Transporting meeting attendees in a chartered bus is an affordable option for meetings planned locally, as well as for transporting people from the airport or train station to the host hotel, or from the hotel to the convention center or meeting location. Contrary to the misguided assumptions that charter buses are a less than ideal option due to misgivings about bus travel in general, charter buses offer comfortable, clean transportation that can be absolutely luxurious.

To avoid complications and ensure a successful chartering experience, here are seven questions that should be considered before reserving a bus:

1. How many people do you need to transport?
2. Do any of the travelers have special needs that will need to be met?
3. What level of luxury do you desire?
4. Is the trip overnight? If so, you may need to make a hotel reservation for the driver.
5. How long is the trip? You may need more than one driver, depending on the number of hours that need to be driven each day.
6. Is your client more concerned about the cost or level of luxury provided?
7. Do you need a video-equipped bus? This can allow attendees to watch training videos, videos about the destination, movies or any other materials provided by you or your client.

Many business meeting planners have taken steps to locate corporate meetings in centralized locations, which allows participants to attend meetings closer to home. This has come on the heels of pressure to limit the environmental effects of transportation and an increasing need to cut costs wherever possible.

This new consideration of locations is also an important factor in assisting your corporate clients in maintaining a positive image, particularly with everything from meeting locations and travel expenses, to the quality of food being served and additional amenities offered being reported in the news or on various online channels.

Hosting meetings closer to where participants live means using more regional transportation. While train travel and charter buses are two viable options, many clients will require air travel to accommodate tight schedules and busy professionals.

Fortunately, there is a new trend in air travel that makes this option more appealing to higher-end clientele. Major airlines, such as Delta, Northwest, United and American Eagle are now offering premium seating and service on regional flights. First class and business class seating options are no longer reserved solely for mainline flights and are quickly becoming the norm for regional subsidiaries.

This is great news for business meeting planners that cater to clients who prefer premium services, or companies that wish to offer upscale seating as part of their incentive travel packages.