The data released by various airlines suggest that business travel is back after the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies and startups have resumed business travel to drive lead generation and conversion activities. A surge is being noted in the number of working professionals traveling to various destinations for business purposes.
Some of these professionals engage in international business travel, while others engage in domestic business travel. Likewise, there are many working professionals who will plan business trips for the first time. First-time business travelers, like frequent business travelers, experience stress due to a variety of reasons.
First-time business travelers can avoid stress and anxiety during business trips through advanced and proper planning. They have to focus on various factors while planning and organizing business trips. Also, they can manage stress and make business trips successful by adopting a slew of tips and best practices.
11 Tips for a First-Time Business Traveler to Make Business Trips Stress-Free
1. Understand Expectations and Goals
Every business invests in travel to achieve a specific goal – generate leads, retain customers, close sales deals, or strengthen business relationships. A first-time business traveler can make a business trip successful only by understanding the goal or expectation clearly. They should spend time with the manager or supervisor to set clear goals. The preset goals will help her prepare an elaborate travel itinerary.
2. Create a Detailed Travel Itinerary
First-time business travelers visit multiple places and meet many people during a single business trip. Hence, they should gather important information related to a business trip by preparing a corporate travel itinerary. The travel itinerary must include important information about flights, hotels, car rentals, and other essential business travel products and services. At the same time, travelers need to include whom, when, and where to meet clients/suppliers/coworkers.
3. Reduce Air Travel Time
Extended flight time always makes the traveler experience more stressful. Hence, young travelers must try to reduce air travel time to remain stress-free.
Most organizations these days promote self-travel booking by implementing travel management software. The software allows users to choose from direct and connecting flights. First-time corporate travelers can easily reduce air travel time by opting for direct flights.
4. Book Comfortable and Safe Accommodations
The choice of accommodation directly impacts the productivity and creativity of work travelers. First-time travelers can unwind and get adequate sleep after meetings only when they have booked comfortable and safe accommodations. They should compare and shortlist hotels based on the facilities and amenities provided. But they should read customers’ reviews to ensure that the place is both restful and safe.
5. Make a Business Travel Packing Checklist
No business travelers can stay stress-free during business trips without making a business travel packing checklist. The checklist will ensure that the traveler carries the documents, clothing, accessories, and currency to enjoy a hassle-free stay in a foreign country. While making the business travel packing checklist, first-time business travelers must not forget to include travel documents, clothing, toiletries, medications, and other essential travel accessories.
6. Carry Useful Gadgets
Business travelers carry a variety of digital devices to carry data and stay connected. But first-time business travelers often forget to pack the accessories required for using laptops, smartphones, or tablets. They should make a checklist to ensure that no essential electronic item is left behind. The checklist should include laptop and cell phone along with laptop adapters, cell phone chargers, and USB flash drives.
7. Stay Focused
A first-time business traveler can make the business trip successful only by staying focused. They should not indulge in any activities that affect their productivity and energy level. In addition to focusing on achieving preset goals, traveling professionals should prepare adequately for meetings. They should gather information about the person and finalize the list of questions before the meeting. It is always advisable for a first-time work traveler to behave like a professional instead of a tourist during business trips.
8. Learn International Business Travel Etiquette
While engaging in international business travel, first-timers must spend some time learning international business travel etiquette. Understanding the complex network of unwritten rules will help her behave and act properly in professional settings. Also, the etiquette will help her create a good first impression and build business relationships. However, first-time corporate travelers should learn etiquette specific to a country or culture.
9. Stay Connected with Your Loved Ones
Most corporate travelers feel safe and secure after the pandemic when they stay connected with their loved ones. Digital technologies and devices enable first-time business travelers to stay connected with partners, family, and friends from various locations. Novice work travelers can remain stress-free by talking to people close to them during business trips.
10. Get Enough Sleep
Business travelers feel stressed and de-energized due to lack of sleep. But travelers often find it challenging to maintain healthy sleep patterns due to the time differences. Novice corporate travelers can get enough sleep only by eating well and staying hydrated. However, they must not forget to carry essential sleep accessories like earplugs, sleep masks, neck pillows, and comfortable travel blankets.
11. Blend Business and Leisure Travel
Most organizations keep work travelers motivated and stress-free by supporting bleisure travel. They allow employees to add sightseeing trips to business trips. First-time business travelers can enjoy the business trip by visiting some of the popular tourist attractions in the city. The leisure activities will refresh and energize them before business meetings.
Conclusion
Most organizations these days improve the business travel experience by implementing the best travel management software. The software enables first-time business travelers to choose and book the right business travel products by supporting managed travel booking.
At the same time, it ensures that employees do not violate organizational travel policies while buying business travel products. The best corporate travel management software keeps professionals traveling for work purposes relaxed by delivering the latest travel rules and tracking their real-time location.
Work travelers can contact the software provider’s customer support team to manage emerging travel risks by getting relevant assistance on time. Hence, first-time business travelers should spend some time understanding the features and tools provided by the travel management software implemented by their employer.
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