A Business Trip to Chicago (travel & hotel)

part 1

Business trip to Chicago: Achim Steinfeld (CEO), Silvia Greifer (logistics manager), Bernd Seidel (Finance Director), Jaques Dupont (procurement director) and Stefan Weber (IT manager) are travelling to Chicago for a presentation about the restructured logistics department.

Part 1 – Booking a Flight

Sabine Hoffmann (personal assistant to Achim Steinfeld, CEO) is booking a flight to Chicago.
TA = Travel agent

TA – Good morning, Global Travels, how can I help you?
Sabine – Good morning. This is Sabine Hoffmann from Industry International. I’d like to book five flights to Chicago, please.
TA – Certainly, madam. When would you like to fly?
Sabine – On Wednesday, 26 February, please.
TA – And when would you like to return?
Sabine – On Saturday, 1 March, in the evening, please.
TA – Business class?
Sabine – Yes, please.
TA – Well, there’s a flight on Wednesday the 26th at 8 am.
Sabine – Which airline is it?
TA – Lufthansa.
Sabine – That’s good. When does it arrive in Chicago?
TA – Arrival time is 2.10pm, local time.
Sabine – That’s fine. I’ll take that.
TA – Fine, then I’ll have a look at the return flights… I can offer you seats on a flight at 5.25pm on Saturday the 1st of March, arriving in Hamburg on Sunday at 12 noon.
Sabine – That sounds good.
TA – OK. The total fare is 10,990.25 Euros.
Sabine – Ok, fine.
TA – May I ask for the passengers’ names? First and surnames, please.
Sabine – Of course, sir. The first is Mr Achim Steinfeld.
TA – Achim Steinfeld, yes.
Sabine – The second is Mr Bernd Seidel
TA – Bernd Seidel.
Sabine – Mr Jaques Dupont
TA – Jaques Dupont – does he have a German passport?
Sabine – Yes, he does. Then, Stefan Weber.
TA – Stefan Weber
Sabine – And Silvia Greifer.
TA – Silvia with an ‘i’ or a ‘y’?
Sabine – With an ‘i’.
TA – Thank you. May I ask for your company’s name and address?
Sabine – Of course, it’s Industry International, Industriestrasse 113 in 20359 Hamburg.
TA – Hamburg. And your email address, please.
Sabine – That’s sabine.hoffmann@industryinternational.com
TA – Thanks. Your flight numbers are LH435 and LH438 and your booking reference is USF2438. What’s you’re preferred method of payment?
Sabine – Can we pay by invoice?
TA – Of course, madam. Payment needs to be made within 30 days net. You’ll receive an offer via email within the next few hours. Please sign it and send it back to confirm your booking.
Sabine – I’ll do that. Thank you very much.
TA – You’re welcome. Goodbye.
Sabine – Goodbye.

part 2 & 3

Part 2 – At the Airport

Achim Steinfeld (CEO), Silvia Greifer (logistics manager), Bernd Seidel (Finance Director), Jaques Dupont (procurement director) and Stefan Weber (IT manager) are at the airport.

Stefan – Where do we have to go? Over there?
Silvia – No, that’s arrivals. We have to go to departures.
Jaques – We should get a baggage trolley first. I don’t want to carry the suitcase all the way.
Silvia – That’s a good idea. I’ll get one.
Achim – Which terminal do we have to go to?
Bernd – Terminal A.
Achim – Which counter?
Bernd – 123 to 134.
Achim – OK.
Bernd – Look at the departure screen – our flight is on time.
Silvia – Okay, then let’s get rid of our luggage and go to duty free!
Stefan – What a surprise!!

Part 3 – At the Check-in Counter

Clerk – Good morning, sir. Your ticket and passport, please.
Achim – There you go.
Clerk – Do you have any baggage to check in?
Achim – Yes, this suitcase.
Clerk – Could you put it on the conveyor belt, please?
Achim – Sure.
Clerk – Thank you, sir. Do you prefer a window or an aisle seat?
Achim – Window, please.
Clerk – OK, here are your baggage tags and your boarding card. Your seat is 47C.
Achim – Thank you. What’s the boarding time?
Clerk – The plane is boarding in 45 minutes. You leave from gate 10. Have a good flight.
Achim – Thank you. Goodbye.

print: VOCAB – air travel

part 4

Part 4 – The Flight

Silvia – That’s my seat Stefan. Could you help me with my hand baggage?
Stefan – Sure.
Silvia – Thanks.
flight attendant announcement:
Good afternoon and welcome to Flight 435, service to Chicago International Airport. We would appreciate your full attention to the following important safety announcement. This 747 aircraft is equipped with four emergency exits, two in the front of the plane and two in the rear. Be sure to identify the nearest exit to you, which may be behind you. If the aircraft experiences a sudden loss of pressure, an oxygen mask will drop from the compartment above your seat. Reach up, pull down on the mask until the tubing is fully extended. Place the mask over your nose and mouth, secure it with the elastic band and breathe normally.
Passenger seat cushions on this aircraft may be used as a flotation device and detailed instructions may be found on the safety information card in the seat pocket in front of you. Smoking is not permitted at any time while on board this aircraft. Also, federal law prohibits the tampering, disabling, or destroying of these detectors in the lavatories. Your compliance with all crew member instructions, all placards, seat belt, and no smoking signs is required.
The following electronic devices may not be used during takeoff or landing: portable compact disk players, portable computers, and cellular phones which should be in the off position and stowed. Now in preparation for takeoff, please fasten your seatbelt, return your seatback and tray tables to the full upright and locked position. Your carry-on luggage must be stowed in the overhead compartments or underneath the seat in front of you. On behalf of all Lufthansa employees, we’d like to thank you for choosing to fly with us today. We hope you enjoy your flight.
Bernd – OK then, let’s hope it will be a safe flight…
Silvia – I’m sure it will, Bernd. Don’t worry!

part 5

Part 5 – Hire Car

Silvia, Bernd, Stefan, Jacque and Achim have safely landed at Chicago and collected their luggage. They are now at the car hire desk and Achim is speaking to the representative of the car hire company.

Lady at Desk – Hello, how can I help you?
Achim – Hello, we would like to hire a car, please
Lady at the desk – Have you made a reservation?
Achim – No, we haven’t I’m afraid
Lady at the desk – That’s no problem. What type of car would you like?
Achim – We would like an estate car please with 5 doors.
Lady at the desk – And would you like a manual or automatic transmission?
Achim – Automatic please. And we would also like air conditioning, please.
Lady at the desk – OK, sure. Who will be the main driver?
Achim – That’s me
Lady at the desk – Could you give me your driving license, please?
Achim – Sure, there you go.
Lady at the desk – Thank you. How many passengers are travelling with you?
Achim – We are 5 people all together.
Lady at the desk – What type of insurance would you like? Fully comprehensive or just third party fire and theft?
Achim – Fully comprehensive, please
Silivia – What does the insurance cover?
Lady at the desk – Theft, accidents and breakdowns
Stefan – Is the car damaged in any way? For example, does it have any dents or scratches?
Lady at the desk – No, it’s in perfect condition.
Stefan – Can you give us a phone number in case we have any problems?
Lady at the desk – Yes, it is 0800 657 3245
Achim – Do we have to pay a deposit?
Lady at the desk – Yes, it is 150 dollars. Would you like to pay with a credit card?
Achim – Yes, with a Mastercard. Here you go.
Silvia – Where is the car?
Lady at the desk – It’s in parking lot number 10, space 45
Achim – Is it fully fuelled?
Lady at the desk – Yes it is. When you bring it back could you please make sure it is also fully fuelled?
Stefan – No problem. Where do we have to drop off the car when we give it back?
Lady at the desk – That depends on the drop off date!
Achim – (looking at his itinerary). Drop off date is March 1st.
Lady at the desk – In that case, the drop off point is the pickup location.
Achim – Ok, I think we have everything we need. Thanks for your help!
Lady at the desk – You’re welcome, enjoy your stay here in Chicago. Have a nice day.

Car Hire Vocab

part 6

Part 6 – The Hotel

They have picked up the hire car and have arrived at the hotel and are now at the reception desk checking in.

Jacques – Good afternoon, we are the industry international party. We have a reservation for 5 single rooms.
Receptionist – (she is talking on another phone) Just hang on a minute!
Jacques – Alright.
Receptionist – (Finished phoning) Fill out this please!
Jacques – Who?
Receptionist – You, who else!?
Jacques – Yes, but I mean do we all have to fill out this form, or do I do it for all of us on one form?
Receptionist – No, each of you has to fill out your own form!
Jacques – Sure (The party hands the filled out forms back to the lady at reception)
Receptionist – Oh, Mr Seidel, could you please enter your departure date?
Bernd – Oh yes, I’m sorry. There you go.
Receptionist – Thank you. Here are your keys. You are all on the 4th floor. Mr Steinfeld, your room is number 402, Mr Seidel you have room number 403, Mr Weber you have room number 404, Mr DuPont you have number 405 and Ms Greife you have room number 406.
Achim – Could you tell me what facilities the rooms have?
Receptionist – Sure. All rooms have a mini bar, safe and air conditioning. We also have a laundry service.
Silvia – Do we have to pay the bill ourselves or will you send it to our firm directly?
Receptionist – You will have to pay the bill yourselves.
Silvia – OK, can you just tell me what the room rate is?
Receptionist – Yes, your rooms cost 150 dollars per person per night
Silvia – OK, thanks
Receptionist – Ok, you’re all set. The lifts are over there on the right. Have a nice stay!
Achim – Thank you, goodbye
Receptionist – Goodbye.
Achim – (In the lift with the others). She was a bit rude wasn’t she?
Silvia – Yes, I was just about to complain to the manager about her attitude but then she started being nice!

Hotel Vocab