I absolutely love traveling for business!  There’s nothing more productive nor fulfilling than meeting customers and suppliers face-to-face.  Despite the proliferation of modern technologies (instant messaging, video conferencing, etc.), there’s absolutely no substitute for visiting a customer’s facilities, meeting their team members and observing their operations first-hand to understand how to help solve their challenges and serve their needs.  I’ve always felt that being able to look someone in the eye and give a firm handshake shows a genuine commitment and dedication to service.  While many of my competitors sit on the porch waiting for business to arrive, we go the extra mile to get out there and make business happen in a big way.  I thought it would be fun to take a look back at my business travel for the year 2016 to share some highlights with you.  I’ve accomplished all these trips in my Cirrus Aircraft, managing once again to avoid taking a single domestic airline flight this year – such a truly remarkable and unbelievably capable business tool!   Enjoy reading my list as you as I present a real-world perspective of what I like to call, “Doing Business at the Speed of Flight!”

• Nights in Hotels: 200+
• States Visit: 22
• Countries Visited: 4
• FBO Crew Cars: 30+
• Rental Cars: 75+
• Most Rental Cars in a Single Day: 3
• Domestic Commercial Airline Flights Taken: Zero! (0)
• Longest Continuous Trip Away from Home: 31 days straight
• Most Frequent States Visited: Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas
• Most Frequent Cities Visited: Denver, Chicago, New Orleans, Fort Worth
• Longest Offshore Flight: 1,031 nm (Orlando, FL to San Juan, PR)
• Longest Mountainous Flight: 732 nm (San Diego, CA to Denver, CO)
• Furthest Distance Flown: 1,865 nm – KORL (Orlando, FL) to KSAN (San Diego, CA)
• Favorite State Flown: Colorado (Rocky Mountain flying is amazing!)
• Favorite Hotel: (tie) The James (Chicago, IL) and The Broadmoor (Colorado Springs, CO)
• Favorite Hotel Chain: Marriott (More specifically, the JW Marriott)
• Most Productive Trip: Two week-long conferences and 14 military base visits
• Most Beautiful Scenery: (tie) Colorado (mountains) and the Bahamas (ocean)
• Latest Landing Time: 2am (Greenville, SC)
• Earliest Departure Time: 6am (San Diego, CA)
• Shortest State Visit: 15 minutes (quick-turn fuel stop)
• Most Challenging Flight: DVT (Phoenix, AZ) to ABQ (Albuquere, NM) – Snow and ice
• Most Challenging Landing: KNEW (New Orleans, LA) – Heavy rain and low ceilings
• Most Beautiful Landing: MYEF (Exuma, Bahamas)
• Shortest Flight Leg: 0.4 hours – GYB (Giddings, TX) to EDC (Austin, TX)
• Longest Flight Leg: 5.3 hours – KAPA (Denver, CO) to KNEW (New Orleans, LA)

Looking back at all these flights, I’m reminded of all the wonderful places I visited and the amazing people I’ve met and spent time with in 2016.  I’m looking forward to even more incredible business travel adventures ahead in 2017.  There’s no doubt this past year I lived up to my motto, “Live Life to the Fullest and Enjoy Every Second of the Ride!”