A guide to business travel

Business travel can be difficult to navigate. Whether travel occurs weekly or once a year, stepping away from the usual office environment and familiar working routine can be stressful and is not always as conducive to productivity as is hoped.

Whether you are responsible for booking your own business trip or are an experienced personal assistant looking to refine your process, the following guide will advise you on how to finesse business travel.  

Planning in advance 

With any business trip, planning as far in advance as possible is always the best approach to take. Understandably, this is sometimes not possible, with last-minute opportunities presenting themselves. If you find that this is often the case, there are still things you can do to help. If travel to the same location repeatedly occurs, enquire with hotels as to whether they can offer a business rate. Building up relationships with these key suppliers will come in handy if you are ever trying to book something at very late notice. 

Whether you have planned two days or two months in advance, if you are booking on behalf of someone else then it is crucial that you effectively communicate the plan. Make sure to alert them to transport and accommodation plans, including any necessary booking references and contact numbers they may need.  

Working whilst travelling 

Another key element of business travel is the ability to work whilst travelling. If possible, driving should be avoided as it is not possible to work and drive at the same time, unless a driver is provided.  

For longer distances, booking to travel via a private jet such as a bombardier global 7500, will allow you or whoever is travelling to work simultaneously. This will also offer more privacy and a more seamless experience overall.  

If flight is not required, first-class train travel could be a more fitting option, giving access to plug sockets and complimentary Wi-Fi.  

Meeting time and location 

When booking a business trip, it is not only essential to think about the travel element but also key to consider when the meetings are going to take place and where. If possible, when booking meeting locations, aim for places either near the airport or close to the hotel to reduce the need for further travel. 

Make sure to also take jet lag and different time zones into account. Be wary of booking a meeting too close to landing if the person attending is likely to be feeling very tired. 

Accommodation 

For accommodation, individuals may have specific requirements. For example, it may be that they are going to need to complete various work tasks from the hotel and so a desk and reliable Wi-Fi will be essential.  

Once you become more familiar with booking business trips, certain hotels are likely to become favoured and can be booked again and again.