Company Profiles: Spotlight on Travel and Tech

In the fast-paced world of education, people young and old find a variety of methods to help them conquer workloads and advance in their studies. In the 21st century, they don’t have to feel alone while doing it.

Between Portland’s exploding culinary scene, the recent recognition of the Willamette Valley as one of the world’s best wine regions, and the soon to open Oregon Timber Trail for mountain bikers that was inspired by the iconic Pacific Crest Trail, Oregon seems to be maturing into a new level of sexy as a travel destination.

Even though Wine Enthusiast’s list of the top wine destinations for 2017 only included two wineries in the United States, you don’t have to go overseas to do some quality wine tasting and sightseeing.

With so many new and exciting developments throughout this country – from Napa’s many trendy and stylish new tasting rooms and cutting edge restaurants to the much buzzed about Finger Lakes and Texas Hill Country wine regions – it isn’t necessary to travel half-way around the world to have a memorable wine themed vacation.

Maybe it’s the Justin Trudeau factor.

Maybe it’s the drop in the value of the Canadian dollar, as compared to other currencies. Or perhaps it’s the fact that Canada is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, an occasion that brings with it all sorts of special events, festivities and fanfare.

H&R Block tax experts are prepared to meet the needs of clients both in the U.S. and abroad. With a few simple steps and information literally at a user’s fingertips, H&R Block can help anyone complete their taxes, whether they live right down the street from one of their offices, or thousands of miles away.

Do you dread searching the Internet for flights, hotels and rental cars? Do you long for the days when real, live travel agents were plentiful and available to help you plan the details of any trip—not just book a cruise or European tour?

Are you ready to get back to doing what you do best—i.e. meeting with clients, developing your latest product, or otherwise building your business—and turn your travel arrangements over to an expert?

Long, frustrating commutes. Cramped cubicles within windowless rooms. Mind-numbing tasks requiring little if any face-to-face interaction with others. These statements describe the day-to-day office experience for many professionals. Unless, that is, they have the option to telecommute.

It’s always a unique story when a global company is founded by friends with a double-decker bus and a passion for adventure. It’s even more remarkable when that thirst for exploration results in a company that promotes travel on multiple continents.

Whether you’re planning a school trip, yoga retreat, culinary tour, photography workshop or family gathering, none of us want to find ourselves responsible for covering expenses such as airfare or lodging if an expected participant fails to show up and pay his or her fair share. Fortunately, WeTravel’s group-trip planning website was designed to prevent that problem.

Johannes Koeppel, a WeTravel co-founder and current CEO, recently spoke with RewardExpert about the inspiration behind the site, how you can use it to plan your next group excursion, and an exciting new feature slated for early 2017.

One of the finer things in life is being able to stay and play on a luxury ship in the middle of some of the most serene locales on the planet.

Companies like Paul Gauguin Cruises makes those recreational dreams realities, taking passengers from around the world on idyllic voyages to destinations like Tahiti, French Polynesia, Fiji and the South Pacific.

Next to airline tickets, hotel stays can be the biggest ticket item on the travel budget. Just a few nights can add up to hundreds of dollars. Getting the best rate, however, is all about timing. The price of a room can change daily, according to demand.

TRIPBAM uses this principle to find significant savings on quality hotels for their customers and clients. Steve Reynolds, the company’s founder and CEO recently talked to RewardExpert and shared the company’s secret for catching hotel rooms at their lowest possible price.

Owning a yacht is part of a luxurious lifestyle. However, many fail to realize that the upkeep of a personal maritime vessel comes with a lot of responsibility and work. Often, those who were once gung-ho about owning a yacht eventually lose interest and end up selling their boat to someone else looking to get into the hobby of recreational sailing.

Food might not be the sole reason why people travel, but savoring foreign delicacies still remains a vital part of the traveling experience. There are plenty of services out there looking to connect you to restaurants while abroad, but how many are able to treat you to a fresh, home cooked meal?

Ever dream of venturing to far-flung places, such as the Andes or Thailand? Do you hesitate because of safety concerns? Global Rescue reduces the risks associated with traveling abroad by providing advisory and emergency services to travelers anywhere in the world.

In the world of wanderlust, life’s daily rituals don’t usually become monotonous or commonplace. That feeling is multiplied when you share adventures with other people—notably significant others who know your tastes and life goals.

And, sometimes, a loving relationship centered on exploring the globe can result in an even more romantic relationship. In the case of Scott and Collette Stohler, their migrant journeys encouraged them to base their professional lives around their own recreational interests.

If you have to fly from Point A to Point B—whether for business or for pleasure—wouldn’t you like to be comfortable doing so? While a first-class or business-class ticket may score you a wider, more cushiony seat and extra legroom along with perks like pre-flight drinks and meals served with actual metal utensils, they also carry a hefty price tag. So, what’s an economy flyer with a limited budget to do?

Would you to pack up and move your life to a completely different location? Many people travel for leisure and business, but there are those for whom travel is a way of life. These adventurous individuals must surely face many hurdles given the costs associated with such a style of living.

Did you know that unlike airlines and most hotel chains, car rental agencies do not penalize you for canceling and rebooking? A website called AutoSlash takes advantage of that phenomenon by checking your booking information multiple times per day, looking for a better rate from virtually all rental agencies and if it finds one, automatically rebooks for you.

Do you hate lugging heavy bags to and from the airport? Are you tired of hauling luggage while wrangling your children? Have exorbitant baggage fees decimated your travel budget? Have you ever spent half of your vacation waiting for lost suitcases to arrive? If so, it might be time to turn the tables and let your luggage wait for you instead.

It can be certainly be argued that the digital age is one of simplification, where individuals literally have the world at their fingertips and possibilities are endless.

However, sometimes clutter can intensify. That is where companies like Umapped form a bridge between information, global industry brands, travel advisors and their customers.