Business Travel Guide: Useful Web Sites

Since so many trade professionals travel, encountering different cultural customs and occasionally relocating abroad, we have selected links that will help prepare business executives for their impending trips overseas.

This month's edition of Internet Marketing was prepared in collaboration with the Federation of International Trade Associations (FITA) and its compilation of Really Useful Sites for International Trade Professionals, written by John McDonnell. You may subscribe to and view the bimonthly newsletter at FITA's Web site: www.fita.org/useful/index.html.

Expatriate Resources
Employee Relocation Council
The Employee Relocation Council is a non-profit professional membership organization committed to the effective relocation of employees worldwide.
www.erc.org

Expat Exchange
On-line community of over 75,000 people relocating to, living in, or returning from over 140 overseas locations.
www.expatexchange.com

Expat World
Newsletter that provides daily updated information important to expatriates.
www.expatworld.net

ExpatLink
Resources for English- speaking expatriates.
www.expatlink.com

Expatriate Essentials
Company that assists individuals and companies with immigration, taxation, expatriate management, relocation and corporate issues.
www.expat-essentials.com

Cultural and Localization Issues
Across Frontiers
Multimedia and text resources for a cross-cultural training program delivered via CD-ROM, corporate intranet, extranet, and the Internet.
www.acrossfrontiers.com

Arabian Business and Cultural Guide
Tips on behavior in Arab countries.
www.traderscity.com/abcg/culture.htm

Craighead.com
Craighead provides insightful country-specific relocation and business travel information and services for 84 countries.
www.craighead.com

Cultural Awareness International
Cultural awareness training, relocation assistance, and other services.
www.culturalawareness.com

Cultural Issues in Business Communication
An on-line cross-cultural communication tutorial for firms going international.
www.bena.com/ewinters/OnlineTutorial.html

E-Conflict World Encyclopedia
A resource for businesses, tourists, students, and teachers to find out about cultures around the world, to minimize conflict.
www.countryreports.org

Travel Information and Links
American Passport Express
Privately owned courier service that hand delivers passport applications to the U.S. Department of State Passport Agency for processing.
www.americanpassport.com

City Guides and Hotels Worldwide
Detailed and informative guides to over 140 of the world’s major cities. Also has Internet hotel discounts, maps of each city and area, city pictures, weather and climate information, attractions and restaurants, and travel tips.
www.worldexecutive.com/cityguides

Concierge.com
Large site with various travel resources. Includes reservations.
www.concierge.com

Currency Services for Business Travelers
Calculators for international business travelers: The Travel Expenses Calculator; Travel Expenses Calculator; Single Expense Version; Credit Card Charges Calculator; and Foreign Exchange Charges Calculator.
www.xe.com/sitemap.htm#business

Economist.com: Cities Guide
A specialized Web site by The Economist to provide general, travel, and business information on the 10 major cities of the world.
www.economist.com/cities

Encyclopedia of Days
Descriptions of holidays from all over the world. Most of these holidays are grouped alphabetically by country, religion, or topic.
www.shagtown.com/days

Internationalist Business Travel
Extensive information about travel in more than 80 countries. Also useful information about electric current, currency conversions, weights and other measurements, and other travel information.
www.internationalist.com/travel

LatinTrade Travel
Information about traveling in Latin American’s major cities: airlines, hotels, car rentals, transportation options, and visa regulations.
http://latintrade.com/travel/index.cfm

Pinkerton Global Intelligence Services
Detailed analysis about threats to business travelers.
www.pinkertons.com/pgis

TeleAdapt On-line Help Desk
Solutions to problems common when traveling overseas with a laptop computer.
www.teleadaptusa.com/nme/foreigntravel.htm

U.S. State Department: Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets
Official U.S. government warnings for U.S. citizens traveling abroad.
travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html

USA Foreign Entry Requirements
Information for U.S. citizens about entry to most countries.
http://travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html

CIA World Factbook
Comprehensive country profiles highlighting geographic, government, economic, and transnational issues.
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html

WorldSkip
Organizes information on countries’ local news sources, tourism sites, relevant business and government contacts, economies, religions, entertainment, and cultural references, with multilingual presentation.
www.worldskip.com