| Topic Name: |
On the Move (traveling) |
| Message Name: |
more |
| Date Posted: |
02/26/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
It really depends on:
* what firm you wirk for
* what your client will accept in billings
Under normal business conditions:
If you are working for a tier 1 strategy consulting firm, expect to stay at 5 star hotels. Also, expect to travel business class most of the time.
The above will depend on what your client will accept. Some clients will not let their own staff travel business class or stay at fancy hotels. They may insist that their consult don??t either (which is only fair I guess)
However, given the poor state of business at McK, BAH, Mercer, Monitor, BCG etc. etc., expect cutbacks on travel perks as well...
|
| Message: |
Posttmc is right, and I will add the following. Typically the firm will be expected to keep expenses to 20% of billable, and this goes for almost all firms, not just the top 3. Some clients really care about that 20% and will push the partners to keep it as low as possible; others just figure the cost of your services to be 120% of the amount in the proposal. Typically your clients will bounce between these two extremes, being very tight with expenses one month and liberal the next (or so says the cynic in me).
International travel was usually business class until the recession hit; domestic travel is always steerage class unless you pay for the upgrade (which is pretty easy if you fly enough to get 100,000 mile status).
Starwood hotels are very popular among many consulting firms. Upper-end Marriotts (esp. Ritz Carlton) and the Four Seasons are typically for sell weekend and special occasions only.
When traveling, a nice ($50/person+) dinner once a week would be reasonable, but you'll probabaly spend most of your meals in the office eating Chinese delivery. Zagat.com will be your bible for restaurant choices.
Car-rentals are typically mid-size, but when you rent 3 or 4 days a week the rental company (like the airline and the hotelier) will make sure you're always treated well.
Most of the big consutling firms have an in-house travel agent or contract with a travel agency like AmEx Corporate travel. You won't ever be scouring orbitz.com trying to find the lowest fare from Minot to Cheyenne.
|
|
