Executive Travel : Business Travel Notes

Spying: The Canadian Security Intelligence Service said in a report that more than two dozen countries are engaging in economic espionage and that in-flight spying is part of the problem. An internal document said Canadian business executives were warned in 1992 not to fly Air France after CSIS discovered that the French intelligence service was bugging airline seats and using undercover agents to pose as flight attendants. The agency said at least one Canadian company had lost a major contract because foreign competitors were able to obtain details of its tender through their government.

Visas: Thanks to NAFTA, you no longer need a visa in Mexico--if you’re a U.S. or Canadian business traveler staying 30 days or less. New business travel cards are available free at border crossings or in advance at Mexican consulates, airlines and travel agents. The cards are similar to the tourist cards the government issues. They must be presented at points of entry with proof of citizenship, such as a valid passport or birth or naturalization certificate. For more information, call (202) 736-1000.

Hotel rooms: Space will be tight for the next few months in Boston, New York, Washington and San Francisco due to the World Cup, soccer’s quadrennial global extravaganza. Bob Diener, president of Dallas-based Hotel Reservations Network, said the Cup games, on top of the usual early summer travel activity, threaten to make hotel rooms in those four cities particularly scarce and expensive. The other cup cities--Orlando, Detroit, Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles--will not be as strongly affected, Diener said.