My very first business trip, day -1

[eveglass]

Starting tomorrow, I get to pretend I'm a corporate jet-setter for a week. I'm going to Toronto to work at our organization's annual conference (attendance: approx 550). We're traveling in style! Business class train, staying at the Fairmont Royal York, eating room service... the good things in life. (Yes, my boss has confirmed that she's perfectly happy to have the company pay for my room service, so long as I "don't abuse it." Apparently the girl in my role last year managed to charge $3,000 to her room by the end of the week. I don't even know how that's possible.)

My train leaves at 10:10 tomorrow morning, and I'm mostly all packed. I'll just need to pack my computer before I leave. My suitcase is stuffed! It's odd, because normally I don't pack that much. A one-week trip usually just involves a pair of jeans, a bunch of t-shirts, and changes of underclothes and socks. This time, I've got to bring business clothes as well, which apparently take up a lot of space. Oh, well. They've got a laundry service at the hotel, and I may take advantage of that towards the end of the trip, lest I return home and have no clean underwear.

My boss has offered to reimburse me for a taxi to the train station, but I suspect I'll just take the metro. It's weird thinking about charging things to the company, though I suppose I'll get used to it pretty fast. (Not fast enough to charge $3,000 in one week, but I digress...)

It's going to be a busy trip. We're working Monday through Saturday, and every day but Monday starts at 7:00 a.m. or a little before. Ouch! I expect I'll be pretty exhausted. On the up-side, there's a pool and hot tub in the hotel. I fully intend to take advantage of them, especially the latter.

I'll be trying to get at least a bit of social life in, too. Monday I'm Skyping in to my weekly D&D game (will the wonders of technology never cease?), Tuesday I'm having dinner with some friends, Saturday is dinner with family, and Sunday I'm hoping to have a "hang out with Julie" brunch for all the friends I haven't seen in a while. (If you live in Toronto, and you're reading this, you're invited. Details TBD.)

So that's it. Tonight I'm hoping for an early bedtime, and tomorrow I'm on the train. More updates as they appear.

Comments

[freya46.livejournal.com]

Safe travels and try to pace yourself where you can. :-)

[misskitty-79.livejournal.com]

Apparently the girl in my role last year managed to charge $3,000 to her room by the end of the week. I don't even know how that's possible.
Get a look at the room service prices & you might want to reevaluate whether or not that's quite as outrageous as you think it is right now...

[eveglass.livejournal.com]

The thing is, I *have* looked at the room-service prices. Even eating three meals a day as room-service, I still can't figure out how she got to $400 a day. I'm assuming alcohol was involved. Copious amounts of alcohol. And probably long-distance phone calls. And other stuff.

Just... the mind boggles.