Business
4 Guidelines To Follow For Successful Business Trips
Running your own company requires a lot from you, aside from the general supervision of the overall operation, attending business trips are just among your frequent itineraries as an entrepreneur. Business trips are needed to boost one’s business, either as form of advertisement to other colleagues, ways to convince more investors to partner with your company or an outlet to exchange ideas and other information that would benefit your business after each business trip.
For your upcoming business trips to be more successful, pleasant and less stressful on your part, here are 4 guidelines that you can follow:
1. Do advance booking for your travel requirements
This is highly important before confirming with your business associates that you will be present for their annual business conference. Checkout travel agencies bundle promos for advance bookings or frequent travellers like you. They might have other mode of transportations available upon your arrival at the airport. Most reliable travelling agencies have affiliate services from your point of entry to the destination as well as decent accommodation to entice more clients. Making prior arrangements for your travelling needs will not only save you time, money and energy but will also lessen any stress building up your system if you have other important obligations to attend to.
2. Practice proper packing method
Determine how long you need to stay in that place for your business trip and from there decide what type of clothes to bring aside from the vital documents, files and gadgets you need to tag along with you. Verify also the kind of climate that will meet you where the meeting or seminar will take place. For sure you don’t want to arrive to a tropical place completely in a heavily wool coat outfit which totally out-of-place. Ask the airlines about luggage weight requirements so that you won’t go beyond the normal limit. In case you need to stay for a week, make a detailed list of clothes to bring. Bring clothes that you can mix and match to have more room in your luggage for other personal items like toiletries.
3. Plan your stay
If this is your first time to the city, buy a city guidebook or map before arriving to your destination. Remember, you won’t be doing meetings the whole day. There are times that you have free time to tour the place. A little background of what to expect to that new place, its culture and language spoken could be very useful as you roam around the city. Conduct on-line surveys where are the best places to dine, shop or explore. This may help you have an enjoyable stay while combining business appointments with pleasure.
4. Consider sleeping adjustments
There are times when you have business trips to the farthest part of the globe wherein there is a major time zone difference. It usually takes 1 or 2 days before your body clock can adjust to the new environment, so try to get as much sleep as you can when you have the luxury to do so. For sure you don’t want to present a proposal or speech with a sleepy head in front of your associates.
Be flexible enough when the need arises during your business trips. Bear in mind these are just temporary adjustments that you need to get used if you want better growth and creative ideas for your business. Travel in a free-spirited mood and don’t let worries or travel sickness affect your business appointments. Strive and excel.
Tagged business, Business plan, business trip, Entrepreneur, marketing, Small business, Travel, Travel and Tourism, Work
johnthomas1433October 9, 2012 at 1:15 am
After reading your article, it keeps me thinking about the movie “Up in the Air”. Its a must see movie for anyone who wishes to take business trips and make it as smooth as possible.
You shall see the main actor discussing all the various strategies and pointers that we should follow while on a trip, and even some interesting pointers, that we may not have noticed otherwise.
TashWordOctober 10, 2012 at 10:30 pm
When booking accomodation, I always try to be near the city so it’s easy to get around (such as walking around to find places to eat and just see what’s happening). I also get a serviced apartment rather than hotel room a lot of the time as you get more space and it often actually costs less.
And when packing, rememebr chargers or spare batteries…
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lisa jean hawkinsOctober 19, 2012 at 5:41 am
TashWord I am glad you mentioned chargers and spare batteries. I would be the one to forget that. Your entire trip could be a disater without them.
BloomaticOctober 11, 2012 at 1:55 am
I think it’s interesting to spend some of our enterprise budget for such trips. In business trips, we have the opportunity to learn new approaches, broaden our horizons and establish new personal contacts. For that reason, as you say, is important to good planning and consider the details that will allow us to enjoy the experience. Considering the details, we may be with more time to dedicate to the business, obtaining positive results.
Lloyd L.October 18, 2012 at 8:35 pm
I like this post because it gives me hope one day that my business will be large enough to where I actually do need to take business trips
. Right now its just online but I hope to have it grow!
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lisa jean hawkinsOctober 19, 2012 at 5:39 am
I agree with you that booking reservations in advance will save you money and a lot of hassle later. I would recommend that when you are packing; pack clothes that are comfortable yet business. If you are in meetings and have traveled all day you want to be comfortable. You can buy inexpensive business attire that is still professional yet comfortable. Do not forget to wear comfortable shoes. One pair of sneakers and one pair of shoes that can match all your outfits will help. Those most important thing is look good and feel good. If you can look and feel good your trip can be a success and you will have gained some confidence.
DazOctober 29, 2012 at 7:57 am
I guess it depends on how flexible the trip can be, but from my experience in arranging conferences across the globe one of the first things I do is check out the local events to make sure it doesn’t clash with anything major going on.
As soon as there is a festival or huge concert going on hotels and flights shoot up in price!
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vida_llevaresNovember 3, 2012 at 7:37 pm
These tips are really practical and helpful. Sometimes, we tend to take these for granted because we are so overwhelmed with our business-related itineraries.
PubDNovember 4, 2012 at 11:02 am
The time adjustment can be huge, even if it’s only two or three hours different, depending on when you fly. Occasionally I fly west, crossing two time zones, early in the morning. If I have to be at the airport at 7, I have to leave at 5:45, which means waking up at 4. By the time I get to my destination, it’s breakfast time there, but I feel like a whole day has passed, and I’m too zonked to work until the next day. If you’re flying to a time zone ahead, travelling in the morning is great. If you are flying back time zones, then fly in the afternoon or evening.
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rewasNovember 4, 2012 at 10:44 pm
Great tips Doree, I usually check out the local cuisine and some museums while on a business trip. My work actually takes so little time so I have lot’s of free time on my hands so I really want to do something different than just sit in my hotel room all day.
KennyKNovember 5, 2012 at 6:06 am
It’s important to not take your stress with you so that you can enjoy the trip and be focused. Planning really is key. You can save time, money and stress if you do everything in time or let someone make the necessary arrangements for you.
vida_llevaresNovember 9, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Enjoy and make the most out of your trip. The more prepared you are with your trip, the more comfortable you will be during the actual travel.
gregc24November 7, 2012 at 12:58 pm
You really can save a lot by taking the time to browse sites like kayak.com and hotels.com I usually try to book two weeks in advance to get the best deals.
majikstoneNovember 11, 2012 at 10:39 pm
I think that developing a sleeping and eating routine is very important.
Also, making use of the time spent on a plane is a good idea as well. Eat before you get on the plane to maximize the amount of time you can sleep, particularly for red-eye flights. Transcontinental and transatlantic flights are often too short for a full night’s sleep. So maximize your Z’s by “preparing for bed”–brushing your teeth and getting into comfortable clothes–before the flight. Go to sleep as soon as you hit the seat. Scoring a window seat avoids being disturbed by fellow passengers during the flight.
darkmeijiNovember 13, 2012 at 2:49 am
Packing with foresight is one of my major problems when travelling. I can plan everything in advance, research how to go around, the best places to stay or even what to eat but I cannot, for the life of me, pack just the right amount of clothes. I always pack heavy. I cannot decide what to wear so I bring a lot of options. A source of the problem is also may be while I have an idea in my head what clothes may be proper, I usually actually pack the night before. A one night trip is easy but give me two or more and I become confused. I am trying to work on this and I believe I am improving now.
akanbiNovember 19, 2012 at 3:37 am
I really love business trips. It certainly helps if you know someone in the area that you plan to have your meeting. It can be another business associate or colleague. It is very important to have these things setup in advance, especially dealing with a the time difference, if you are going overseas. Sleep is fundamental to your business, so that your head is clear!
gerkmeisterNovember 20, 2012 at 9:58 am
I’m with Lloyd above. Looking forward to the day where it’s practical to spend money on travel for seminars and conferences in my industry.
After all, it’s a chance to travel and write off the expense at the same time.
As far as packing and luggage, with airlines now charging ridiculous prices per bag, I’ve heard of some people who ship their clothes/luggage via UPS to save money. Might be worth looking into.
akanbiNovember 28, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Thanks for reminding me about that Gerkmeister! Business trips are great tax write offs, as long as you keep those dinner receipts and hotel stays.
MoniqueSeibelDecember 5, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Very helpful tips! Although, I don’t foresee having to do much traveling for my business. Nonetheless, I do hope to attend blogging conferences in the future, therefore, these are all factors to consider. But I think with anything, planning will only make the trip more stress free and successful. Furthermore, typically the more planning in advance you do, the more frugal options you have.
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