Category: Blog

Sometimes employees perform personal errands while at work to help manage their personal responsibilities. It’s useful to learn when this is appropriate to do and how you can balance your work and personal responsibilities. While it may be necessary to do personal errands at work, it’s important to speak with your manager and ensure that your errand don’t interfere with job performance. In this article, we discuss what personal errands are, why employees perform errands while at work and provide tips for how you can better manage your personal and professional responsibilities.

What is a personal errand?

A personal errand is a task you perform to benefit yourself and accomplish a personal goal. Errands are usually short trips or breaks to serve a specific purpose. Examples of personal errands include:

• Delivering a package
• Making a phone call
• Sending an email
• Shopping for food or a supply
• Transporting a person
• Scheduling an appointment

Why do people complete personal errands at work?

Employees may complete personal errands at work to fulfill obligations for their family or to meet a personal deadline for an event outside of work. Some may feel it’s necessary to perform personal errands while at work because they’re unable to accomplish these tasks in their personal time. Achieving a work-life balance is important and requires time management skills and flexibility at work. If an employee and employer cannot meet these requirements, then in order to accomplish some tasks, an employee may have to complete the errand at work.

When is it appropriate to do personal errands at work?

It may be necessary to do personal errands at work sometimes, but it’s important to be mindful of when it’s appropriate to perform these tasks. Using your breaks or lunchtime to complete a personal errand is a good idea because this is your personal time. If you need to do a personal errand at another time during the workday, this may be acceptable if you finish your work assignments on time. It’s also useful to speak with your manager if you need to perform errands while at work. A manager may help determine an appropriate time for you to do this and may make accommodations for you so that your personal errands don’t interfere with accomplishing your work goals.

Tips for managing work and personal responsibilities

Managing work and personal responsibilities can be challenging, but these tips can help you become better at accomplishing all your professional and personal goals:

Find a job with flexibility

Seeking a job that provides a flexible schedule and encourages a good work-life balance can help you manage professional and personal responsibilities. It’s also useful to consider the hours you’re able to work and apply to jobs with this availability or operation hours. For example, if you take your kids to school in the morning, you may benefit from finding a job that allows you to start a shift later in the morning.You can also discuss flexibility with employers. If they have an interest in hiring you, they may make proper accommodations.

Develop time management skills

Developing time management skills enables you to optimize your use of time during the day. You can try time management strategies such as creating a to-do list, making a weekly schedule, using a planner or prioritizing your tasks. The ability to manage your time helps reduce procrastination, achieve goals, increase your productivity and allows you to stress less. Asking for help with your time management goals can provide accountability and if you ask another colleague or manager they may be able to teach you their methods.

Identify your priorities

Priorities help influence which responsibilities you take care of first. You can identify your priorities by determining what is important in your personal and professional life. Consider the goals you want to achieve and the steps to accomplishing these goals. You may also discover your priorities by analyzing how you currently spend your time. Setting priorities can help develop time management habits and may provide you with more time to accomplish your responsibilities at the most appropriate time. For example, if you want to earn a promotion and train your pet, you may prioritize and manage your time by delegating training to a pet professional and ensuring that you meet all your project deadlines at work and accept additional responsibilities when you can.

Discuss your needs with a manager

If you have difficulty managing your responsibilities, it may be helpful to speak with your manager and request their help. Together, you may be able to negotiate flexibility in your work schedule to create a plan to accomplish your professional goals in a timely manner so that you can give more focus to personal responsibilities.Showing dedication to improve your efficiency at work and an interest in learning to better manage responsibilities can persuade a manager to be lenient. Ask your manager about their expectations of you and be sure to meet these before doing your errands.

Recognize your strengths and limitations

Understanding your own capabilities helps you to determine the amount of responsibilities you can handle. With this information, you can accept or decline additional responsibilities. For example, if you’re working at your full potential at work, you can ask your manager to delegate additional tasks they may assign to you. For personal responsibilities, you may ask family members for help so that you don’t have to manage too many responsibilities at once.

Use technology

To manage your responsibilities, you can use a task management application. This can help create a list of your responsibilities and schedule appropriate times to work on these responsibilities. Some task management applications provide reminders to help you better manage time and prepare for upcoming tasks. Another option is to use a virtual calendar that works similarly and be more accessible to you.

Limit the distractions in your environment

If you can limit distractions in your environment that interfere with accomplishing personal and professional responsibilities, you may be able to increase your focus and work more efficiently. It’s helpful to analyze your surroundings before starting a task so that you can identify and remove anything that may distract you. You can also increase your focus by playing music, introducing a calming scent into your work environment or secluding yourself while you work.

Manage your mental health

Maintaining good mental health is important to keep focus at work. Managing your mental health by getting rest, sharing emotions and taking time to relax helps reduce stress and increases your productivity both at work and at home. Stable mental health can help you form healthy relationships which is useful so that you can ask for help when you need it.

Request time off of work

You can also request time off of work to focus on personal responsibilities. A vacation can help organize your personal life and provide you time to complete tasks. When you return to work, you may feel more energy and be more productive. This can help separate your personal and professional responsibilities.

As we approach 2025, the procurement industry is undergoing significant transformation. With technological advancements, sustainability pressures, and an increased focus on risk management, procurement is evolving faster than ever. Understanding these key trends can help businesses enhance procurement strategies, improve efficiency, and build stronger supplier relationships. Here are 15 trends poised to shape the future of procurement and supply chain management.

Real estate investors and developers should be poised for an upturn in industry trends as the post-pandemic disruption abates and positive cyclical forces gain strength.

The Federal Reserve is among the most important cyclical forces. Its pivot to reducing interest rates indicates a peak for inflation and construction costs — and the pivot is helping real estate markets to clear, boosting transaction activity. However, not all dealmakers are ready to jump in with both feet. After all, rate cuts also indicate a slower economy and that could affect net operating income (NOI) growth. The path to renewed vigor could take surprising detours.

The specific contours of what happens next won’t be exactly like what’s happened before. Today’s critical real estate investment factors are supply dynamics and a modernized stock of buildings. For example, newer office buildings offer amenities (the so-called “flight to wellness”) that make them preferable to the languishing stock of aging buildings. And in housing, there are too few developments catering to senior citizens whose ranks are growing by several thousand every day.

New real estate cycles are marked by a growing number of opportunities. In this Emerging Trends in Real Estate^® report, we illustrate what’s improving and share the views of our survey respondents as they gauge real estate’s prospects for recovery and renewal.

Real estate firm profitability prospects for 2025

Procurement as a service is an emerging procurement strategy transforming how organizations of all sizes purchase goods and services. In 2022, the global procurement as a service market was valued at USD 6.15 billion, with an estimated growth of 11.1% from 2023 to 2030.

Similar to the SaaS model, the idea behind procurement as a service is simple: instead of relying on in-house teams or traditional procurement models, organizations can outsource some, if not all, of their procurement needs to a provider that uses technology, people, and expertise.

By streamlining the procurement function, this model gives organizations greater control over their spending and better visibility of the entire process.

In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of the modern purchasing process, including procurement as a service, how it works, its benefits, and what to look for when selecting a provider.

Procurement as a Service Definition

At its core, procurement as a service is a comprehensive cloud-based procurement model that involves outsourcing a portion or the entire process to a company that provides access to procurement services and software on demand. Also called Platform as a Service (PaaS), it’s a great way to embrace digital transformation without incurring all of the costs.

Traditionally, procurement operations have been handled internally by a company’s employees or outsourced to a third-party provider (business process outsourcing). The former is often time-consuming and expensive, requiring a dedicated staff to source and manage vendors throughout the procurement lifecycle.

On the other hand, procurement outsourcing to managed services can be beneficial, but may not offer the same level of cost savings and control over procurement processes.

From sourcing and negotiating contracts to promoting the timely delivery of goods and services, the procurement service provider typically ensures all your procurement needs are met without investing in your own IT infrastructure or staff.

Procurement service providers offer a more efficient, cost-effective procurement solution for organizations by leveraging technology, automation, staff, and expertise.

By taking care of all or part of the procure-to-pay process, businesses can pare down the time and resources needed to manage the day-to-day activities associated with procurement (like contract management, risk management, supply chain management, and more), allowing them to better focus on income-generating tasks.

What Are the Types of Procurement?

Procurement is an integral part of any organization’s operation. It involves the acquisition of goods and services from external sources, typically through a competitive bidding process. The four types of procurement are:

• Direct procurement: Involves the purchase of goods and services that directly relate to the operations.
• Indirect procurement: Focuses on non-core items (indirect spend), such as office supplies or janitorial services.
• Material procurement: Tangible items purchased from a vendor, such as raw materials or software subscriptions.
• Services procurement: People-based services required for the operations, such as consulting or IT services.

What Is the Difference between Procurement and Purchasing?

Regarding procurement vs. purchasing, the two are often used interchangeably but refer to two different processes. In a nutshell, procurement is the broader process of acquiring goods and services for an organization. It involves research, negotiation, and evaluation, to ensure that the right products are purchased at the most cost-effective prices.

Some of the most common procurement activities are procurement data management, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, cost analysis, spend management, and risk mitigation.

In contrast, purchasing is just one element of the typical procurement process. It’s essentially ordering from a vendor or supplier after due diligence on pricing and quality. Other purchasing activities include supplier management, contract execution, and payment processing.

What Are the Benefits of Procurement as a Service?

Even though procurement as a service is still relatively new, most companies see the value and benefit of leveraging this best-in-class model. With procurement services, they can streamline their operations and reduce costs without sacrificing quality.

As with any business process, procurement is time-consuming and complex. By outsourcing some or all of this process to a service provider, businesses can free up valuable resources for more important tasks.

Here are some of the key benefits of using the procurement as a service model:

1. Cost savings opportunities

Tapping into the economies of scale provided by a service provider can help organizations save money on procurement functions, particularly for high-volume purchases. They often get access to better deals and discounts that businesses wouldn’t have been able to negotiate on their own.

In addition, you can save significantly on labor costs and other overhead expenses since the provider will take care of some or all the necessary tasks involved in sourcing and procurement.

2. Access to deep procurement expertise

Most procurement service providers have deep experience in the field, which allows them to leverage their expertise when selecting suppliers, negotiating contracts, and managing the overall process. They also provide valuable guidance on market trends and industry best practices, which helps businesses stay ahead of the competition.

This expertise is incredibly helpful for companies just starting their procurement strategy or looking for optimization of their existing processes.

3. Faster procurement process

With new technologies and automation, many of the manual and tedious tasks involved in procurement are eliminated or streamlined. As a result, the process can be completed in a fraction of the time it would take using traditional methods.

Necessary documents such as purchase orders, invoices, and contracts can be accurately generated in minutes, allowing organizations to reduce cycle times and make quick decisions to stay agile in a competitive market.

4. Better control and visibility

Since the provider is doing the bulk of the procurement work, organizations have more control over the procurement process and can keep better tabs on where their money is going.

With the help of technology, they can get real-time insights into their procurement activities, enabling them to make more informed decisions about what to purchase and when. They also get more visibility into their suppliers and vendors, allowing them to track performance metrics, such as on-time delivery or cost savings over time.

5. Improved compliance and value tracking

Rather than relying on manual processes and paper trails, procurement services use advanced automation tools to capture and track data, which ensures that everything is recorded accurately and compliant with internal policies and external regulations.

It makes it easier for organizations to track spending more closely, identify opportunities for savings, and demonstrate compliance with relevant regulations.

What to Look for When Selecting a Provider?

Getting started with procurement as a service is relatively simple, but selecting the right provider for your needs can be tricky.

When choosing a provider, organizations should look for one that offers flexibility and scalability in their offerings. It is also crucial to ensure that the provider can provide comprehensive support throughout the process, from category management to contract negotiation.

1. Identify your level of need

Start by auditing your current procurement processes to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your operations. This step will help identify areas needing improvement and the amount of support you need from a provider.

If you’re just starting, basic procurement services may be enough. But if your organization is more complex and has multiple departments, you should consider a provider that can provide end-to-end support.

2. Determine your provider’s level of involvement

The level of involvement you require from your provider will depend on the complexity of your procurement needs.

For instance, an intermediary may be enough if you just need help with vendor selection and negotiation. If you’re looking for a hands-off approach, you should look for a provider that can handle the entire process from start to finish. On the contrary, you may only need minimal help, in which purchasing software would suffice.

3. Consider offshore and onshore providers

Budget is often a major consideration when selecting a procurement service provider. Offshore providers may be more cost-effective but may not provide the same quality or guarantee results as onshore providers.

While onshore procurement can be more expensive, it offers greater control over the process. Onshore providers are also often better equipped to deal with specific local regulations and taxes.

4. Check the provider’s affiliations

Larger providers often have affiliations with professional organizations and industry-leading companies. These affiliations can give you an insight into their practices and provide additional assurance that the provider is reliable and trustworthy.

However, providers act as middlemen between sellers and buyers, so a little bias may be unavoidable, especially if they receive seller commissions.

Pick the Right Procurement Service Solution

Procurement as a service is quickly becoming the go-to solution for businesses looking to reduce costs and optimize efficiency in their supply chain operations.  If you plan to grow your business, look for an all-inclusive, comprehensive solution with custom controls.

Errandables offers a procurement solution that covers every aspect of the user experience, from simple intake management to advanced PO approvals, streamlined supplier management, real-time integrations, and much more. Companies also benefit from AP automation, multi-entity management, and other modules that make Errandables a one-stop solution for all of your modern accounting needs.

The right procurement solution will eliminate the need for in-house staff, allowing organizations to access the expertise of experienced procurement professionals without investing in costly infrastructure, staff, or training. With the right provider, organizations can benefit from cost savings, industry expertise, more efficient procurement processes, enhanced visibility, and improved compliance.

Safe and reliable medical courier and pharmacy delivery services

We help hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, blood banks, and laboratories transport their medical supplies securely and on time.

Errandables is a single source for move management services for international moving companies, van lines and corporate clients. Whether it’s household goods, personal belongings, family pets or vehicles, we have first-class resources and expertise to plan and coordinate all aspects of move-management services.

MOVE MANAGEMENT – PROCESS

An experienced move coordinator supervises every phase of corporate relocation. The move coordinator assures that standard operating procedures and services – starting from pre-move planning through final delivery and invoicing – strictly comply with your company’s policies.

Our assigned move coordinator will perform a pre-move consultation, which is an in-depth needs analysis to identify the specific requirements, expectations and concerns of the relocating family.

Arrangements are then made for an in-home pre-move survey of the household goods to be shipped, to identify special packing, crating, handling and shipping Based on our pre-move survey results, the move coordinator will calculate the estimated cost of the move.

Once our pricing estimate is approved, our move coordinator will update your employee/customer on the entire moving process, from the packing schedule, insurance, customs clearance to expected date of delivery.

Our move coordinator will stay in close contact with the transferee throughout the moving process to make sure they receive proper consultation, correct information and sound advice on any question or concern that they may have. Errandables move coordinators are trained by FIDI Academy and empowered to respond quickly, providing the necessary information to your customer/employee.

OUR MOVE MANAGEMENT SERVICES INCLUDE:

• Pre-move consultation
• Pre-move survey
• Quality control checks
• Packing and crating
• Heavy-goods handling
• On-site move supervision
• Insurance and risk consultancy
• Air, Sea and Land transportation
• Real-time GPS tracking
• Removal of recycling of moving debris

If you own a rental property, the advantage of turning it into a holiday home allows for greater flexibility and a much higher rental yield.

The development in the transport industry has increased travel globally. Most people travel at least once a year typically, for either business or leisure and as a result, the short let industry has skyrocketed in the last decade, especially with the rise of Airbnb and other similar portals.

Holiday homes, according to industry executives, are becoming increasingly popular among investors and private developers. Primarily due to the fact that these properties provide higher returns in comparison to other rental properties in Dubai.

So, what are short-term lettings?

Before we look at the benefits of the short lettings market, it is important to define what exactly defines a short-term rental. The name is pretty self-explanatory, in a nutshell, it is a lease that is short-term.

But how long is the short term? Usually, across the industry, the guidelines stipulate that a short-term let is a rental property that is on the market for anywhere between 2-12 weeks typically.

These properties usually appeal to those who are in the process of a property purchase or have short-term professional commitments and offers landlords the convenience of being able to stay in their property when they wish.

The market has however been dominated by the tourism industry and since the Pandemic, there has been a greater push for the demand of holiday homes. For those travelling for more than two weeks, it is financially advantageous to stay in a short-term lease, compared to a hotel. Moreover, it offers additional comfort and privacy for you and your family or friends.

With many choosing to relocate temporarily or since the concept of ‘work from home’ has been popularized since Covid-19 restrictions, the convenience of staying in a short-let property is highly attractive and proves to be a lucrative avenue for homeowners.

Most would say the short-let market is a ‘win-win’, as it offers benefits for both guests and landlords.

To give a brief overview, the proposed benefits to guests are:

– Whether it is business or leisure, guests can take advantage of a low-cost alternative by staying in short-term property, if the stay is more than a fortnight compared to hotels.

– Holiday homes are well maintained by either the Host or a management company and provide additional amenities that give the feel of a ‘home away from home’ to those occupying the property. They typically are booked being fully furnished and equipped to accommodate guests (kitchens, living spaces, Wi-Fi, TV, toiletries and more).

– They offer a greater degree of flexibility when travelling for a number of weeks or when moving to a new destination with the intention of permanent relocation. Short-term rental homes give potential guests more freedom in this regard because they can stay and fully immersive themselves in a new location without making a long-term commitment.

Additionally, they are a promising market for landlords:

–   Offers flexibility when putting the property on the market for sale, the time it takes for the selling process is unpredictable; therefore, short-term letting is a much better lucrative opportunity, as opposed to leaving a property vacant.

–  It provides landlords with the opportunity to manage their financial position in the constant shifting economic climate and can sell their property when they want, without a long-term tenant to consider during the decision making process.

–  With such a high demand for short-term lets in prime cities such as Dubai, landlords do not have to worry about dealing with difficult tenants and can be selective with who they lease. Most property management companies carry out a thorough vetting process to choose high quality guests and will monitor and maintain the property throughout the process.

–  Allows landlords, especially those living overseas, to use their own property when they want by simply blocking out  certain dates.

– With smart pricing technology and by using a well-experienced real estate agency to manage your property, prices are set in accordance with market and seasonal demand. As a result, you can increase your price to maximize your earning potential.

Takeaways

The market for holiday homes is definitely prime territory for investment, with rising prices and an increase in the number of tourists preferring short-term rentals, short lets produce high yields and offer landlords greater flexibility.

Over the years, holiday homes have become a preferred choice amongst tourists, due to the many benefits listed above. For guests looking for holiday homes, prime areas such as Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina remain popular choices.

Short-term rentals are rising rapidly, all of these factors have contributed to the growth of the UAE holiday homes market, enabling landlords to reap the rewards on their investments.

Advantages of managing your vacation rentals by yourself

Managing your vacation rentals yourself may seem like a daunting task, but it can have many benefits.

Total control over the management of your vacation rentals

When you manage your own vacation rentals, you have complete control over all property-related decisions, including pricing, advertising and booking. You are able to customize the customer experience and create a unique atmosphere for each property.

Financial savings on management costs

Managing your own vacation rentals can save you money by avoiding the management fees imposed by a concierge. In addition, you can reduce costs by doing your own maintenance and cleaning of the properties.

Opportunity to offer a personalized customer experience

By managing your own vacation rentals, you have the opportunity to provide a personalized guest experience. You can be there to greet guests, guide them through the property and answer any questions they may have. You may also be able to provide additional amenities or services that concierge companies cannot.

Advantages of the management of your seasonal rentals by a concierge

Managing your vacation rentals can be a daunting task, especially if you own multiple properties. This is where the services of a concierge can be beneficial.

Professional and specialized management of your seasonal rentals

Concierge services consist of a team of qualified and skilled professionals who have the expertise to effectively manage your properties. They handle all aspects of the vacation rental business, including advertising, reservations, maintenance and cleaning.

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Concierge services are available to answer any questions or requests customers may have 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This can provide peace of mind to customers and enhance their overall experience.

Better online visibility and effective marketing

Concierge companies often have high online visibility and use effective marketing strategies to promote your properties. They have the expertise and resources to reach a wider audience and generate more bookings.

Optimization of revenues and occupancy rates

Concierge companies have expertise in pricing and optimizing occupancy rates. They can adjust prices based on demand, which can help maximize revenue for your properties.

Disadvantages of managing your vacation rentals by yourself

Managing your vacation rentals may seem like an easy task, especially if you only own a few properties. However, the reality is that it can quickly become a full-time and very stressful job.

Risk of drowning in details

Managing your vacation rentals can be like navigating deep waters. If you’re not prepared or equipped to deal with the unexpected, it’s easy to drown in the details. Without a good work ethic and impeccable organization, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the workload and demands of vacation rentals.

Inefficient time management

As a vacation rental manager, you’ll also need to manage reservations, payments and guest requests yourself. This can be time consuming and requires advanced communication and negotiation skills to avoid conflicts.

In addition, it is important to be available 24 hours a day to respond to customer requests. If you are not available, you risk losing reservations or receiving negative feedback. If there are any problems with the property, it is also important to be responsive to minimize disruption to guests and maintain their satisfaction.

Pressure on customer relations

Managing your vacation rentals can be like walking on eggshells. If you’re not good at managing customer relationships, you can easily end up with unhappy customers who will leave you negative feedback and affect your online reputation. It can also put you under pressure to respond to customer requests at all times, which can be difficult if you have a personal life and other responsibilities.

Disadvantages of the management of your seasonal rentals by a concierge

Managing your vacation rentals with a concierge may seem like an easy solution for owners who don’t have the time or expertise to manage their properties themselves. However, there are also drawbacks to consider.

Additional management costs

Managing your vacation rentals with a concierge can be costly. Concierge companies typically charge a monthly fee for their services, in addition to a commission on each booking. This can reduce your revenue and make your properties less profitable, especially if you have a large number of properties.

Loss of control over certain aspects of the management of your vacation rentals

Managing your vacation rentals through a concierge can result in a loss of control over your properties. You may not be able to directly oversee operations, which can lead to problems such as delays in repairs or issues with cleanings. In addition, concierge companies may have strict reservation and refund policies that may not match your preferences or those of your guests.

Difficulty in maintaining a solid client relationship

Managing your vacation rentals through a concierge can make it difficult to maintain a strong client relationship. Concierge companies may have multiple clients and therefore be less likely to focus on your properties in a personalized manner. Clients may also have problems getting in touch with you directly, which can lead to delays in resolving issues.

In a nutshell

Whether you choose to manage your own vacation rentals or hire a concierge will depend on your needs, availability and financial goals. It is important to carefully weigh the pros and cons of each option before making an informed decision. Owners may also consider a compromise by managing some vacation rental tasks themselves and outsourcing other tasks to a concierge.

In today’s fast-paced world, property owners and managers are constantly seeking ways to enhance the experience of their residents, tenants, and guests while maintaining a secure environment. One effective solution that has gained popularity in recent years is the hiring of a professional concierge. Beyond offering a warm welcome and personalized service, a concierge plays a crucial role in elevating customer experience, enhancing property security, and providing emergency response support. Let’s explore the myriad of benefits of hiring a concierge:

Enhanced Customer Service: A concierge serves as the face of your property, offering a warm greeting and personalized assistance to residents, tenants, and visitors. Whether it’s arranging transportation, making restaurant reservations, or providing local recommendations, a concierge goes above and beyond to meet the needs and preferences of each individual. By delivering exceptional customer service, a concierge fosters a positive and welcoming atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression on guests.

Streamlined Operations: From handling package deliveries to coordinating maintenance requests, a concierge serves as a central point of contact for all property-related inquiries and services. By efficiently managing day-to-day tasks and logistics, a concierge helps streamline operations and alleviate the workload of property managers and staff. This allows property management teams to focus on more strategic initiatives and overall property performance.

Increased Security: In addition to providing outstanding customer service, a concierge plays a vital role in enhancing property security. By monitoring access points, verifying the identity of visitors, and enforcing property rules and regulations, a concierge helps prevent unauthorized entry and maintain a safe and secure environment. In the event of an emergency or security incident, a concierge serves as a first responder, taking swift action to mitigate risks and ensure the safety of occupants.

Personalized Amenities and Services: A concierge curates personalized amenities and services to cater to the unique needs and preferences of residents and tenants. Whether it’s organizing social events, arranging dry cleaning services, or coordinating pet care, a concierge anticipates and fulfills the diverse requirements of property occupants. By offering tailored experiences and amenities, a concierge adds value to the property and enhances overall resident satisfaction.

Building Community and Engagement: Beyond facilitating transactions and services, a concierge plays a pivotal role in building a sense of community and engagement among property occupants. By organizing social gatherings, networking events, and community activities, a concierge fosters connections and strengthens relationships among residents and tenants. This sense of belonging enhances resident retention rates and contributes to a vibrant and thriving community.

Emergency Response Support: During emergency situations such as medical emergencies, fires, or natural disasters, a concierge serves as a valuable resource for occupants. Trained in emergency response protocols and procedures, a concierge can provide vital assistance, coordinate evacuation efforts, and liaise with first responders to ensure a swift and effective response. By having a knowledgeable and proactive concierge on-site, property occupants can feel reassured and supported during times of crisis.

In conclusion, hiring a concierge offers numerous benefits for property owners, managers, and occupants alike. From providing exceptional customer service to enhancing property security, fostering community engagement, and providing emergency response support, a concierge elevates the overall experience of a property and sets it apart in a competitive market. By investing in a professional concierge service, property stakeholders can create a welcoming, secure, and resilient environment that promotes resident satisfaction, safety, and peace of mind.

What is a travel concierge, and how can you benefit from it?

A concierge, simply put, is a person or group of people who are at your service for assistance whenever you may need it. This can include doing research, making calls, following up with others, planning travel, and more. A travel concierge is here for you when it comes to all things travel.

Simple Trips – Travel Concierge

Wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to spend hours and hours planning and researching every time you take a trip? What if you could have someone contact the hotel to make special requests for you? What if someone could keep an eye on your reservations for delays or interruptions? The errandables Concierge is the best way to plan, manage, and enjoy your travel. We pride ourselves on how easy it is for our clients to plan and book new trips – we take the hassle out of the equation by doing the work for you. Additionally, we can make adjustments to existing trips and get powerful insight and recommendations into destinations before, during, and after your trip.

How does it work?

With the ease of Facebook Messenger, email, or phone, you can start a conversation with our travel concierge at any time and in any place. We will begin looking into your trip details within minutes. We’ll chat with you to understand your travel preferences, goals, and needs. Once we have this information, we’ll quickly use our expertise and data to find the best pricing and availability that fits your trip needs. We’ll message you with the details and receive your feedback to either lock in the pricing or make adjustments. From there, it’s simply a matter of planning the details of your getaway with as much or as little collaboration as you prefer. Then, you’ll be on your way to an experience you won’t forget!

Hands-on, with as much of your input as you want

Our experts will assist and plan to the degree that works best for you. If you’re looking for the best prices on flight or hotel reservations and have the other trip details covered, we’d be happy to help in those areas. In need of restaurant recommendations or reservations for a trip you’re booking on your own? We can provide the information that suits your goals and make those reservations for you. If you want a knowledgeable resource for destination ideas or what times of year to visit Paris, chat with us. If you’d prefer to be completely hands-off and receive an activity itinerary for your trip, we’ll get to work on planning those details. We’ll custom-build an amazing vacation so that you can focus on enjoying your trip or we’ll plan and manage your business trip so you can get stay focused on your work.

Benefits during a trip

Once you’re ready for any type of accommodations to be booked, we’ll be happy to lock these in for you. You can easily keep track of your flight, hotel, car and other reservations all in one place within our handy trip portfolio. Don’t forget that our experts are also here for you throughout your trip time! Feel free to get in touch via email, chat, or phone with any questions that we can answer while you’re away to make your travel the simplest it’s ever been.

Rather plan your trip without concierge assistance?

If you’d rather take the reins on planning, we’re here for that adventurous spirit too! Feel free to loop us in at the end to simply use our tool for booking your hotel, flights, cars, and restaurant reservations all in one place. We usually have access to the best rates, so you’ll get the best price with our concierge service at your fingertips. If we don’t have the best rate for your trip, we’ll tell you exactly where to book instead. That’s how much we care about giving you the best experience.

Moving to a new home or office can be a stressful and time-consuming process. From packing and organizing to transporting and unpacking, there are many tasks involved in a move. However, with the help of moving management services, the process can be made easier and more efficient. In this article, we will explore the benefits of using moving management services for your next move.

What are Moving Management Services?

Moving management services are professional services that help individuals and businesses plan and execute their move. Moving management services can provide a wide range of services, including packing, organizing, transporting, and unpacking. These services can be customized to meet the specific needs of the client.

Benefits of Using Moving Management Services for Your Next Move

Stress-Free Planning

Planning a move can be overwhelming, especially if you have a lot of items to pack and transport. Moving management services can take the stress out of planning by providing a detailed plan for your move. They can help you create a timeline, decide on the best packing materials, and determine the most efficient way to transport your belongings.

Professional Packing and Organizing

Moving management services can provide professional packing and organizing services for your move. They can ensure that your items are packed securely and efficiently to prevent damage during transportation. They can also help you organize your belongings, making it easier to unpack and settle into your new space.

Efficient Transport

Moving management services can provide efficient transport for your belongings. They can help you choose the best mode of transportation for your items, whether it is a moving truck, airplane, or shipping container. They can also ensure that your items are transported safely and efficiently, reducing the risk of damage or loss.

Unpacking and Settling In

Moving management services can also provide unpacking and settling-in services for your move. They can help you unpack your belongings and organize them in your new space. They can also help you with tasks such as furniture assembly and installation of appliances, making it easier for you to settle into your new home or office.

Time and Cost Savings

Using moving management services can save you time and money. They can help you avoid costly mistakes such as packing fragile items incorrectly or choosing the wrong mode of transportation. They can also help you save time by taking care of tasks such as packing, organizing, and transportation, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your move.

Customized Services

Moving management services can provide customized services to meet your specific needs. They can tailor their services to fit your budget, timeline, and preferences. Whether you need help with packing, organizing, transport, or settling in, moving management services can provide the services you need to make your move a success.

Introduction to Wedding Planning Roles

Do you know the difference, errandables readers, between a wedding planner and a bridal concierge?  Here at Errandables HQ we didn’t, so we asked our resident wedding planning expert Fabienne – owner of Elian Concept Weddings and Events to help us shed light on what is the difference, and how it applies if you are planning your wedding.

Insights from an Expert Wedding Planner

Fabienne’s Perspective on Wedding Planning

I must admit this question from the Errandables editor Laura Payne-Stanley arrived a bit out of the blue for me. Obviously I knew of the word ‘concierge’ and its most used meanings and I must have come across the expression from time to time in the wedding world, although without paying too much attention to it. But now it’s time to have a closer look.

Concierge in the Travel and Hospitality Industry

Quite a well known occupation in the travel and hospitality industry, one probably remembers the person at a hotel desk who assists guests by booking tours, making theatre or restaurant reservations, or advise on local shops and transport. In luxury hotels, their job may go beyond these basic tasks to satisfy high-ends clients, and to nearly act as a personal assistant but in essence this is their role. Be careful with the word ‘concierge’ in France as, outside the hospitality industry context, it stands for a person who looks after a block of flats. Not quite the same!

The Role of a Bridal Concierge in the Wedding Industry

Defining Bridal Concierge Services

So in the wedding industry, aside the traditional concierge encountered during a honeymoon or the stay at a five-star hotel, what lies behind the label ‘wedding or bridal concierge’ and most of all what is the difference between that and the role of a wedding planner?

Services Offered by Bridal Concierge

For me, the answer is in the word ‘services’. Often seen to describe tailored, exclusive services, ‘offering bridal concierge services’ is in fact facilitating the unique and specific requests of your clients, whether you work in a hotel, a bridal shop, a travel agency or a wedding planning agency. And the extent of these services. (Please note that I am concentrating here on services provided by ‘real people’ as opposed to the ‘wedding concierge’ services promoted by some wedding websites.)

Examples of Bridal Concierge Services

For example for a bridal shop, it may be to help the bride find her dress style, book her appointments and accompany her to the dress fittings, even source her perfect honeymoon outfits.

Comparing Wedding Planners and Bridal Concierges

Wedding Planners as Personal Assistants

Wedding planners often carry out tasks similar to the ones of a personal assistant and as such are offering ‘concierge type services’, whilst so called ‘wedding and bridal concierge’ may also be offering wedding planning.

Clarifying the Confusion

I would say not so much as long as, when looking for somebody to help you, you are quite clear about what kind of assistance you need, and you check what’s on offer based on these specific needs.

Destination Weddings and Additional Services

Comprehensive Services for Destination Brides

For the destination bride, the assistance in the planning process is habitually not limited to the organisation of the wedding day itself. A wedding in France often takes place over several days and a range of other services is required for a flawless event e.g. sourcing local accommodation for guests, booking extra activities, organising transport, baby sitters, special entertainment and even chefs or maid services in case of luxury gite rentals. Anything to give the bride and groom their dream day and to make the guest experience unforgettable.  In general, destination wedding planner services will cover all this. We, at Elian Concept Weddings certainly do.