Business travels, like any other journey, involve myriad uncertainties. It can go wrong because of several factors that may or may not be under your control. Missing a flight, arriving late at a business meeting, the sudden announcement of travel restrictions and inappropriate travel documents are only a few business travel ordeals. Therefore,
expert business travel tips can help you avoid nasty surprises during crucial business trips. Business travel is a mission-critical activity. A few proactive measures can help you complete your assignment with minimum stress.
11 Best business travel tips
1. Arrange your travel essentials
Seasoned business travelers have a travel-ready kit to help them get ready for the business trip at the shortest notice. Make a small kit comprising a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, soap, mosquito repellent cream, nail clipper, and medicines. Keep a pair of bathroom slippers, towel, napkin, and night dress ready in a bag to avoid the last-minute rush. Put your name tag on the laptops, USB devices, and other electronic equipment like a chargers.
2. Organizing mandatory documents
Organizing essential travel documents, personal identification papers, corporate cards, visiting cards, driver’s licenses, phones, and laptop chargers is among the top business travel packing tips. Keep these items in a handy bag, like your laptop case, handbag, or any piece of cabin baggage.
3. Store crucial documents on the cloud
Use Google Drive or any helpful app to store vital documents on the cloud. It will help you retrieve essential documents like flight tickets, hotel bookings, itineraries, and personal IDs from the smartphone.
4. Enable a faster security check
Security checks are more stringent with the rise in international conflicts and terrorist events. Keep all items ready for unpacking at the security gate. Removing shoes will be easier if you are using shoes without laces.
5. Update yourself with health regulations
The recent pandemic resulted in numerous travel restrictions. Though several countries are bidding goodbye to routine pandemic-related travel measures, it is better to know the existing regulations in the destination country. A SaaS-based travel platform like Paxes enables you to receive health advisories and alerts in real time. Check travel insurance coverage by your organization before each business trip.
6. Avoid layovers
Prefer a direct flight to your destination as it eliminates chances of lost baggage and cancellation of onward flights. Layovers result in delays and repetition of all formalities. Longer than three hours’ Layover is preferable if there is no option. Short layovers can be stressful, as you will rush through maddening crowds to locate your boarding gate in an unfamiliar airport. Having sufficient time to change a flight reduces the stress of traveling and the possibility of missing the flight.
7. Be productive during travel
Whether you reach early to catch a flight or there is a delay in flight departure. Using the time to finish some work is advisable. Use the facility of a business lounge to your advantage to polish your business presentation or prepare for a sales talk.
8. Prefer the same airline for air travel
Use the same airline service each time as it will reduce your stress of finding the terminal gates. Each airline uses the same terminal for departure and arrival at a particular airport. Further, besides collecting frequent flier miles, you will have the convenience of parking and reaching the boarding gate without hassles.
9. Verify your reservations
Getting confirmation for all travel and accommodation bookings before leaving home for the airport is vital while going on a business trip. Calling the hotel reception to confirm room booking will ensure a room available on arrival. The method is also helpful in verifying local transportation and bus journeys.
10. Enjoy the comforts
Inform the travel agency of your preferred airline, hotel, or plane seat to your business travel booking agency in advance. It will make your business trip more comfortable. Use your experience to share a list of hotels to help your travel agent book accordingly.
11. Familiarize with travel policy
The last and the most vital tip for business travelers is understanding the business travel policy. The policy will help you know the travel booking and expense reporting processes besides mandatory requirements, like submitting bills for reimbursements and approvals.
Conclusion
Business travel can exhaust you because of extended business meetings, long journeys, and the stress of being productive while adhering to travel policies. Travel managers can mitigate the stress using an advanced travel management system like Paxes that enables integration of the travel and expense policy. Further, following above business travel tips can make the trips smooth and satisfactory for the employee.
The platform provides app-based access for booking travel without deviating from the travel policy. It simplifies expense reporting and speeds up reimbursement. Paxes improves the productivity of employees by saving time.
Suggested Read: How To Efficiently Use Travel Expense Reporting In Corporates
Business Travel Tips FAQs
What is business travel?
Any trip that aims at fulfilling a business purpose is business travel. Daily commuting to business or office locations is not a business trip.
What are the various objectives of business travel?
Organizations arrange business travel for attending seminars, trade shows, training, client meetings, customer complaints, service contracts, and internal review meetings.
Is business travel relevant after the pandemic?
Virtual meetings cannot match the impact of face-to-face meetings. Business travel is crucial to establish business relations, as many organizations resume business travel after the pandemic. One can benefit from non-verbal cues in personal interactions. Meeting peers and networking with business associates is possible at real-life trade fairs.
What is a bleisure trip?
A bleisure trip is a combination of business work and leisure. An executive traveling to tourist locations for business with family or friends is a typical example of a bleisure trip.
