-registration for a digital passport in the Finn DTC Pilot app (raja.fi/en)—hopefully a sign of global advancements to come. PACKING WITHOUT CLOTHES Japan Airlines is testing an innovative Any Wear, Anywhere (anywearanywhere.store) service that offers passengers a weather- perfect wardrobe for their stay in Japan. The premise is that reductions in luggage weight could contribute to cutting carbon emissions for its fleet 54 B C B U S I N E S S . C A J A N U A R Y 2 0 24