Whether you’re a casual business traveler only taking trips for things like industry conferences or you’re a regular business traveler, you probably know about all of the basic business travel products — luggage, laptop bags / briefcases, plugs and adapters, etc. But sometimes the basics aren’t enough. Here are ten cool business travel gadgets and other business travel products you might not have yet.

1. USB Rechargeable Batteries

Do you hate having to carry extra batteries with you when you travel, whether for a camera, cell phone, or something else, just because you can never be sure when you’ll have access to a charger? If so, USB rechargeable batteries might be a perfect business travel product for you. No bulky recharging docks necessary — you just charge the batteries through your laptop or other USB compatible device.

Right now you can only get AA USB rechargeable batteries called USBCELLs, but in the future, USBCELL.com will also be releasing AAA, 9 volt, and cell phone batteries that can be recharged using your USB device.

Credit: USBCELL.com

Credit: USBCELL.com

2. Trackstick

Are you terrible with directions? Does your company want to keep better track of your business travel? In either case, you might want to consider taking a Trackstick with you on your next business trip. These little GPS trackers come in several varieties from personal trackers to pro models. Set them up in your rental car with a clear view of the sky, and your Trackstick will remember your driving routes. Just plug it into a USB port on your laptop if you get lost and need to retrace your steps (the Trackstick exports your GPS data to Google Maps for you), or bring it back to the office so your employer can download and export travel data for company records.

Trackstick Mini - Credit: Trackstick.com

Trackstick II - Credit: Trackstick.com

3. Trace Me Luggage Tracker

Have you ever lost your luggage while traveling for business? Worse, have you ever lost your luggage and not gotten it back? If so, this handy little business travel product might leave you resting easier. Never worry about untraceable luggage again.

With the durable Trace Me Luggage Tracker tags attached to your bags, you won’t have to worry about them falling off. The barcode on the tags ties your luggage to your unique registration details in a database accessed by luggage handling personnel and law enforcement agencies. Why should your belongings end up auctioned off because of a little airport mishap where your bags can’t be traced back to you? Never again with the Trace Me Luggage Tracker!

Trace Me Luggage Tracker - Credit: TraceMeLuggageTracker.com

4. Iqua SUN Solar Powered Bluetooth Headset

Whether you’re an eco-conscious business traveler or simply an efficient one who doesn’t want to load down luggage with unnecessary chargers and cables, a solor powered Bluetooth headset could be a good product for you on your next business trip.

The Iqua SUN was the world’s first solar powered Bluetooth headset, and it can be charged on either outdoor or inside light (so don’t worry if you face a few gray days on your trip). Technologically sound, space-saving, and environmentally friendly — what more could you ask for in a business travel gadget?

Iqua SUN - Credit: Iqua.com

5. Electronic Translator

If your business traveling consists of visiting several international locations, and you don’t speak the languages fluently, an electronic translator like the Nyrius 12 Language Talking Translator might come in handy.

The biggest perk of this electronic translator over others is that it’s a talking translator. Not only can you see the translations, but you’ll learn how to say the words properly when asking the locals for help, ordering a meal, or getting directions.

Credit: Amazon.com

6. Flat Resistance Bands

Not all business travel products have to be cool little gadgets. Sometimes it’s about simplicity. That’s the case when you want to continue your workouts away from home on business trips.

Resistance bands are natural options. They’re portable and lightweight, and can give you a good workout in confined spaces like hotel rooms. However, the popular tube-style resistance bands with handles can be a bit too bulky when packed in your luggage. These flat resistance bands do the trick. They can be folded flat and stored in sealed plastic bags (to keep the rubbery smell away from clothing), and they take up less room in your suitcase.

Credit: Amazon.com

7. Amazon Kindle / Amazon Kindle DX

I’m actually not a supporter of e-book readers in general (for many reasons, one being that they’re just another piece of technology to be stuck carrying around when other options exist that can do the same thing and more, with similar sizes, and for similar price ranges). However, if you normally take long flights for business traveling, and you like to carry a few magazines on board with you, then a Kindle might at least save you some space and weight of lugging the paper versions around.

You can get the regular Kindle if your biggest concern is compact space, or if you want a larger reading area, you can try the Kindle DX (both pictured below).

Amazon Kindle - Credit: Amazon.com

Amazon Kindle DX - Credit: Amazon.com

8. Instant Cell Phone Charger

Chances are good that your cell phone will be glued to your ear during a significant portion of your business trip — checking in with clients, checking back in with the office, etc. There’s also a chance you’ll find yourself in a situation at least once where your battery is dying and you don’t have access to an outlet or charger (it never fails to happen when you can’t afford it to).

If that’s a concern for you, a simple and affordable option exists — instant cell phone chargers like the Eveready Energizer Energi instant cell phone charger pictured below. For less than ten bucks you’ll have a backup plan when your cell phone unexpectedly needs a jolt of juice.

Credit: Amazon.com

9. Airline Comfort Set

Traveling on a cramped airplane is no excuse not to be as comfortable as you can. You should be well-rested and in the right mindset for work when you arrive at your destination.

One of the best ways to do that is to either purchase an airline comfort set like the one pictured below, or put your own together (just combine your favorite compact pillow, lightweight blanket — you don’t want it to take up too much room in your bag, so a throw works nicely, and an eye mask). You could throw in some earplugs or headphones and your favorite mp3 player too, and enjoy as peaceful a flight as possible.

Credit: Amazon.com

10. Global Phone

Sometimes your regular mobile phone isn’t enough. If you travel internationally for business regularly, a global phone is a must-have business travel gadget. While you can rent them, the cost really adds up. If you’ll be traveling overseas more than once this year, it might be worth investing in your own.

The model pictured below is the National Geographic Talk Abroad Duet Travel Phone. It comes with a UK-based phone number setup, and allows you to receive free incoming calls in over 60 countries while you’re away (making it easy to keep in touch with the boss back in the office while better managing costs). This model has dual SIM card capabilities, allowing you to add an extra line for local calls if you prefer.

Credit: Amazon.com

What other business travel gadgets or other business travel products do you consider must-haves when going on a business trip? Leave a comment and share your favorites with other business travelers looking to make life easier.

Even if all those size-zero clothes had no effect on us, we are forced to start thinking slim now, just in case we end up on a parallel scale along with the baggage. It certainly would not be a pleasant sight, if we weigh more than our baggage.

As the price of fuel reaches sky-high, charges on airline tickets may include both the weight of the passengers and their baggage.

All this may sound far-fetched but it may just come true. Airline CEOs are said to be letting their imagination go wild. They seem to have even begun to think in terms of charging passengers based on their weight.

They cannot be blamed, the fuel costs that almost tripled since 2000, now account for as much as 40% of the operating costs for some airline carriers. To be able to survive, Airlines are forced to come up with innovative ideas to reduce costs and increase revenues.

Singapore Airlines’ shares have gone tumbling down by 8.9% this year and they are doing all they can to cut down costs. According to their chief executive officer Chew Choon Seng, “we are trying to lessen the weight of the aircraft by removing the unnecessary quantities of water.”

Robert Mann, an aviation consultant feels that with the US Airlines reporting losses of about $1.7 billion in the first-quarter and with the oil prices going up to $133.17 a barrel on May 21, which is almost double from last year, fares based on the weight of the passengers may be a sensible step to take. In fact, Southwest Airlines are doing something similar, asking passengers to buy a second seat if their girth hinders the armrest from lowering, as it means inconveniencing the passenger in the next seat.

The weight based ticket sales may be unrealistic and airlines may really not get down to implementing this yet, but analysts say that the airlines are in a desperate situation where they need to enforce steps with immediate effect, to be able to save on costs.

Even if they have not actually started weighing passengers, airlines are taking other steps to keep costs down, such as Japan Airlines Corp is using 20% lighter crockery in their first class and business class cabins and US Airways Group has eliminated snacks. Belgium’s Brussels Airlines announced their plans on slowing down to reduce costs of fuel. Even Southwest Airlines is flying slower by 72 seconds, and this itself saves 8.7 gallons of fuel for each of the airline’s daily flights. Delta Air Lines is charging $25 for telephone reservations and American Airlines started charging $15 for each checked bag.

These measures of slowing down, being adopted by the airlines, will also help in reducing the airline emissions of global warming greenhouse gases.

This move of weighing passengers may just prove to be beneficial to the passengers too, as this would make people more health conscious and help them win their war with obesity.

Imagine buses running as fast on a road filled with traffic as they would if roads were empty. Buses do not stop at red lights and they are not breaking the signal. Sounds like a riddle, but this is what is happening in the United States and Canada these days.

A unique method of road travel, which is the dream of every commuter, is now made possible. Bus routes have been equipped with wireless technology, which turns a red light to green – “on command.”

As the buses reach an intersection, signal lights either turn green from red or stay green a few minutes longer. This way the buses do not have to stop and continue to travel fast. This method is said to be environment friendly as there is less pollution and more fuel savings, all because of lack of idling.

This unique technology that is called the “signal preemption,” can only be used by vehicles that are equipped with a GPS link and radio transmitter. The vehicle relays its location and speed to a computer that controls the traffic light. The light switches to green as the vehicle approaches the signal. Emergency vehicles can set up more green lights as they go.

This technology is already being used in ninety-eight metropolitan areas in the United States, in more than 30000 intersections. At least 90% of all intersections are using this technology in some places, such as Bellingham, Washington; Syracuse, New York; Boise City, Idaho; and Eugene, Oregon.

Houston reports that after it introduced the signal preemption technology, the travel time for emergency vehicles that are equipped with transmitters has been reduced by almost 23%, which makes all the difference for emergencies such as patients with cardiac arrest. Since the emergency vehicles go faster, the need for fire stations on the route reduces, thus saving on construction costs.

This idea of the signal preemption technology was created almost as far back as in the 1970s, when 3M came up with a system that allowed emergency vehicles change traffic signals with pulses transmitted to receivers fixed above the roadways. Some cities could not integrate the preemption technology into the old traffic light controllers. But the fact remains that the technology worked well.

Later, in the year 1979, 3M came out with advanced technology that was sold under the brand, Opticom, where it allowed for two levels of priority; a higher level for emergency vehicles, which allows them to change traffic lights immediately and a lower level for other vehicles, which can afford to wait if changing the light completely meant problems.

As is wont to happen, hackers got hang of the technology, and they began misusing it with the use of mail-order infrared transmitters that switch red lights to green. This is when 3M started adding encryption codes to stop all these monkeyshines.

The latest Opticom advancements make it possible to even pinpoint the location and speed of the vehicle. When a bus with GPS nears an intersection, it can take over the traffic light, and the computer also calculates the expected time of arrival and decides whether to give a green light or reduce the length of the red light. It also checks if the turn signal of the bus is on and decides whether to turn the left arrow or right arrow green.

Buses that have GPS can also tell the computers whether they are behind or ahead of schedule and also if there are any passengers onboard. However, empty buses and those buses that are ahead of schedule will have to wait at the red light just like other vehicles.

The GPS system from Opticom costs $5300 for every intersection and $3000 for each vehicle. Canadian firm Torquest bought this Opticom unit for $80 million last year from 3M.

Cities that are fast growing have totally taken to the new technology as it saves them a lot of money and has proved to be extremely useful too. It is really amazing how much difference a green signal makes.

It seems as though business isn’t business these days unless you’re jet setting around the country or even the world. Planning business strategies is tough enough without having to deal with complicated airfare situations, reward points and finding the right hotel to accommodate your needs.

The travel industry now caters to business travelers as they make up such a huge portion of the industry’s income. Travelers from all over the world fly in and out of cities on a regular basis. Of course they rent a car, dine out, and stay in respectable hotels while they are in the city on business. This kind of activity spread out across major metropolitan areas can have a serious impact on the area’s economy.

To help keep business travelers happy, hotels, airlines, car rentals and even restaurants offer a great deal of help in planning travel and making arrangements. They realize business professionals are already outrageously busy and if they can make the traveler more comfortable they will stand to gain a solid reputation and perhaps even repeat business.

Transportation

Getting from here to there becomes more complicated every year. Not only are there airlines to consider, there are also trains, cars, and even buses. Perhaps renting a charter bus for a large number of employees makes the most sense. Pricing may or may not be an issue, but everyone likes to find a good deal and quality service.

Lodging

A hotel can be ideal for a short business trip, but what about extended stays or areas that are a distance from major hotel chains? Just as complicated as transportation, lodging is complex as well. Where to stay and for long can make even the most seasoned business traveler want to just stay home.

If you’re seeking transportation or lodging information or perhaps just an individual to take care of everything for you, the Business Travel section is where you will find it.