Only those who have never been on a business trip view business travel with any sense of romance. Most business trips involve a fair bit of preparation, a certain amount of sleeplessness and sometimes a dash of chaos. If you are a young up and comer planning his first trip abroad or a seasoned executive visiting her client for the seventh time this year, there are a number of things you can do to make your business trip a success.
1. Know where you’re going.
It sounds like such simple advice, but it’s key to ensuring your trip is a success. For example, San Jose in California is in the heart of Silicon Valley within spitting distance of Google’s headquarters and Stanford University. San José, on the other hand, is the capital of Costa Rica.
It sounds like such simple advice, but it’s key to ensuring your trip is a success. For example, San Jose in California is in the heart of Silicon Valley within spitting distance of Google’s headquarters and Stanford University. San José, on the other hand, is the capital of Costa Rica.
2. Make sure you have the right documentation.
People have been turned away from airports for not having the correct visa. Furthermore some countries insist that your passport is one of the modern, machine-readable ones so that even if your passport is valid, it may not be accepted when you try to enter a country with it.
People have been turned away from airports for not having the correct visa. Furthermore some countries insist that your passport is one of the modern, machine-readable ones so that even if your passport is valid, it may not be accepted when you try to enter a country with it.
3. Understand the dress code.
If you’re going to be in meetings, find out if you need to wear a suit. If you’re going to be making site visits, make sure you have appropriate clothing.
If you’re going to be in meetings, find out if you need to wear a suit. If you’re going to be making site visits, make sure you have appropriate clothing.
4. Know who you’re meeting.
There’s nothing worse that turning up at reception in a giant office building with knowing the name of the person you are due to meet. It’s even better to have their phone number or email address so that you can confirm the date and time of the meeting a few days before and alert them to any changes in your schedule.
There’s nothing worse that turning up at reception in a giant office building with knowing the name of the person you are due to meet. It’s even better to have their phone number or email address so that you can confirm the date and time of the meeting a few days before and alert them to any changes in your schedule.
5. Find out where you’re staying.
You need to have a clear idea about long it’s going to take to get from your hotel to the meeting place. It’s bad form to fly all the way round the world and then be 20 minutes late because you didn’t leave enough time to find a taxi and navigate through rush hour.
You need to have a clear idea about long it’s going to take to get from your hotel to the meeting place. It’s bad form to fly all the way round the world and then be 20 minutes late because you didn’t leave enough time to find a taxi and navigate through rush hour.
6. Enjoy the perks that exist.
If your company lets you, make sure you collect all your air-miles and any points you get from hotel stays, car rentals and more. If you’re traveling a lot, these little treats can add up to some welcome upgrades in the way you travel. It doesn’t make it easier to leave home on short notice, but it can make your travel a lot more comfortable.
If your company lets you, make sure you collect all your air-miles and any points you get from hotel stays, car rentals and more. If you’re traveling a lot, these little treats can add up to some welcome upgrades in the way you travel. It doesn’t make it easier to leave home on short notice, but it can make your travel a lot more comfortable.