Work travel - accommodation
Discussion
Further to an earlier post in the “do you enjoy your job?” thread, I wonder what people’s thoughts are on accommodation when travelling for work? Do those of you who do travel for work have accommodation that is the same or better than at home? Is a particular standard written into your contract?
I work in Compliance for a UK company that has an office in Barcelona. The company Chairman rents out a flat of his to the company. Usually, the three-bed flat is occupied by UK-based sales people training in Barcelona. For that reason I have been fortunate enough to be put up in a nearby four-star hotel.
The UK-based sales people have either quit already or are now full-time in the UK so a room in the flat is now usually available for my visits, which is a shame as the beds are very uncomfortable (see pic). It’s only for two nights at a time but I have my boss (a large chap) who declared himself “hotel only” last year and a colleague junior to me, for whom the company pays for four nights at a time in the hotel (due to clashes with the flat being full) so I’m feeling a bit put out!
How would you approach this subject? I’m 18 months at the company and number two in the department.
I work in Compliance for a UK company that has an office in Barcelona. The company Chairman rents out a flat of his to the company. Usually, the three-bed flat is occupied by UK-based sales people training in Barcelona. For that reason I have been fortunate enough to be put up in a nearby four-star hotel.
The UK-based sales people have either quit already or are now full-time in the UK so a room in the flat is now usually available for my visits, which is a shame as the beds are very uncomfortable (see pic). It’s only for two nights at a time but I have my boss (a large chap) who declared himself “hotel only” last year and a colleague junior to me, for whom the company pays for four nights at a time in the hotel (due to clashes with the flat being full) so I’m feeling a bit put out!
How would you approach this subject? I’m 18 months at the company and number two in the department.
Morning all,
No, it's not just the bed that's bugging me, it's the fact I had become accustomed to the hotel (their fault!) and also that my colleague not only got the hotel on the previous visit but also for four nights, when my visits are two (nights) and the budget won't stretch to the hotel! To confirm, I am not complaining about the length of my visit - two nights a month is sufficient for me!
Next week will be my third stay in the flat - the first stay, when I took the picture above, I returned from dinner to find my bag no longer in the room but in the hallway after a mess up with the bookings and a German sales guy (based in Berlin) having moved my bag - so I spent the night on the sofa! I have managed to sufficiently explain my dismay about that night to the Barca office manager and claimed back lounge access plus shower on the way back.
Which brings me to Deckster's point - yup there's a sitting room with a sofa but no TV and use of the kitchen but there's so many nomads coming and going I wouldn't leave anything there (anyway, eating out is so cheap).
Yup, we've had a laugh about the arrangement of the Chairman renting out a flat to the company!
Stu - have thought about tackling my boss on that one too - convenience/comfort. I am going to try and chat to him today as I want to know what's going on with my deputy MLRO training I was meant to be having.
No, it's not just the bed that's bugging me, it's the fact I had become accustomed to the hotel (their fault!) and also that my colleague not only got the hotel on the previous visit but also for four nights, when my visits are two (nights) and the budget won't stretch to the hotel! To confirm, I am not complaining about the length of my visit - two nights a month is sufficient for me!
Next week will be my third stay in the flat - the first stay, when I took the picture above, I returned from dinner to find my bag no longer in the room but in the hallway after a mess up with the bookings and a German sales guy (based in Berlin) having moved my bag - so I spent the night on the sofa! I have managed to sufficiently explain my dismay about that night to the Barca office manager and claimed back lounge access plus shower on the way back.
Which brings me to Deckster's point - yup there's a sitting room with a sofa but no TV and use of the kitchen but there's so many nomads coming and going I wouldn't leave anything there (anyway, eating out is so cheap).
Yup, we've had a laugh about the arrangement of the Chairman renting out a flat to the company!
Stu - have thought about tackling my boss on that one too - convenience/comfort. I am going to try and chat to him today as I want to know what's going on with my deputy MLRO training I was meant to be having.
Update:
I have just had a chat with my boss and explained the above and he replied (bear in mind he does not sort the accommodation, the office manager in Barca does) "maybe because she's a woman they didn't want to put her in the flat with the others" - One for the "things that really annoy you" thread for sure. I am fuming!
My boss (who books our flights) is a very accommodating (pun) chap and already sees that my colleague (who resides in the Midlands every weekend) hasn't yet had to come down to London on the Sunday night when flying to Barca but instead flies from B'ham, so she's had it pretty good.
I did ask what if I just say that I've now tried the flat and it's extremely uncomfortable (like he did) and see what happens? He didn't disagree.
My concerns will be taken to the CEO and we'll see what happens.
I have just had a chat with my boss and explained the above and he replied (bear in mind he does not sort the accommodation, the office manager in Barca does) "maybe because she's a woman they didn't want to put her in the flat with the others" - One for the "things that really annoy you" thread for sure. I am fuming!
My boss (who books our flights) is a very accommodating (pun) chap and already sees that my colleague (who resides in the Midlands every weekend) hasn't yet had to come down to London on the Sunday night when flying to Barca but instead flies from B'ham, so she's had it pretty good.
I did ask what if I just say that I've now tried the flat and it's extremely uncomfortable (like he did) and see what happens? He didn't disagree.
My concerns will be taken to the CEO and we'll see what happens.
Greetings from Barcelona...
Thanks for the responses. So, it turns out I’ve been upgraded…. to the double room! I’ll take a photo of it for a laugh. To confirm my opinion that the office manager (also “managing” the keys to the flat) has no clue what she is doing, she had no idea earlier that one of the UK sales guys had stayed in the flat for a couple of nights last week upon his return from the UK. It really is a shambles!
Regarding having slept on the sofa back in May; rest assured I made that well known the next day and the whole office knows about it – and I’m able to see the funny side now. I had looked online at booking a room at the usual hotel (where the company has a corporate rate) but because it was just after midnight I couldn’t look at immediate availability. I should have called the hotel but didn’t.
I had it confirmed by my boss on Thursday that having spoken to the CEO, the company will not again be putting me up in the hotel and the same will also apply to my colleague (budget etc). This is a shame and I will consider asking my boss for a longer gap between my visits here – and hope that a television will be put in the flat in the meantime.
Thanks for the responses. So, it turns out I’ve been upgraded…. to the double room! I’ll take a photo of it for a laugh. To confirm my opinion that the office manager (also “managing” the keys to the flat) has no clue what she is doing, she had no idea earlier that one of the UK sales guys had stayed in the flat for a couple of nights last week upon his return from the UK. It really is a shambles!
Regarding having slept on the sofa back in May; rest assured I made that well known the next day and the whole office knows about it – and I’m able to see the funny side now. I had looked online at booking a room at the usual hotel (where the company has a corporate rate) but because it was just after midnight I couldn’t look at immediate availability. I should have called the hotel but didn’t.
I had it confirmed by my boss on Thursday that having spoken to the CEO, the company will not again be putting me up in the hotel and the same will also apply to my colleague (budget etc). This is a shame and I will consider asking my boss for a longer gap between my visits here – and hope that a television will be put in the flat in the meantime.
Morning all,
As an update, I seem to have deleted the photo of the double room but having confirmed with the office manager when I was out there, the double room is made up for anyone staying, which is weird because if in one of the other rooms you have to make the bed.
Anyway, had the place to myself, apart from when one of the UK guys went back there for lunch one day and didn't wash up anything. I made clear my dismay to the office manager the next day saying if someone's not sleeping there, they shouldn't have the keys! She doesn't have a clue... .
Having checked with my boss this morning, I'm pleased to report he hasn't booked my flights for this month and November, so I've asked him to "give me a break" for October, so that'll be good. Now I've got to do my expenses for September's trip....
As an update, I seem to have deleted the photo of the double room but having confirmed with the office manager when I was out there, the double room is made up for anyone staying, which is weird because if in one of the other rooms you have to make the bed.
Anyway, had the place to myself, apart from when one of the UK guys went back there for lunch one day and didn't wash up anything. I made clear my dismay to the office manager the next day saying if someone's not sleeping there, they shouldn't have the keys! She doesn't have a clue... .
Having checked with my boss this morning, I'm pleased to report he hasn't booked my flights for this month and November, so I've asked him to "give me a break" for October, so that'll be good. Now I've got to do my expenses for September's trip....
Evening all,
Further to starting this thread, I have declared myself out of more Barcelona trips until next year. I want to reconcile my expenses and ensure that I'm square with the employer (or rather, that they're square with me).
To have a little rant, my boss is doing his stint in Barcelona this week, back on Thursday. My other direct colleague is on holiday and two sales people based here (London) are at an event having meetings/drumming up new business and won't be in the office until Weds PM.
I've just called my boss to ask to work from home tomorrow as I've worked in the office on my own today, and he has said no on the basis that there always needs to be someone in the office!
I can divert my phone if necessary, and, being in a serviced office, the post gets dropped off regardless of if someone's here or not!
Further to starting this thread, I have declared myself out of more Barcelona trips until next year. I want to reconcile my expenses and ensure that I'm square with the employer (or rather, that they're square with me).
To have a little rant, my boss is doing his stint in Barcelona this week, back on Thursday. My other direct colleague is on holiday and two sales people based here (London) are at an event having meetings/drumming up new business and won't be in the office until Weds PM.
I've just called my boss to ask to work from home tomorrow as I've worked in the office on my own today, and he has said no on the basis that there always needs to be someone in the office!
I can divert my phone if necessary, and, being in a serviced office, the post gets dropped off regardless of if someone's here or not!
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