Life is a highway

#GOODTIMES
Life is a
highway
This issue, we talk to four corporate road warriors
who are on the road as much — or more — than they
are at home. Here’s how they survive jet lag, foreign
food and sleep deprivation.
Favourite hotel?
I almost exclusively stay in Marriott properties, they generally have
a great product and you can find one just about anywhere in the
world. The Marriott travel reward program is one of the best in the
business and when you check into a Marriott they recognize you
right away as a valued customer. They consistently live up to their
brand promise.
Homesick?
Missing my family and friends is the biggest
drawback to extensive travel. Time zones
and long travel days can make staying
connected difficult at times. Thank
goodness for SKYPE! It’s important to
get enough rest on the road so that
when you do get home you are
connecting with family and friends and
not just sleeping.
Favourite hotel?
T
My favourite is currently the Marriott
… it is the closest hotel chain to our
offices in Montreal and Halifax and
the experience is consistent.
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Homesick?
Definitely, especially if I am missing
something important like a recital,
concert, etc... (although I try to
minimize this), but I miss the little
things too. We are innovative in how
we stay connected. My daughter
loves to record videos, my stepson is
improving his texting skills and
sometimes my family meets me
somewhere to do things like ski,
swim, go to a show or visit friends
and extended family which makes it
more fun for them.
If not for the
tremendous support
and understanding of your
spouse and family the travel,
time away from home would
not be possible. They are the
ones who truly carry the
extra load to keep
everything together.”
K
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Travel tips?
I survive on an average of four to five hours of
sleep a night. I generally plan my flights so that I am on
the first flight out in the AM. As a result I have many very early
mornings which are generally always followed by late evenings.
Food is always a challenge. I am a meat and potatoes guy, a true
Maritimer. I’ve eaten in some of the nicest restaurants in the world,
but if I have a choice, I will take a BBQ’d steak at home with
Angela and my boys any day.
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Brendan Paddick
chairman,
Columbus Capital Corp.
Travels average of
150-200 days/year
(257 in 2015).
Answered interview
questions from —
where else — a plane.
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Mike Walton
VP Sales & Marketing, Lantic Inc.
Lives in Quispamsis, N.B.; job is based in Toronto
Away from home approximately 250 nights/year
44
Atlantic Business Magazine | March/April 2016
Date:16-02-19
Page: AB_44.p1.pdf
Travel tips?
Favourite hotel?
The biggest challenge is
maintaining health and
personal wellness. The
flights to and from St. John’s
are generally early in the
morning or late at night and
there is always the risk that
you won’t make it —
although with the new CAT
III landing equipment at
the airport, this should
happen less! This
travel schedule
leaves little time for
exercise and I am
often grabbing
food on the go. One of the main
ways that I manage it is
self-forgiveness: I can’t be
everywhere, I can’t do
everything and sometimes
eating, sleeping and exercise
do need to be a priority. As
women, we set a very high
bar for ourselves and our
ability to do everything, I
TRY to let that go!
Fairmont. You collect points and earn free nights, meals, discounts,
upgrades. Regardless of the chain you go with, it’s important to try and
stick with one major hotel, one major airline. The rewards pay off.
Kendra MacDonald
Deloitte Atlantic Innovation
and Enterprise Risk
Marketplace Leader
Homesick?
I am blessed that I work with my husband and son so there is often a
family member with me. Even my daughter will come to one of my
talks in another city and help me, so I am often with my family. Because it would bother me if I had to be away from them that much.
Travel tips?
I like to use natural products, so the biggest challenge is when I
forget something. I use coconut oil to wash my face to help with my
hereditary Irish Rosacea skin. When you forget something like coconut oil,
you are hard pressed to find it in the hotel store. So I try to
really pack everything.
I ensure I sleep eight hours every night. I use an eye
patch to keep the light out and I only wake up when my
body is rested. No alarms. I pack all of my natural foods
from apples to green tea, flax and oatmeal. I skip the
bread, the wine and eating in restaurants as much as
possible and try and get a fridge in my room for
healthy foods. If there is a pool I swim every
morning and I do my yoga in my room with
my portable yoga mat.
Barb Stegemann
Author, motivational speaker and social
entrepreneur; Founder & CEO, The 7 Virtues
Based in Halifax, N.S.
Travels 70-90 days/year
Travels 70-90 days a year
on average, although
2015 was 100+
Favourite hotel?
I try to stay at Starwood properties. They have the best loyalty program
that covers a host of great brands such as Westin, Sheraton, Meridien
and W Hotels. In fact, I am a Starwood Platinum for Life member with
over 1,000 nights under my belt. It’s my home away from home.
Loyalty Pays
Find out what these hotel chains are
doing to earn our road warriors’ business
The downside?
Of course the obvious answer is the time away from family and
missing so many ‘firsts’ and ‘lasts’. But in all honesty, traveling led
to the growth of our business which in turn led to many terrific
opportunities and experiences. I don’t have many regrets at all.
Fairmont President’s Club
www.fairmont.com/fpc
Marriott Hotel Rewards
www.marriott.com/rewards
Travel tips?
I have a bigger challenge sleeping at home. It got so bad that my
wife and I actually ordered the complete Heavenly Bed
from Westin Hotels (i.e the mattress, mattress pad,
feather bed, duvet, sheets, pillows…you name it)
for our house. We bought the double Heavenly
shower head too. True story!
Starwood Preferred Guest
www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest
FEEDBACK
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atlanticbusinessmagazine.com | Atlantic Business Magazine
Date:16-02-17
Page: AB_45.p1.pdf
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