You need a lot of planning to ensure a successful business trip. Since these trips provide more effective networking, forging stronger business relationships, and learning a new skill, you want to avoid traveling challenges that might make you less productive. While corporate travel can be challenging, sticking to certain rules and strategies can help better your experience. Here are eight travel tips for frequent corporate travelers.
1.Familiarize yourself with your company’s corporate travel policy
Without a clear policy to refer to, corporate travel can be challenging. A properly written and clear corporate travel policy ensures that every traveler follows similar travel requirements regardless of their position, simplifying the corporate travel experience. A consistent travel policy minimizes corporate travel queries and makes you more self-sufficient.
Familiarizing yourself with your company's travel policy gives you clarity that helps prevent unnecessary expenses during the trip. It also helps narrow your options, especially with a dedicated list of preferred airlines, hotels, and other agreements, making travel easier.
2.Book flights and accommodation in advance
Corporate travel booking isn't easy because you must ensure policy compliance, comfort, and safety. Book your hotel and flights accordingly if you're looking for a personalized corporate travel experience. Most essentially, ensure your bookings are in line with the company's travel policy. Nonetheless, flights usually get booked early, and rates fluctuate regularly.
Additionally, excellent accommodations sell out fast. Book your rooms and flights in advance for better deals. In addition, securing your hotel or executive housing early lets you select preferred amenities for an outstanding experience. Consider visiting your preferred flight and accommodation websites, such as executivecorporatehousing.com, to make bookings.
3.Leverage corporate travel agencies
Corporate travel agencies come in handy, especially when you’re busy with important business matters and a frequent traveler, ensuring efficiency, professional travel advice, and economies of scale. Corporate travel agencies utilize their relationships with hotels and airlines to negotiate better deals. Instead of searching the internet whenever you need accommodation or flight booking, a corporate travel agency does it for you, saving time.
Hiring a travel agency offers you traveler support when traveling. For instance, re-organizing canceled flights, changing last-minute timings, offering safety advice in case of bad weather and civil unrest, and looking for alternative routes.
4.Go for carry-on luggage
Going for a corporate trip with carry-on bags isn't just about preventing costly airline fees. It has other benefits. Packing light can be convenient because you can quickly move around without lugging huge bags. Carry-on bags are easy to store in small hotel rooms and take up less space in public transport. Some airlines might reward you for packing light by offering you boarding priority. If you're always overpacking, carry-on bags are an excellent way to restrain yourself.
Being a carry-on corporate traveler allows you to quickly access anything you might need. It's not easy to lose your luggage or waste time waiting for your luggage to arrive after a flight. If your layover is tight during your corporate travel or the first flight delays, you may not have the time to recheck your bag, especially when making international connections. However, carry-on luggage makes it easy and quick to connect.
5.Sign up for travel reward programs
Travel reward programs are loyalty programs usually run by different travel businesses, like railway loyalty, frequent flier, cruise line, and travel agency reward systems. They offer incentives for you with a particular brand. Signing up for a travel reward program allows you to travel for lesser fees depending on the number of points you've earned or miles traveled. This may also give you access to complimentary drinks, VIP lounges, and baggage allowance upgrades. You can leverage hotel and airline reward programs to save money and enjoy other perks.
6.Pack essential travel toiletries
If you forget essential corporate travel toiletries, your experience might be compromised. With the toiletries you prefer at hand, you can ensure a successful work or business experience. Find a small tote and pack all the toiletries you might need during travel. Avoid using those items unless you're on your corporate trip, and replenish them as they run out to avoid last-minute rushes before your corporate travels.
If you need specific things but can't travel with them, order them online and get them shipped straight to your hotel before getting there. Alert the staff there to look out for your items and have them waiting in your reserved room.
7.Ensure your travel documents are in order
Check your travel documents’ expiry date in advance of booking your travel. Give yourself enough time to renew your ID and passport. Consider saving digital copies of these documents to ensure you have all the details should they be stolen or lost.
8.Save files and crucial details offline
Having offline copies of your schedule and itinerary for a corporate trip makes it easier to confirm essential details without requiring an internet connection. Travel apps can collate your data or save your details in a note-taking app or word document.
Endnote
Corporate travel can be challenging, especially if you're inadequately prepared. Consider leveraging these travel tips for frequent corporate travelers.