Tips for Business Travelers

Many of us will have to travel for business at some point in our lives. If it’s your first time embarking on business travel, the anticipation and excitement can be enough to get you through even the most difficult of situations. 

However, if you’ve been traveling for quite some time, and the newness has worn off, it’s important to plan and prepare ahead of time for an easy, relaxing and productive journey. The following tips for business travelers that work whether it’s your first time representing your business or you’re a seasoned business traveler.

Tips to Improve Your Business Travel Mindset

Having the proper traveling mindset will go a long way toward ensuring a successful and relaxing trip. Traveling for business is quite different than vacation travel. When we’re on a business trip, we tend to be preoccupied with the task at hand and our focus may be on an event, meeting or conference potentially hours away.

Not being present in the moment can lead to a number of hurdles during travel but having a plan in place ahead of time can ease the stress and chaos when embarking on a business trip. Be incorporating a few standard practices when traveling, you can ensure a smoother, more relaxing journey to your final destination.

Hire Transportation to and From the Airport

If traveling by car, keep a handful of change in your center console to ensure you always have road toll money within reach. If you’re traveling by plane, consider how you will get to and from the airport. Often the hassle of driving into the city, finding and paying for parking can put you into stress mode before you even arrive at the gate. Take the burden off of your shoulders by hiring an Uber or another car service to drive you into the airport. This free time will give you a chance to tie up any loose ends via email on your phone, attend to last-minute calls or make additional travel arrangements without the added distractions of traffic and parking.

Stay Ready so You Don’t Have to Get Ready

If you do tend to travel for business often, keep a carry-on bag or toiletries bag ready to go at all times. This eliminates last-minute pharmacy stops. It can help streamline the entire trip preparation process. Keep extra earphones in your bag as well as portable phone chargers and hand sanitizer. Adhering to these simple steps can go a long way toward ensuring a relaxing business trip. This will allow you time to focus on work and leaves time and energy for getting down to business.

General Tips for Business Travel

Utilize Rewards and Loyalty Programs

One of the best ways to ensure easier business travel is to take advantage of loyalty and reward programs from your favorite companies. Airlines, rental car companies, and hotels offer a wide variety of reward programs to make travel easier. The more you utilize their services, the better and more exclusive your rewards are. Consider signing up with services like the Hilton Honors program, IHG Rewards Club, Raddisson Rewards or the Marriot Bonvoy program. These hotel loyalty programs allow patrons to accumulate points each time they book at a particular hotel. Points can be redeemed for benefits like room upgrades, early-check-ins or late check-outs, and meal rewards. If you’re

Most airlines offer a miles reward system as well. This allows customers to earn miles when booking flights that can be redeemed for discounts and credits toward future flights. Consider signing up with an airline loyalty program to reap these benefits. Credit card companies also provide airline miles when you use the card for most purchases. This allows customers to stockpile points for travel discounts and freebies. For the latest up-to-date information about travel rewards, loyalty programs, and points, The Points Guy website is a wealth of information for those embarking on business travel.

Skip the Lines with Global Entry

Finally, consider joining TSA Pre-check or Global Entry. This service costs $100 per year but is free if you’re an American Express cardholder. TSA Pre-check lets you go right through instead of removing your shoes, laptop, and belts. When you apply for the service ahead of your travel, US Customs and Border Control will perform a background check. Once cleared, TSA Pre-check access alleviates the need to wait in the airport security line.  When you do finally get through, utilize the airport lounges for free food, comfortable seating and a relaxed atmosphere while you await your flight. Access to the lounges do cost an additional fee but are free for certain cardholders like those with the Mastercard Elite or American Express Platinum.

Create a Business Travel Capsule Wardrobe

Deciding what to pack for business travel can be a challenge. Choosing the right pieces that work well for daytime meetings that work well into your evening dinner plans requires a bit of ingenuity. Make it easier by choosing key pieces from brands that specialize in wrinkle-free and wrinkle-resistant attire.  Both Patagonia and Ministry of Supply make clothes perfect for business travel that pack well and stay looking fresh and chic.

Consider purchasing quality, wrinkle-resistant blazer or jacket, full-length sleeveless dress, and a button-down blouse. Include a sleeveless flowing top and a pair of comfy chinos so you can easily and mix and match clothing to create a variety of looks. A business travel capsule wardrobe will help eliminate the need to check a bag. Choose shades of gray and black for added versatility throughout the rest of your wardrobe at home.

Choosing Business Trip Accommodations

Things to Consider When Choosing a Hotel

Business travelers should take several factors into consideration when choosing where to stay. Depending on the nature of your business travel, choosing a location close to where you’ll be doing business is key. If a particular hotel happens to be hosting an event or conference, it makes sense to stay at that hotel. Often companies will provide room blocks with discounts specifically for members attending the event.

If you’re the facilitator of the meeting, you’ll want to ensure the hotel offers ample meeting space and room for breakout sessions should you require them. Reliable Wi-fi, audio-visual capabilities, dining options, and catering are also key factors to consider. Be sure to inquire as to whether or not shuttle services are available.  If you’re unable to stay in the same hotel as the event or you’ll be heading to a conference center, choose a hotel with a shuttle service if possible. Complimentary breakfast is also an important and often time-saving factor when choosing business travel accommodations.

The Best Hotels for Business Travel

In 2019, Certify SpendSmart conducted research to determine the top-rated hotels for business travel. The report is based on several factors that appeal to business travelers. Those with the best hotel reward programs, quality dining, ample meeting space were included in the list. Certify SpendSmart named Hyatt, Hilton, Embassy Suites, Marriott and Courtyard by Marriott as the top-rated hotels for business travel.

Traveling for business can be fun and exciting if you take the time to ensure a few key details are addressed. When you’re relaxed and comfortable, you’re better able to push through, make quality connections from a relaxed mindset and make lasting impressions that will ultimately translate to business success and growth. 

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.