Corporate America is known for working long hours and underutilizing vacation time and now here’s another large statistic to add to the list. Recently, the American Osteopathic Association estimates that more than 70 percent of office workers spend close to 6 hours per day seated in office chairs. Many think that excessive sitting can lead to chronic health conditions like, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Tangerine Travel has found five strategies that will help frequent office sitters the opportunity to get moving while at a desk:

Break Up Your Day - Try breaking up the work day into half-hour increments where you sit for 20 minutes, stand up and stretch for 8 minutes and then move around for 2 minutes. This can help with circulation as well as burning calories for being constantly in motion.

Desk Exercises - When there is time between a conference call or meetings, take the free time to do desk exercises. Strengthen arms by doing pushups on the edge of a desk, or put the call on speaker and do sets of calf raises that are held for 10 seconds at a time.

Stay Active During Lunch - Instead of going out to eat and sitting down for lunch, take lunch to go, wear comfortable shoes and get a good walk in during the lunch break. Take a friend from the office to help keep the pace up when walking.

Team Bonding - Encourage those who plan office activities to take the next office event outside for a scavenger hunt. It will encourage employees to work together, move around and foster healthy competition to complete the hunt first.

Move Throughout the Office - When in the office for 7+ hours it can be hard to get those steps in. We suggest taking the stairs instead of the elevator, send print jobs to the printer that is farthest from your desk and if there are questions that need to be answered by fellow coworkers, walk over to their desk instead of sending an email or making a phone call.

How do you keep from sitting all day at the office? Comment below or send your ideas to teamtangerine@tangerinetravel.com. Your suggestion could be featured in a follow up blog post for Tangerine Travel.

As we head into a new season, hotels are finding new ways to help Road Warriors unwind. All over the world, properties are rolling out programs beyond the typical spa massage that will leave corporate travelers maintaining a fitness routine, feeling well rested and even partaking in local wellness traditions. Below are several new wellness trends Tangerine Travel has found that could take your trip to the next level.

Surviving the Strip

Las Vegas is one of the most popular destinations for meetings and events as well as weekend getaways. With meet and greets, conferences, trainings and the nightlife many are looking for an efficient way to treat exhaustion or just boost antioxidant consumption. The Underground Spa at MGM Grand is offering REVIV IV therapies that cover a variety of wellness needs by replenishing hydration, aiding recovery from illness or jet lag and revitalizing your overall wellness. Is the thought of an IV treatment not your thing? Make sure to drink lots of water and stay away from indulging in salty treats. You will get off the plane feeling ready to tackle anything.

Exhale the Jet Lag

When traveling to Colorado, most individuals will fight more than just jet lag. Altitude sickness to those who are coming from lower elevations can set in and make a business trip difficult to get through. The locals will tell you to drink water, stand up slowly and try not to overexert yourself for the first few days but hotels like the Viceroy Snowmass and the Broadmoor offer an opportunity to increase your oxygen. The Viceroy Snowmass offers Oxygen Inhalation Therapy and the Broadmoor has a dedicated Oxygen Room where you can inhale 88 percent pure oxygen, allowing travelers to focus on rebounding quickly to ensure a successful trip, uninterrupted by the Rocky Mountain altitude.

Natural Healing

Corporate travel can take on many forms, including incentive and event travel. Many companies utilize the simplicity and ease of Mexico’s all-inclusive resorts and with the wellness trend heading across the border, we suggest you hit the spa in between events to relax. The Viceroy Riviera Maya offers traditional ceremonies with a shaman to encourage natural healing. Traditional ceremonies in a sweat lodge known as a temazcal aid in cleansing the respiratory and digestive systems. In addition to feeling better, this practice allows travelers to have an authentic look into the local culture.

Each idea above can offer something to the busy corporate traveler. If you are interested in extending your stay in one of these locations or booking a wellness retreat please reach out to teamtangerine@tangerinetravel.com

Get out and explore the world! The variety of cruising experiences that Tangerine Travel can offer you makes setting sail an option for almost any person who wants to get away. From the change of beautiful scenery, unlimited entertainment and exceptional culinary experiences you can go nearly anywhere, from tropical destinations to river cruises or even Antarctica. Tangerine Travel's latest vacation blog can help those who are interested in a cruise understand the benefits of this travel style.

More for Your Money

The cruise combines all of th necessary vacation components that you would otherwise pay for individually. Instead of renting a hotel room, eating out at restaurants, paying for shows and paying for transportation individually, all of those things are paid for when you purchase your cruise vacation through Tangerine Travel. You can incur some extra expenses if you choose to do any excursions while on shore or drink alcoholic beverages. Overall, you are likely to get more for your money with a cruise.

Enjoy Variety

Cruises vary in length, destination, price, amenities, theme and activities. This variety allows you to customize your vacation experience to fit your needs. Many cruise ships cater to families with on board child care and lots of children's activities. Other cruises target singles as the primary audience. When working with a Tangerine Travel cruise specialist they will offer you ideas that will help you get what you want most out of your trip. 

See More in One Trip

For a regular vacation, you typically pick one destination for the duration of the trip. With a cruise, you get to see several destinations on one trip. Instead of only visiting Grand Cayman for a week, you might also see Cozumel and other Caribbean ports of call. Now many cruise ships are sailing at night that gives you more time to spend at port exploring. 

Less Planning When Booking with Tangerine Travel

Booking your next cruise with Tangerine Travel saves you time on the planning. We offer you several choices, can find great specials and you choose the cruise that fits your preferences and pack for your trip. With a regular vacation you have several components that your travel adivor can put together from where to stay and where to eat to what to do for every day of your vacation. Deciding on all of the travel factors can be exhausting, with a cruise however, everything is at your fingertips. 

Ready to book your next cruise? Call us at 800.678.8202 or email us at vacation@tangerinetravel.com.

As corporate travel continues to grow so does the amount of work it takes to get to the destination without a hitch. With fall just around the corner, Tangerine Travel has come up with five strategies to help you be more organized and productive when preparing for your next business trip.

Pre-pack Your Ziploc Bag

Purchase your travel size-sized toiletries and place them in the appropriate sized Ziploc Bag before getting to the airport. Keep your baggie where you can easily slip remove it when you go through security. When flying internationally, many airports will offer these bags for you to fill…this can be a major time killer so do it before you go and enjoy the extra time you get from breezing through the security line.

Your Airplane Survival Kit

Make sure to include items such as earphones, lip balm, eye drops and travel-sized tooth brush and tooth paste. Place these things in your small carry-on like a brief case, handbag or back pack. Once at the airport purchase a water and light snack in the event that you are delayed while on the airplane. Your survival kit will have you landing refreshed and ready to take on the trip!

There is an App for That

In addition to packing the essentials you want to make sure your personal device has the downloaded essentials. Update your music playlist with the latest hits, or create a new playlist that can get you in the mood for travel. Load your phone or personal device with your favorite apps such as organzational app, Tripit, social media app, Instagram, and Pzizz, a power nap app that helps keep you well rested while on the go.

Work and Pleasure

Use the first part of your trip for business and the trip home for yourself. Work on a presentation or read notes on the way to your destination to be prepared for meetings or appointments. On the way home take the time to read a good book or take a little nap. Many times business trips have you working around the clock, and taking a few hours to decompress will do the body well.

Call Clients

When you have to be at the airport at least two hours early you are often left with plenty of down time. Bring a list of clients to call or accounts that need to be checked on. You will have the opportunity to brush up on some business development by reaching out and it is a great way to make travel time more productive.

Tell us what helps you prepare for a trip in the comments section below! 

Technology on the road can be convenient, yet daunting.  You love the functionality your tablet provides, but you may also be baffled by the thousands of apps available.  We have found, with a few simple additions, you can optimize your tablet to be a great traveling companion.

Using your tablet as a Laptop

If you do not like typing on the tablet, the best travel option is to purchase a wireless keyboard, which does not need to be docked and is easy to carry around.  If you need a word processor on the road, there are many options but one of the most popular is Google Drive, which allows users to create and edit documents and save them in several different formats.  Another option is to use a remote terminal app that will allow you to access the programs on your laptop from your tablet. 

Tablet Trip Planning 

If you are a corporate traveler and need help organizing your travel or if you are looking to use a program that works alongside your Concur App, TripIt is the way to go.  Instead of keeping track of emails or printing out hard copies of reservations, TripIt compiles all of your travel information and generates complete itineraries easily accessed through your mobile device.  The most helpful packing tool for your tablet is Pack Point, which allows you to do organize more than just a packing list and syncs up with TripIt.  You can create a pre-trip to do list and organize your entire packing list into categories like essentials, clothing and accessories.  If you are drawing a blank on what to pack, Pack Point provides sample lists for all different travel types.

Getting the Most From Your Tablet at Your Destination

Once you have arrived at your travel destination it is time to put your tablet to use.  Depending on your style of travel, there are plenty of apps from which to choose.  If you are in an urban setting, AllSubway compiles comprehensive metro and light rail maps for more than 100 cities around the world.  If you are in a foreign country, you will need the very simple and straightforward Currency app.  You select the currencies you want to convert, the amount, and you will know the most current exchange rate.  AroundMe is a great general travel resource that offers a view of different categories of locations like banks, restaurants and shopping to determine what is around you. Once you find your location in the app, you will be provided with a detailed map to the closest location.

Airport officials around the U.S. are looking to change the way we travel as the focus on health and wellness continues to rise. Some airports are focusing on healthy travel to separate themselves from others while some want to give a better overall experience with the constant lag at security check points, fast food joints and the overall time it takes to prepare to get on a plane for each traveler. Check out some of the great things these airports are doing to keep passengers active!

• Baltimore Washington International Airport offers each passenger a “Fit2Fly” brochure that guides passengers to all exercise options available as well as suggestions for healthy menu items throughout the airport. The airport also has green signs throughout the terminal that direct passengers along 2-mile-long walking trails.

• San Francisco Airport can put the Zen back into travel with its quiet yoga rooms. To ensure a stress free environment no shoes, cell phones, or talking are allowed. All yoga equipment including mats and blocks are provided to offer a well-rounded calming experience while waiting for your flight.

• O’Hare International Airport is a huge hub and for those waiting for their flight or with a long layover, getting a workout in at the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport hotel’s fitness center is a great way to let off steam and relax. The hotel is located inside the airport on the Mezzanine level of Terminal 3. The gym offers cardio machines, free weights, a lap pool, steam room, sauna and showers. A day pass costs $20 and gives you access to all areas of the gym.

Stay Connected

For those who need a constant connection to the office, Tangerine Travel recommends using cellular modems such as USB sticks and Wi-Fi hotspots. USB sticks are portable allowing for travelers to access a connection with a single laptop. Mobile Wi-Fi hotspots allow travelers to link multiple tablets, laptops and phone to the internet. Check with your mobile service provider to help you in making the best connectivity decision for your device. We hope these choices will give you the most flexible options when travel and connectivity need to work hand in hand.

Stop Germs

Travel can lead to some pretty nasty bugs and to help beat whatever could be caught on a plane we suggest keeping a small bottle of hand sanitizer on hand at all times to ensure you are getting rid of the germs after touching things such as handles or  seat belts. In addition to constantly sanitizing your hands make sure to wipe down your tray table, the seat back pocket and surrounding areas and arm rests. With many people touching those airplane items and little to no sanitation between flights it is best to know that you went the extra step to stay germ free. 

Noise Free

When you are heading on those early morning or late night flights, or need the extra silence when heading to sleep you can forget the expensive, noise-canceling headphones and use some soft foam disposable earplugs. They are inexpensive, easier to pack in a purse or brief case, easy to replace and are take-off/landing friendly.  If you are still looking for something more than traditional ear plugs and you are ok with breaking the bank try the Bose sound canceling ear buds. They fit into the ear perfectly, cut out noise and are not bulky like other headphones. Either way, the quieter your experience the better rested you will feel when traveling.

Healthy Lifestyle

When traveling, fast food seems to be the only option when at the airport, on the drive in to the office or when taking a lunch in a new city. A healthy lifestyle can help aid jet lag and help you feeling less bloated after a flight. Our corporate travel advisors suggest picking proteins over carbs, because they take longer to digest and burn, allowing you to feel satisfied for a longer period of time. Road Warriors should also always choose water as the preferred beverage to quench your thirst as soda can dehydrate and bloat you. 

Q. Why should I use Concur Travel & Expense instead of calling an agent directly?

Concur Travel allows you to make plans quickly after viewing your travel options. You are able to use a self-service system while taking advantage of having an agent when it matters most.  Our technology provides a list of all your travel plans; alerts you about travel news and allows you to be organized while on the go.

Q. What procedure should I use if I have two or more travelers going to the same destination?   (THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE WITH SPECIFIC PERMISSION OR TRAVEL ADMIN RIGHTS)

A. When the first booking is made, you will be able to clone the reservation.  This action can be found under the “Upcoming Trips” tab. After selecting the trip action to clone, you will then pull over the next traveler’s profile so that all frequent guest numbers and credit cards are captured.  Finish by adding any additional cars or hotels and then you are ready to purchase.

Q. Is my information entered in the travel profile shared with or seen by anyone?

A. The only people who have access to this information are the traveler and the travel arranger; however the travel arranger does not have access to your personal credit card information. Your credit card number cannot be accessed because the site is secure. Only the last four numbers are shown.

Q. I frequently travel to the same destination, stay in the same hotel and rent the same car. Is there an easy way to book this trip?

A. Yes, you can create a template for any reoccurring trip. Find the Action button in your “Trip Library” and select the option to create a “Template.”

Q. What is the difference between Hold Trip and Purchase Now?

A. “Purchase Now” will purchase and ticket your flight as well as confirm car and hotel reservations. “Hold Trip” will save your itinerary and confirm the car and hotel but does not ticket your flight. You can come back later to purchase the flight, but remember airfare is subject to change until ticketed. In order to prevent a hotel no-show charge, you will want to cancel a reserved itinerary.

Q. What should I do if I book an air reservation on Concur and a few hours later decide to add a car and/or hotel?

A. To add or modify your trip, click the name of the trip in the “Upcoming Trips” tab and then choose the addition specific to the segment such as car and/or hotel.  You can make these changes before your ticket is issued. 

Q Where do I view my itinerary?

You can view your itinerary in the “Upcoming Trips” section of My Concur or Travel pages. In addition, Concur will email your confirmation immediately after you confirm your trip. Once ticketed, Tangerine Travel will email your final itinerary.

American work culture calls for constant movement. The hustle to be the best in your industry can be rewarding but can also take its toll when trying to find the perfect work/life balance. Burnout can affect us both physically and mentally and with these help tips, we hope you can avoid the burnout blues.

Lead Through Delegation

It is time to embrace teamwork driven ideals and ditch the idea that tasks are easier when they are done only by you. Utilize individuals in the office who excel at things that you (and the job) can live without doing. Many coworkers will be excited to help with tasks that they may not have done before. When you leave the office make sure to delegate at home to create the perfect work/life balance. Hire someone to clean the house so you will have more time to relax!

Stay Positive

Focus on keeping the perspective at both work and home. If things feel like they are becoming overwhelming, take a deep breath and think about the completion of a similar job that had a successful outcome. Prioritize your tasks in a way that will make you look forward to doing each of them. There is something that makes checking things off your to-do list feel so good!

Focus on You

The best way to steer clear of burnout is to constantly evaluate what makes you excited both at work and at home. Once you understand what makes you happy, shift your focus to rest and relaxation. Always make time for your morning run, or a monthly massage, or happy hour with friends. Once you find a great balance for you, exhaustion and burnout will be far from your mind!

Set Clear Boundaries

When at work it can be hard to say “no” to those who ask for your help. At home, it can be difficult to say no to your kids or other family members or friends when they ask for your participation. Letting go of worrying what everyone else thinks when you take a moment for yourself is the key to great balance. Knowing what you can take on as a coworker or family member is as important as knowing what you cannot. People will respect your decision because you will be able to give the greatest amount of effort to the things that are most important and everything else in your life will easily fall into place.