(IT Professional for 11 years)
actually, working for a high tech firm taught me that it is best to travel
with marketing rather than sales...
the marketing folks were enlightened, forward looking, sucked up to no one,
and had a budget that meant blackened swordfish at the regency.
not only that, the marketing guys had mba's and didn't make you feel like they
might plop their butt on the hood of your corvette at any moment.
but i do have to add that the sales guys were more entertaining on business trips.