From a short train ride to a long-haul flight, over 80% of UK companies say business travel plays a crucial role in driving revenue, according to American Express.
However, with tight schedules, varying modes of transportation, and unfamiliar destinations, travelling for work can take time and effort.
In this CMAC guide, we'll provide valuable tips to help your travellers stay organised and punctual during their business travel.
What is business travel?
Business travel refers to any journey explicitly taken for work-related purposes. It can range from short local trips to international flights, all undertaken on behalf of a company or organisation.
The primary goal of business travel is typically to achieve specific objectives, like meetings, negotiations, networking, training, or checking on branch locations. It plays a vital role in building relationships, securing deals, and contributing to the success and growth of a company.
To learn more, read our guide on what business travel is and how it can help your company.
Why is keeping to a schedule important when travelling for business?
Organisation and sticking to a schedule when travelling for work is vital for several reasons, including:
Time management – Keeping to a schedule helps your travellers make the most of the trip by managing time effectively. Being punctual at meetings and client interactions shows professionalism and reliability, which can boost your business relationships.
Avoiding setbacks – Having a schedule reduces the chances of unexpected setbacks like missed flights or arriving late. These challenges can disrupt your business goals and affect your professional reputation.
Work-life balance – A well-structured schedule helps travellers to meet your business objectives while ensuring they have time to prioritise their well-being during travel.
7 Tips for sticking to a schedule when travelling for work
1. Create a business trip itinerary
Your travellers should start their business travel planning with a thorough itinerary. This should not only list flights and meetings but also integrate all the small yet crucial details like transport times between meetings and possible dining locations. An itinerary rich in detail minimises the need for last-minute decisions and searches, allowing your travellers to focus on the task at hand.
Although it's tempting to pack a schedule, ensure there's enough downtime. This prevents burnout and keeps everyone at their best throughout the trip.
2. Keep travel documents all in one place
Organising travel documents in one accessible location—whether in a digital app or a physical folder—is crucial for smooth transitions during every journey. This organisation streamlines airport navigation, check-ins, and any bureaucratic necessities your travellers might face.
By having a single source of truth for documents, you mitigate the risk of misplacement and ensure a smoother travel experience, allowing your team to focus more on the work aspect of their trip.
3. Set realistic timelines
Allocating buffer time in the schedule for travel between appointments or potential delays is essential. Unexpected traffic or last-minute changes can derail a tightly packed schedule, causing stress and potentially making your travellers late. Adding extra time gives them the flexibility to navigate these interruptions smoothly, maintaining composure and punctuality.
4. Stay connected
Remaining charged and connected is non-negotiable, especially when travelling for work. Carrying a portable charger ensures that devices are always powered, enabling constant communication and access to itineraries and documents.
Similarly, a portable Wi-Fi hotspot guarantees your travellers are never caught off guard by unreliable internet, ensuring they can work and communicate seamlessly regardless of location.
5. Organise transport in advance
Getting around when arriving at a destination can be overwhelming, especially if it's unfamiliar. To make it easier, ensure your team knows where their hotel is located and where the corporate event will take place. If the hotel and event are in different locations, research and plan the best way to travel between them.
This proactive approach minimises the stress of uncertainty and helps everyone stay on schedule during business trips.
6. Get work done ahead of time
Leveraging travel time to progress work tasks is a strategic move. Whether catching up on emails during a flight or finalising a presentation on a train, using this otherwise idle time keeps your team ahead of schedule. This approach maximises productivity and reduces the pressure to perform under tight deadlines, contributing to a more manageable and stress-free travel experience.
7. Ensure your team stay well-informed
Keeping abreast of local news, weather conditions, and events can play a pivotal role in the success of your organisation’s business travel. This knowledge allows your team to anticipate and plan for potential disruptions to their schedule. By staying informed, you ensure your travellers can adapt their plans as needed, maintaining efficiency and effectiveness while away from the office.
Hire a business travel expert
At CMAC, we specialise in corporate travel and provide services to get business travellers to and from where they need to go. We work with an extensive network of trusted suppliers to offer tailored transportation solutions, ensuring your employees reach their destinations comfortably, safely and on time.
Plus, with our hotel and accommodation solutions, our team of specialists can locate rooms to suit your needs. We have connections with many global hotel groups and regional chains.
To learn more about our wide range of award-winning business travel and ground transportation solutions, contact our customer service team, who are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.