Business Trip Planning: Ensuring Maximum Comfort For Your Corporate Journey
Planning a regular trip can always be a hassle.
Planning a business trip can add that extra layer of anxiety. You aren’t planning for a holiday but instead making sure you arrive on time and well-prepared on behalf of your company. This means multiple factors must be taken into consideration which can often cause quite the panic.
We are here to help alleviate that worry by giving you the best travel advice for business trips. There are plenty of ways to relax and reduce stress when taking a flight. If you rent a car monthly and don’t know how long you need it for the trip, try making a travel plan to get your money’s worth.
Trips to different countries such as Dubai require a lot of long car drives. Be sure to bring something to help pass the time. These are just a few examples of how to make your business trip feel like a vacation trip.
Plan Far
If you want things to run smoothly, try to plan as far ahead as possible. You should start planning the moment you receive news about your trip. They say diamonds are made under pressure, but your business doesn’t want to see any cracks.
The first thing you should do is familiarize yourself with the rules. What is your company’s travel policy? Remember that you will be traveling on behalf of your business. It is them you will be representing, so make sure this is represented at your designated location. You aren’t on holiday yourself, so be sure to maintain a modicum of professionalism.
You must then plan your trip down to the very last segment. This may involve multiple modes of transport. You will need to book the flights, hire a car, grab a taxi, and even walk a certain distance. Plan every route accordingly so that you can put it together into a schedule. Here is an example when planning a trip to Dubai:
- Hire a taxi to the airport.
- Fly a plane to Dubai (the closest airport to your final destination if there are multiple airports)
- Rent a car that will be available to you once you get off your flight.
- Plan the fastest route to your destination.
- Drop yourself off as close to the destination as possible.
- Plan multiple car rentals or rent the car for a longer period if there for several days.
Where To Stay
Planning your accommodation is just as vital as your travel arrangements. Find something that suits your needs rather than something fancy. As mentioned before, this is a business trip and not a holiday. The first thing to make sure of is to measure how close your accommodation is to the primary location you were assigned to.
If attending a conference, book a hotel that is as close to the venue as possible. You can use online maps to keep track of where everything is, so you do not get lost. Plan further traveling options such as hiring a car for longer if the venue is far.
Your company may have hotel recommendations already listed, so be sure to check in with them. They could offer accommodation that offers numerous services. This includes Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service, complimentary breakfast, a power cable to charge your electronics, and more.
While you shouldn’t try to get the most expensive option possible, try to get the one that has the most positive reviews. You can look at reviews online to see if the place is exactly what you need. So long as the cost of the accommodation doesn’t exceed their maximum expectancy, it should be perfectly adequate.
Research Brings Comfort
As well as looking into the travel policy for your company, try and research where you will be staying. It can be very daunting when traveling somewhere you have never been before, especially if the place you are going to is a completely different country and you don’t speak the language. Taking an English course beforehand can help alleviate some of that anxiety.
There may be customs and barriers that will be unfamiliar to you. By doing the correct research you can be more prepared for running into these cultural differences. It can even be exciting to learn and help you understand the world a little better.
From a business point of view, these cultural differences can even be implemented in the working world. For example, the workplace in China involves bowing to those who have a higher-ranked position than yourself.
In Dubai, it is considered polite to greet the oldest and most senior members of the business first. By respecting the customs, you are proving that the business you work for is respectable. Learning a few phrases in the native language can also really help. First try practicing simple phrases like “thank you”, “please”, “good day”, and “nice to meet you”. A simple “hello” can be a good start.
Related: Practical Tips To Find Accommodation For Your Next Business Trip
Bring The Essentials
Remember to bring with you everything you need for the journey. This will include important documents, electronics, timetables, spreadsheets, and so much more. Over-preparing can bring more comfort than preparing for just the right amount. However, you also need to make sure to not overpack. Having too much with you may hinder your time and can affect your appointments. Bring a suitcase with spare clothes and your business attire. Bring your phone and laptop to handle online documents.
Once the important stuff is packed, bring whatever else can help make a journey comfier. A spare pillow for the flight or some extra snacks as a treat.
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