Offering travel and lifestyle management to our clients, sussing out the very best in each field has been a number one priority for the last 12 years. Not everyone has the luxury of a personal assistant and hiring a trusted reliable in-home assistant is daunting. Imagine turning over all your personal data to a stranger, thus we have an expert manage the investigative process. I’ve worked with Nancy McIlvaine for years and she is a consummate professional!  We work with our client’s assistants on travel and I can assure you, they understand providing the absolute best for their client families.

I checked in with Nancy to understand what quick tips she has for the Personal and Executive Assistants who often handle travel for our clients…

1. Technology is your friend! As Gwen has suggested, make sure your boss’ phone has apps for all the airlines for their trip. You’ll likely handle check in, but the apps are handy in case there are last minute changes when traveling many time zones away. Also, use Flight Tracker for keeping on top of changes with flights. On the flip side, remember to always provide a printed itinerary with key contact names and numbers at the top for easy access. Technology sometimes leaves us stranded!

2. Be flexible and available for urgent matters 24/7. Travel is fun and exciting but can be stressful. Knowing that you are a call away assures peace of mind. I know being awoken at 3am with a traveler saying their luggage has been lost is not the greatest way to spend your night but being a fabulous assistant requires handling matters with grace and immediacy.

3. Utilize this time while your client family is away to handle annual and seasonal projects. It’s an ideal time to have antique rugs cleaned, wood floors refinished and cars maintained, to name just a few. Kick your hospitality into full gear and add special touches to your client family home. After long flights, opening the door to fresh flowers and a stocked fridge will make them extra appreciative.

One note from me – we have hand selected teams on the ground to manage lost luggage, so a client shouldn’t need to call home!

Thanks, Nancy! And if you are in need of the best and brightest to manage your lifestyle, Nancy can be reached via phone at 415-307-4434. www.nancymcilvaine.com