The iPhone application is now available to download for free on the App Store. Concur Cliqbook Travel and Expense customers can download it directly from their iPhone by searching on “Concur Mobile.”

Released in June 2009 and already in use by business travelers on BlackBerry or Windows Mobile devices, Concur Mobile is the business travel companion that makes life easier for the mobile workforce while also helping organizations more tightly control the significant amount of unmanaged employee spend that occurs during business travel. Now that Concur Mobile is available as a free download for iPhone users, business travelers have a choice of the three leading Smartphone platforms to better manage and control business travel and T&E spend.

See a video of Concur Mobile for iPhone.

What is the benefit of using Concur Mobile?

For your organization
You can maximize your ROI on Concur solutions and better control spend with Concur Mobile.

• Allows you to provide a benefit to your employees at no additional cost.
• - Encourages the right behavior during business travel by enforcing company policies.
• - Encourages the traveler to book within the Concur booking tool rather than calling for help - reducing additional agent fees.
• - Improves accuracy of eligible expenses.
• - Increases traveler efficiency on the road, provides visibility to their itineraries and maximizes usage of preferred suppliers.
• - Provides travelers with a familiar user experience, minimizing training.

For your employees
Employees get the added benefit of convenience – allowing them to manage travel and expenses right from the palm of their hand. With Concur Mobile, they can:

• - Manage travel itineraries – including trip changes.
• - Add or change reservations for hotels or rental cars.
• - Arrange for taxis and dining reservations.
• - Capture out-of pocket expenses on the spot.
• - Take images of receipts with their phone’s camera to eliminate the need to submit hard copies of their receipts.
• - If they are a manager, they can even approve trips and expense reports.
• - Plus other features.

If you would like further information on Concur Mobile or any of BCD Travel’s technology solutions please contact us at sales@bcdtravel.com.au

Corporate travel agency, BCD Travel, has increased its client base in 2008-09 as more companies identify BCD Travel as the best travel management company to assist them in cost savings and the professional management of their corporate travel expenditure.

The third largest travel management company in the world, BCD Travel has three offices in Australia in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and services large and small business travel clients across the country.

BCD Travel prides itself on personalised customer service with high attention to detail as well as its online technology solutions, including its online booking engine which contains individual client profiles and self-booking travel tools tailored to each client’s internal corporate travel policies.

With international connections and the best deals available on flights and accommodation, as well as a fully integrated meetings incentives conferences exhibitions (MICE) department, BCD Travel offers a complete travel management solution.

For information on how travel management company, BCD Travel, can assist you please contact our National Sales Manager via email at sales@bcdtravel.com.au

Washington, DC is established by the Constitution of the United States to serve as the nation’s capital. Named after the first American Presid

ent, George Washington, the capital is steeped in history, which is captured in its monuments, museums and memorials.

For over 200 years, the White House has been the home of the President and their families and is often referred to as the most famous address in the country. Now home to the first African-American President, Barak Obama, power and politics continue to be an exhilarating mix.

The city was designed by Pierre Charles L’Enfant, inspired by chic Paris, who created grand boulevards and ceremonial spaces. It has since transformed into a vibrant and fascinating capital renowned for its urban spaces, extensive memorials and grand neoclassical architecture.

The city’s most famous landmarks are in and around the National Mall, spanning from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol. The city hosts many festivals, gatherings and performances. On summer evenings, the Mall is a great place to catch an open air concert, movie screening or jazz performance. In the winter, the popular outdoor ice skating rink opens at the National Gallery of Art, overlooking the numerous art sculptures and gardens.

Getting around DC

Washington’s location makes it easy to get to via car, train, bus and plane. Once in DC, navigating around the city is simple, due to its compact nature and grid-patterned layout.

Driving around the crowded streets of DC can be a strain and parking can be even worse. Luckily the city has a great public transportation system. The Metro is an efficient and comfortable system, consisting of rail and buses, which operates throughout the city. The fare you pay depends on the zone(s) you travel in and a flat fee is in operation on the bus system.

The DC Circulator is a new and convenient way to get around town; US$1 takes you from Union Station to Georgetown or to the National Mall.

Taxis are abundant and the capital has one of the highest ratios of taxis per person. Currently, taxis work in a zone system, whereby customers pay depending on the zones they use.

Don’t miss…

Tour the three houses of Government

Explore the U.S. Capitol Building, the White House and the U.S. Supreme Court to gain an appreciation of the division of power within the country’s democratic government. Plan ahead and note that some tours must be scheduled in advance.

Tour the national monuments and memorials

The national monuments are magnificent. The best time to see them is by night when they are illuminated and the area is less crowded. If you are visiting by day, you can take the ‘Hop on - Hop off’ bus tour or join a walking tour.

Visit the Smithsonian

Pick up a map and information on all the museums at the Smithsonian Institution Building, the world’s largest museum complex. There are 19 museums to choose from, ranging from art to space exploration.

Take a walk through Georgetown

Georgetown is the capital’s historic waterfront, always bustling with activity. The area is a shopper’s delight and the streets are lined with restaurants of every nationality.

Enjoy nature on a bike trail

There are wonderful bike trails to be found amongst expanses of greenery. Hiring a bicycle is easy and a great way to explore the historic C & O Canal and the famous Rock Creek Park; a welcome relief from hectic city life.

Shopping

Find time to add a little shopping to your DC agenda. In addition to quaint neighborhood boutiques, you’ll find some of the top shopping centers and outlet malls in the country.

Georgetown Park is the premier shopping area in Washington, DC. The mall has a wide selection of stores including women and men’s fashion, children’s fashion and toys, jewelry, accessories, books and cards, electronics, music, etc.

Old Post Office Pavilion is a popular attraction; built in 1899 and restored as a shopping destination in 1978.

Here you will find a variety of retail stores, a large food court, a discount-ticket broker, and government offices.

Tysons Corner Center is largest shopping mall in the area, located just minutes from downtown DC. With more than 290 stores, the mall offers an extensive selection of merchandise including everything from high fashion apparel to home furnishings.

Union Station is the most visited destination in Washington, DC with over 25 million visitors a year. Union Station, Washington’s train station and premier shopping mall, also serves as a venue for world-class exhibitions and international cultural events.

Where to eat:

Washington is a culinary adventure with just about every type of cuisine imaginable, from Burmese to Ethiopian to American. Here are some of the most popular eateries:

Citronelles

3000 M St. NW
Tel: 202-625-2150
Website:http://www.citronelledc.com
An elegant (and very expensive) restaurant that is one of DC’s most acclaimed. French Chef Michel Richard creates a gastronomic dining experience, with an inventive menu. Favorite dishes include: Abalone served sashimi style; sablefish with miso glaze; short ribs for two, the meat de-boned and cooked sous-vide for 72 hours, then finished in a searing-hot pan and presented medium rare.

Meskerem

2434 18th St NW
Tel: (202) 462-4100
There are numerous budget Ethiopian eateries along the streets of Adams Morgan, but none as pleasing as this one. Diners can sit at messobs (basket tables) on low, carved Ethiopian chairs and tear off little pieces of injera (sour-dough pancakes) with which they can sample a wide range of chicken, lamb and vegetable stews. Don’t forget to taste the homemade honey wine.

Ben’s Chili Bowl

1213 U Street, NW
Tel: (202) 667 0909
Website: http://www.benschilibowl.com
‘Home of the Famous Chili Dog’, give’s a clue as to what to order at this eatery, which has been around since 1958. The chili half-smoke was voted Washington’s signature dish. Ben’s Chili Bowl has a diner style décor, with Formica counters lined with red vinyl barstools. The diner is known to be frequented by celebrities such as comedian Bill Cosby and has even been recently sampled by President Obama.

BCD Travel National Account Manager, Bronson Garbett, knows a thing or two about corporate travel after spending 20 years in the travel industry in various management, marketing and sales roles for travel agencies, holiday transport companies and hotels.

This business travel executive loves the variety of work available in the travel industry and has spent the past three years with corporate travel management company (TMC), BCD Travel, in Sydney.

Bronson is responsible for managing several areas of BCD Travel’s national corporate travel business, which comprises three offices in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

On a day-to-day basis, he undertakes business planning and market analysis, monitors customer service fulfilment, manages corporate travel client relations and writes business travel reports.

Travelling is a great personal hobby and Bronson rates Bali, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia among his favourite international holiday destinations due to the local people, culture, beaches and super-cheap shopping! He also loves the UK for its history and endless array of pubs.

A licensed private pilot, Bronson loves flying in his spare time or hitting the bike tracks for some serious cycling. He also enjoys seeing movies and reading autobiographies, although nothing beats spending time with his kids.

Bronson’s top tips for corporate travellers are: be prepared for anything and plan contingencies; and take a couple of good books in your carry-on luggage!