We all love travelling! Even if we do sometimes have to work while we’re away. Whether you’re a business owner or a salesperson, you may have to travel for work at some point. The thought of this can be pretty daunting, as well as exciting. On one hand, you get to see some more of the world. Yay! On the other, there’s going to be a lot of work to do. From meeting clients through to sussing out suppliers, a business trip can be a hectic affair. To help make things run smoothly, here are six ingenious tips for organising your overseas business trip.
1. Research the Area
Before you make your way to a new city, it’s a good idea to research the area first. You want to know everything there is to know about where you’re visiting. Where are the best places to eat? Where can you stock up on essentials? Is there any crime in the area? The answers to these questions will help keep you safe and savvy on your trip.
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2. Transport
Tied hand in hand with the above point, make sure you also do your research on the transport available in the area. You need to find out how you’re going to get from one meeting to another, without being late. It may be that taxis are hard to come by, or the traffic is terrible. This may be a big issue in bustling US cities, like New York. In which case, make sure you’ve learnt all about their public transport system.
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3. Business Class
Find out if your company pays for you to fly business class. There are some pretty impressive perks if you can blag yourself some seats in this section. Other than the better food and drink, you’ll also get comfier seats. Not only this, but most business class areas have charging points for laptops. You can work on the plane if you need to.
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4. The Accommodation
Again, you need to find out what costs your company cover when it comes to accommodation. Will you be staying in a crummy B&B or a five-star hotel? Some businesses will actually have corporate apartment rentals in places they do a lot of business. This will make it a lot easier and means you’ll be sleeping in luxury too. Make sure you know the rules and regulations around booking accommodation for a business trip overseas. Unless you’re the boss, then you can do what you want!
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5. Expenses
Another thing you want to find out from HR is what costs are covered while you’re away on business. Do they pay for all of your food and drink during your trip? Is there a limit on how much you can spend? These are all crucial factors. You don’t want to live the high life, only to find out it’s all coming out of your wage slip. If you’ve been given a company credit card, know what the limits are.
6. Important Documents
Finally, make sure you have double and triple checked all important documents. Before you jet off! You will probably be expected to organise your own holiday insurance, passport and visa. Although most companies will reimburse you for the expenses involved with these. Don’t forget any important documents you need for your business meetings too. There’s nothing worse than leaving those vital contracts at home!
These six top tips should make your business trip feel a lot less stressful. In fact, planning it now should be a breeze. Do it all right and you may even have time to explore whichever city you find yourself in.
