Mobile Office Poll Results

Business travelers get their work done in the hotel, on planes and trains, or not at all

© Dan Florio

May 31, 2006

Laptop Lane Airport Business Center, Dan Florio

Where do you the majority of your business done when traveling? Your April/May 2006 poll votes were revealing.

Join the Business Travel Location discussion!


The copyright of the article Mobile Office Poll Results in Business Travel is owned by Dan Florio. Permission to republish Mobile Office Poll Results must be granted by the author in writing.



Comments
Jun 7, 2006 9:03 PM
Jennifer W. Miner :
Interesting review of the poll, Dan. I'm thinking, just from casual observation, that a lot of people get their work done in Starbuck's these days, too. I can't walk into one <i>anywhere</i> without seeing a couple of suits hashing things out, or a person sipping her latte and tapping at her keyboard.
Jen
http://luxuryresorttravel.suite101.com
Jun 8, 2006 1:09 AM
Joy Butler :
My last out of town travel was with a patient to a hospital. I was able to get my work done on a hospital library computer. There were plenty available and it was nice and quiet.
Jun 8, 2006 9:45 AM
Jill Florio :
When I'm out of town and staying put in one area, I really rely on my hotel's WIFI. I like to have a nice big desk to spread out on, plug in my travel mouse, use my external keyboard and yak on Skype or my cell.

However if I am stuck somewhere with no Internet access, public libraries and coffeeshops are my first choice as work stations. Most public libraries these days have free WIFI. A lot of coffeeshops have to be paid for, which bugs me. I do try to find the free WIFI ones.

Amid traveling, I am very productive in airports (they have WIFI and outlets). I also get a lot done on planes (usually on my smaller devices or a regular pad and pen).

I agree that conferences are a LOT of fun, but I am usually so exhausted I never even open my computer at them. It's just so ambitious to even bring it. I need a Blackberry.
Jun 8, 2006 11:55 AM
Jodi Gallegos :
I love being in an anonymous city, locked in my hotel room working. The silence, paired with limited demands on my time or attention are very conducive to writing/working. I'm a little on the ADD side so trains/planes or other public places are too distracting for me.
Jun 8, 2006 1:38 PM
Dan Florio :
That's very true about Starbucks, Jen. I like Tullys but hate that I have to pay for the WIF, so I don't use their hotspot. I have some more info about working at the coffeeshop - many of which are free, esp if you buy something:

Here are the articles:
<a href="http://businesstravel.suite101.com/article.cfm/CoffeeshopLaptopEtiquette"> Coffeeshop Laptop Etiquette</a>
<a href="http://businesstravel.suite101.com/blog.cfm/1144">Laptop Table Hogs</a>

Dan Florio
<a href="http://businesstravel.suite101.com/">Business Travel</a>
Jun 8, 2006 1:42 PM
Dan Florio :
Joy, that's a GREAT idea about hospital libraries. It's always worth checking somewhere you are stuck at, if there is a WIFI connection or a computer work area. School campuses and school libraries are another common place you can grab a public computer or a wireless connection.

Dan Florio
<a href="http://businesstravel.suite101.com/">Business Travel</a>
Jun 8, 2006 1:44 PM
Dan Florio :
Yeah, Jill and I are just cheapskates. We don't like paying for wireless waves. We always pick <a href="http://businesstravel.suite101.com/article.cfm/FindingHotelswithWIFI">hotels with free WIFI</a> when we can.

We spend so much on electronics with hardly a thought, though. LOL. It's all what you are willing to pay for.

Dan Florio
<a href="http://businesstravel.suite101.com/">Business Travel</a>
Jun 8, 2006 1:46 PM
Dan Florio :
Jodi, I have the opposite problem - I don't like it being too quiet. I always work with a DVD on in the background, or a sports program or a movie soundtrack like Lord of the Rings. I can do this easily in hotels. I really tune out well on planes and trains. Unless there are crying children. That one is harder to ignore.

Have you thought about noise cancelling headphones? I am checking into those actually (some at Sharper Image look good) and will have some reviews when I actually go out and buy some. Anyone ever use them?

Dan Florio
<a href="http://businesstravel.suite101.com/">Business Travel</a>
Jun 8, 2006 6:20 PM
Kelby Carr :
I am the same way. The silence can be deafening! Heheh. I can't even fall asleep without the TV on, but maybe I'm sharing too much.

Anyway, I've gotten to the point now where I always look for hotels with free wi-fi. It used to be harder, but now I'm seeing it in smaller, boutique hotels in smaller towns. What's interesting is I've noticed "nicer" hotels, ones that already tend to charge more, seem more inclined to charge for wi-fi sometimes. But you can often find a little mom-and-pop inn that offers it for free to attract customers.
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