Clear communication

Traveler: Andy Bowen, founder, president and CEO of Tampa-based Clearview Communications and PR, a public relations, media training and crisis communications firm.

Itinerary: With offices in Denver, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Tampa, Bowen travels at least once a month to his clients across North America. His clients range from a $1 million energy-consulting firm in Denver to an $8 billion paper company in Canada. He spends a lot of time working one-on-one with clients, because he believes most “CEOs want to deal with CEOs,” or senior staff members, to determine the areas of a business where a crisis can occur.

Flying favorites: Bowen is loyal to Delta, because he believes the fares are competitive, the flights are generally on time and the staff is well trained. The free upgrades during ticketing make for an added bonus.
Bowen's favorite airports are in Tampa and Denver because they are comfortable and friendly, he says. Atlanta is not as user-friendly, “but I have to go through there,” Bowen says. “It is what it is.”

Work on the go: Bowen is “always connected, always working” on flights, he says. He secures a hotspot wherever he goes, sending emails from his laptop on the plane.

Border battles: In 2005, Bowen was asked to go to Canada to provide media training for a large chemical corporation in Toronto, when he was interrogated for what he was doing in the country, and whether he was stealing a Canadian's job, Bowen says. He was only let go when he fully explained the nature of his business. A few years later, he was working with a large paper company in Calgary, when customs pulled him aside to ask for his letter of invitation to enter Canada and do business. With threats to send him back, Bowen dug through his emails on his laptop to show that he was asked to visit the country to deliver training.

The next time he went to Canada was in 2011, and he was prepared. Bowen asked his client to supply him with a business letter of invitation, stating that he's a business visitor and would be paid by the United States operation, and not by Canadian company. This time he flew into Winnipeg, and was again sent to immigration. After presenting his full media training PowerPoint to officers, he was released.

Lesson learned: If you're traveling to Canada, “don't say you are a consultant and don't say you are a teacher. Just say that you are there to attend meetings,” Bowen insists. He also recommends reading ahead of time to make sure you are following the rules. For Canada, you need to have your letter of introduction and letter of invitation prepared for immigration authorities. If you're stopped like Bowen, know that you may be asked to share specifics like your agenda or other business materials.

Even with the adventures of additional questioning, Bowen says Canada has a lot to offer. He particularly loves Vancouver, which reminds him of Denver with water.