Archive for the ‘Travel Records’ Category

Grupo Mayan Resorts: Advice for Corporate Travel

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

Industries that have gone global or companies with an international presence in several countries abroad, require their businesspeople to make frequent trips across cities, states and even countries. Some of these trips are even held in Mexico with one of our Grupo Mayan resorts as the choice accommodation.

This frequent traveling can put a strain on these individuals, both physically and mentally. They can be exhausted in body, or can be so bored in their trips that the joy in traveling is soon lost or forgotten. However, our Grupo Mayan travel experts say that with creative planning, corporate travel can be an exciting event that can provide satisfaction and morale boosters to traveling employees.

The basic aspects of corporate travel that companies focus on includes travel tickets, hotels and accommodations, security of personal and corporate equipment, and the wellbeing of traveling employees. However, our Grupo Mayan travel experts say that managing corporate travel should also include other essential requirements to make the trip hassle-free and entertaining.

To do this, companies should tie up with travel consultants or companies that manage business travel. These companies handle all the requirements needed for the business trips, including travel checklists, profiles and itineraries, available travel options, choice of accommodations and other requirements. Our Grupo Mayan experts say that these companies can work out excellent deals for air transportation and accommodation on destinations frequented by the corporation.

These business travel agencies provide recommendations to travelling employees that are not usually received if travel arrangements are done through corporate channels according to our Grupo Mayan experts. These agencies recommend the best restaurants, theaters, clubs and other destinations that can be used for both business and pleasure purposes.

Some companies, realizing the strain the business travel puts on their professionals and executives sometimes provide incentives for their personnel. Our Grupo Mayan experts say that these incentives include free tickets and accommodation for a family member that could accompany their employee, or provide company-sponsored access to tourist attractions on destination countries. This can add the leisure component to business travels, which can make the trip worthwhile for their employees, according to our Grupo Mayan experts.

Aside from the importance of making corporate travel exciting, companies and employees should also take note of the proper code of conduct necessary for such trips. This is important when traveling to international destinations, particularly for countries that have specific and distinct cultural intricacies. Traveling employees should be well aware of this information to make their trips successful and hassle-free.

Grupo Mayan Resorts: Keeping Track of Business Travel Records

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

One of the most important aspects when engaging on Business Travel, according to our business and travel experts here at Grupo Mayan resorts is for travelers to keep track of all your travel records. Unlike vacation travels, business related travels, particularly those sanctioned by corporations, are officially considered part of the business where you can claim tax deductions and receive reimbursements from the company.

According to our Grupo Mayan experts, keeping track and maintaining accurate documentation is the key and the following are some of the basic tips on how you can achieve this.

  • You must first understand what expenses are deductible for tax purposes, particularly if you are self-employed. According to Grupo Mayan travel experts, this includes meals, which you can deduct up to 50% of the cost, accommodations, transportations and other expenses incurred while conducting your business.
  • Before traveling to your business destination, you should establish first what particular expenses are reimbursable by your employer. This is an important pre-requisite according to Grupo Mayan experts to help you avoid making expenditures, which you cannot reimburse later. Depending on the corporation where you are working, most reimbursable expenses basically include transportation, airfare, lodging, and meals.
  • Our Grupo Mayan travel experts advise business travelers to remember that expenses that were reimbursed by your employers are not tax deductible. This is entirely different if you are self-employed. Anything not reimbursed by your employer can be deducted from your personal tax.
  • Get receipts for every expense you made during your business travels. This is applied to all expenditure, no matter how big or small. It is very important, according to Grupo Mayan experts; to safe keep the original receipts. It is also advised by Grupo Mayan experts to scan or make photocopies of the receipts as a back up. You can sort them out later and retrieve everything that you can use when you liquidate your expenses.
  • On top of keeping your receipts, maintain a journal of every expenses you incurred while on business travel. These includes meals and transportation or even unforeseen expenses or purchases but are required by your business dealings or transactions. Indicate specific locations, dates and the reason for the expenditures according to our Grupo Mayan travel and business experts.
  • If your business destination requires you to get a car rental, include this in your business travel expenses during planning. Keep all receipts and list down the car rental expenses in your journal.

Keeping track and properly documenting your expenses while on business travel is a very important business strategy. This can keep you from trouble when reimbursement time comes if you are employed, or when dealing with the IRS if you own the business or is self-employed.