Receiving
phone calls from prospects to discuss business matters are fine, but talking in
person then giving handshake still seals the deal. This is why corporate travel remains an essential
part of every business these days even though video calls are already
available. Problem is, business travel can be gruelling, tiresome and boring.
Jetlag and homesickness can leave even titans of business industry slumped over
their laptops in airport lounges. Business trips can make you look haggard
especially if it’s a long haul flight.
But
there are things you can do to make your business trip more fun and enjoyable
rather than boring. Here are some tips that might help you in your next
corporate travel.
Make It An Adventure
Today,
many business travellers want to discover and explore local neighbourhoods
while on a work trip. So, instead of meeting a client in a typical fancy
restaurant or in a boring conference room, why not choose another interesting venue
for the meeting? Search for a non-traditional space in an area with stores and
bars where you and your client can enjoy the life of the city. You can pick a
different location each time you meet the client. It is a good way to discover
the place and maybe learn new things.
Go Where The Good Food Is
A
good rule of thumb when embarking on a business trip is to get a decent meal.
There’s nothing more depressing than coming into a new city, being ravenously
hungry and not having any clue where to fill your hungry stomach, except for
the hotel or airport restaurants. Use mobile apps to determine what restaurants
are “open now” (especially if you arrive past midnight) and if they are a quick
walk or a short drive away. In addition, you can use the app to sort by type of
cuisine and by ratings to ensure you are looking at the best. If you want to
try out local food, don’t book your accommodation near the airport. Whether it
is a meeting and incentive travel or
a mere company travel, always go for hotels within the city area to taste good
food.
Bring The Family
Oftentimes,
business trips entail being away from loved ones and family in an unfamiliar
places for certain period which can trigger homesickness. So, why not take your
family with you when you travel? You don’t really have to bring your entourage
(if you have a big family) rather you can just take your wife or husband to
spend some quality time together. But if you want to bring your kids too,
apartment rentals provide attractive alternatives to cramped hotel rooms and
make cheaper option. Your kids can enjoy the vacation while you meet up with
business prospects.
Meet Up With Friends
If
you are a frequent business traveller, chances are you have made new friends,
networks or connections in your destination. So instead of just staying inside
the hotel after the client meeting, it is a good idea to visit some friends in
the area. Invite a couple of friends for a coffee, catch up with a good conversation
and may be exchange business insights or ideas. Who knows you might acquire new
perspectives from them and vice versa. Or they might be able to recommend new
prospects for your business. Whether it is an incentive travel, exhibition or a conference, don’t forget to go
out and breathe fresh air to help you relax. Besides, who says corporate travel
should be less fun and boring?
