How to fall in love with business travel again this year
Making sure to book far enough in advance, planning every tiny detail of the trip, the stress of long flights and time zone changes, and then hopping from one meeting to another before hopping back on the plane home.
It’s easy to see how business travel can become a chore.
But it doesn’t have to be!
Try to remember your first business trip. The excitement of the new opportunity, the chance to see new places, network with new people and get out of the office for a couple of days.
It was a more enjoyable time, wasn’t it?
But there’s no reason you can’t get that excitement back. Here are some simple ways to rekindle your passion for work trips and fall back in love with corporate travel this year.
1. Shift your mindset
You need to start by shifting your mindset. If business travel already feels like a grind, a simple mental reframe can make a huge difference.
Instead of dreading the trip, try to look at this as an opportunity to escape the office and meet with people you don’t see every day. You should also learn to appreciate the change of pace and the break from the daily routine.
On top of all that, you can schedule in some downtime to explore new places, even if it’s just for a few hours.
By focusing on the positives instead of seeing this as a hassle, you’ll open yourself up to new experiences, networking opportunities and personal growth. This will instantly make your trip feel more enjoyable.
2. Make corporate travel planning simpler
One of the most stressful parts of corporate travel is planning the trip, making all the correct bookings and ensuring everything is organised. This is especially true when you’re trying to book group flights or make arrangements for a group of travellers, such as an entire team.
The good news is there are lots of ways you can reduce the stress and make corporate travel planning much simpler:
Create templates for itineraries, packing lists and expense reports to save time on each trip
Use preferred airlines, hotel chains or providers to keep things familiar and simple
Work with experts, such as flight specialists, to reduce your workload and give you greater flexibility and peace of mind. This can be hugely beneficial for group travel
Automate the process where you can, for example, using apps, management tools and alerts to keep everything organised
Make it more fun by planning your corporate travel while in your favourite cafe, listening to music or having your great coffee
3. Make it a social experience
Just because you’re away on business, it doesn’t mean that your trip has to be a boring or lonely experience. For one thing, group travel with a team or even just a couple of colleagues can instantly make the trip more fun and engaging.
Plus, you should look at this as an opportunity to catch up with colleagues or clients in different cities. Or, you could even do some research beforehand and schedule some time to attend local networking events or business meet-ups.
4. Put careful thought into the itinerary
You can improve your travel routine and guarantee a more pleasant trip with a carefully thought-out itinerary.
Where possible, choose flights at more sociable hours and stick to a sleep schedule and wellness routine, even while travelling, to ensure you feel as fresh and happy as possible.
You should also plan meetings efficiently to avoid excessive travel fatigue and set aside flights or train journeys as either focused work time or guilt-free relaxation.
What’s more, there’s no reason business travel can’t be a little adventure. Make sure to plan some downtime to go on a tour, explore the city, eat at a great restaurant or have a cultural experience. By setting boundaries for downtime, business travel doesn’t have to feel like constant work.
5. Allow for some luxuries (even if you have to bring them yourself)
Lastly, you can upgrade your travel experience by allowing yourself some luxuries, no matter how big or small. For example:
You might wish to use points or budget upgrades for better flights or hotels
If you’ve got work to do, checking yourself into the airport lounge can be more productive and relaxing
You could also invest in quality luggage and travel accessories to make packing and travelling as enjoyable as possible
Make airport security and check-ins smoother by choosing fast-track programmes or using mobile devices to check in ahead of your arrival. This can save time, stress and queuing
Bring familiar, comforting items with you, like your favourite tea, pillow or comfortable clothes
If there’s room in the budget, choose hotels that offer fitness centres or spas to help you unwind and keep a good wellness routine
By making corporate travel planning as simple and stress-free as possible, you can ensure your trip gets off to a great start.
Always think about the itinerary carefully, scheduling downtime or the chance to socialise with colleagues or clients. This will make your trip more enjoyable and could give you the chance to see and explore new places.
By turning business trips into a fun experience and looking at this as an opportunity rather than an obligation, you can fall back in love with corporate travel this year.
But if you still need a little help with streamlining the process or booking group flights, get in touch with BTG Travel Management today. We can help to reduce the stress of group travel and make the whole experience one you’ll look forward to repeating time and time again.