The digital age has changed how many professionals interact with colleagues located in far away places. After all, you don’t have to sit on a plane for five hours in order to have a face-to-face conversation with a branch manager across the country. Instead, you can just have a video conference with them. Still, sometimes professionals do have to travel for work –– for a big meeting, a convention, or even a job interview for a career change. With that in mind, today we’ll share five important travel tips all business professionals should know. Check them out here:
Get a Good Hotel
If you’re going to spend significant time and money on a business trip, it’s essential to secure a good hotel room –– particularly if your trip will last a week or more. Remember, your hotel room is your base of operations, so you’ll need a comfortable bed and mattress, plenty of space, and a quality WiFi connection. It’s also smart to book a hotel close to your eventual destination. You don’t want to spend an hour a day commuting in an unfamiliar city.
Arrive a Day Early
If you’ve never experienced jet-lag, you may not realize how draining long-distance travel can be. As such, professionals making overseas trips should do their best to arrive a day before they have meetings. This will give them a chance to rest, relax, and prepare themselves for the work ahead.
Brush up on Local Culture
Commiting a cultural faux pas is just about the most embarrassing thing someone could do. Yet, unless you go out of your way to learn local customs, you could end up inadvertently insulting your hosts. In addition, it’s a good idea to learn a few basic language skills. Just knowing how to ask for directions or how to find a bathroom in a foreign language can prove incredibly beneficial.
Prioritize When Packing
Inexperienced travelers, in general, have a tendency to over-pack for short trips. While it’s crucial to bring certain vital items with you –– laptop, passport, wallet, etc. –– you don’t have to bring ten-days worth of supplies for a three-day trip. Note also that it’s not the end of the world if you have to buy a hand towel or a toothbrush while traveling, should you forget to pack one.
Stay Safe
Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, your number-one priority should be to stay safe while abroad. In some instances, it may be easy to avoid potentially dangerous situations. For instance, it’s hard to miss bright barricades –– like those made by OTW Safety –– that line restricted or hazardous areas in airports. On the other hand, not all risky places are so clearly demarcated. So always stay on your toes and err on the side of caution. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
