Intro:
The best way to ensure success during a business trip is to plan. Sometimes you’ll find yourself traveling to represent your company at the last minute.
Therefore, you need to go with the flow.
We offer nine tips for ensuring a successful business trip.
1. Understand the Purpose
Before heading to the airport or picking up your rental car, understand the purpose of the trip.
It also helps to define success. Sometimes company representatives find themselves in a bake-off with other firms.
They find themselves vying for the same client. But the client only requires one law firm, marketing agency, or accounting firm.
When you’re competing against others for a significant client, only one will win. If your company isn’t the winner, the trip is not a success.
However, maybe you can connect with others in your industry.
2. Prepare Beforehand
Even if you’re on a last-minute trip, prepare for the trip’s purpose on the way to the destination. For a meeting, go over your company’s talking points.
If you’re attending training, get into the learning mindset.
When you’re tasked with giving a presentation, practice. Reach your point of confidence.
3. Check Your Itinerary
Traveling for your company isn’t a vacation. Your itinerary takes you from one meeting to another, or one seminar to another without long breaks.
Check your itinerary before you leave. Map out how you’ll get from one location to another. It’s OK to depend on rideshare pros and cabs to take the best routes.
You need to ensure that you’re giving yourself enough time to arrive at your commitments on time.
Your itinerary also tells you what to pack. For example, if you’re attending a happy hour or a formal dinner, you need the right attire.
4. Confirm Your Travel And Accommodations
Every airline and hotel has a confirmation policy. Err on the safe side and confirm them before you leave.
During busy times of the year, the airlines and hotels turn away clients. If you don’t confirm yours within their window, you can lose them.
It’s also an opportunity to double-check that they have the correct info. If you travel to a specific destination often, you may want to get a timeshare and note that timeshare maintenance fees can end. This will help you save time in booking a place to stay.
5. Pack The Essentials
It’s never a good feeling when you realize that you forgot something important at home.
Electronic device charging cable, headphones, or protective case are some travel essentials.
An extra shirt, pair of pants or skirt are business trip attire essentials.
A successful trip requires you to pack the essentials. If you’re a novice, your company expects you to figure it out.
Consult with a veteran colleague who can offer some guidance.
6. Update Your Tech
It feels like your tech wants to update daily. Before you head out, update your tech.
For example, let the updates download and install while you pack your essentials.
You don’t want your tech to update in the middle of your presentation. Make sure you have your projector, it is one of the most beneficial technological devices, especially for work presentations. If you are planning to buy one, you might consider this Wemax nova. You can place the device merely inches away and produce a screen size much larger than your average TV. It is capable of producing up to a 150-inch screen just over 19 inches away from the wall.
7. Print Important Documents Before You Leave
In the digital age, paper is still a thing. Ensure that you or an assistant prints out important documents before you leave.
You should also know your per diem or company’s business trip expense reimbursement policy. Even though you’re an employee, all income gets taxed, including per diems.
Hotel Engine offers additional information on the topic.
8. Research Your Destination
It’s not likely that you’re going to have a lot of free time while you travel. Research your destination anyway.
Know where you’re staying and how far it is from your business meeting location. Book luggage storage like luggage storage Penn Station in NYC in advance so you can stash away any dispensable bags before your meeting.
If you can’t find a cab, know if public transportation can get you to your seminar.
Plus, find the nearest places to grab a quick lunch, cup of coffee, and any essentials you forgot to pack.
9. Anticipate The Unforeseeable
Murphy’s Law states that the things that can go wrong will go wrong.
Common things that go wrong during company travel include delayed flights, getting lost at your destination, and not finding a cab.
Successful business people have a knack for problem-solving.
When your company sends you to represent them, they think highly of you. Moreover, they believe that you can handle the curveballs.
Conclusion
A successful business trip depends on your preparation before you leave. By taking care of the details, you can focus on the trip’s purpose.
Preparation becomes more important when your company tasks you with closing a deal, negotiating with a new business partner, or acquiring new investments.
