Most people think that business trips are a waste of time and money. The exact opposite is true. Businesses that invest in corporate travel make more money on average than those that don’t.
It does take a bit of planning for this to be the case. If a business trip isn’t planned well, it will be inefficient and cost more money than it makes. The secret is to start planning before the trip.
Here are the strategies you should consider when planning your next business trip. These ideas are also handy for travel in general.
Scheduling
Plan when you are going to travel and where.
Of course, take advantage of spontaneous opportunities. You never know when a chance will come.
When you have an invitation, seize it. Don’t waste time thinking about it. But you have to plan with wiggle room.
Don’t schedule yourself so tightly you don’t have time to be spontaneous. Plan as though things are going to go wrong.
This requires a lot of work in the beginning, but it will make the experience a more relaxed one. Don’t forget to schedule time for yourself.
You deserve a break every once in a while. If you feel overworked, you won’t be able to work productively.
Booking
Finding a good deal takes a lot of time and money.
Use a booking service to take care of the details for you. They will help you find a good deal and make the travel arrangements.
That way you can focus on work during your trip. And you can take advantage of lesser-known hotel services.
For instance, business travelers can usually request an early check-in or late check-out. Or they can use hotel shopping services. This can come in handy if you need a new outfit for an event.
It’s important that you have a good hotel in which all your needs are met. If you want a fitness center, you deserve one. You also need easy access to food and other basic amenities.
Look for a hotel with a restaurant or one that is close to restaurants. Make sure it is easy to get from your hotel to your meeting. Book your transport from the hotel to and from the airport.
When things go wrong, a booking service is there to take care of the problem.
Communication
Keep in touch with your boss during the trip.
Or if you are the boss sending your employee on a trip, check in with them. There’s no need to micromanage, though.
Give your employees space and time. Let them enjoy the destination. Trust them to make good decisions.
Let them be honest about things that they don’t like. If something isn’t working, give them the chance to change plans.
Also, communicate when things are going well. Positive feedback is always useful. Give compliments to the hotel staff as well.
Make sure they know that you’re a happy customer.
Multitasking
Don’t waste any time during your trip.
Use your downtime for work. Maybe answer emails while waiting for the train or your flight. Or read a business book to expand your knowledge.
Download a language app to practice a new language while traveling.
Make that call you keep forgetting about while on the road. Or use the time to write a report. Take advantage of every moment.
Ask if the client you’re meeting wouldn’t mind a lunch meeting. That way you can have a more casual conversation and save time.
Don’t do last-minute tasks while traveling, though. You never know when something is going to go wrong.
Evaluation
When things do go wrong, think about what they were.
Ask your employees what they did and didn’t like about the trip. Request anonymous feedback if possible so that they are honest.
Be prepared that they might not like the same things. In fact, they might have hated your favorite portion of the trip.
If that’s the case, be willing to change things. Make sure that each trip is better than the last. And make sure that you don’t make the same mistake more than once.
Conclusion
Travel is good for business. As long as you plan well, there’s no reason your business trip won’t be a success.