Business trips can be complicated and full of hassle for many people. The amount of preparation needed is sometimes immense, you must ensure you have packed all the necessary items such as travel documents, appropriate clothing – both casual and formal, business files as well as anything else for your daily needs. Depending on the importance of the trip it can also be a nervous and stressful time so you want to make sure you are well organised to ensure things run as smoothly as possible. To improve the efficiency of your trip follow these tips below:
- Make a checklist
The key to the smooth running of your business trips is planning, planning is the best way to be sure to avoid the worst mistakes you can make on a business trip. A checklist is a time honoured technique for efficient travel planning. The first step of making a checklist is to categorise the most important things you will need. You may put travel documents, personal necessities, work essentials and clothing on the top list. Then you can break down each of the elements for further checking, for example, you may put passport, flight tickets, and hotel reservations on the travel document list; printed handouts, office supplies, laptop and business cards on the work essentials; and so on. You may also want to add timelines for when you need to have completed tasks, packing, leaving home, arriving at the hotel .etc. As much as it is important to bring everything you need it is also important not to bring too many items or to bring the wrong things because it will be nightmare for packing and organisation.
- Business Trip Gifting Etiquette
An important business practise that has lost popularity in modern times is the act of corporate gifting. Bringing gifts for important business associates is a great way to make a positive impression, break the ice and get the meetings off to a good start. It is very impressive to see business people respecting the traditional etiquette of bringing gifts for business partners, clients and colleagues. As an Australian representative it is always advised to bring something from your homeland, choose Australian made products to support your country, there are many great options for Australian themed corporate gifts to strengthen business relationships.
- Only bring carry-on baggage
Sure, you may have a weeklong business trip to the other part of the world – but to have a very big luggage in a foreign city is nowhere near efficient. Thus, try to pack lightly so you only need to bring a carry-on baggage, The Travel Team suggested. You may bring another backpack for your crucial materials like laptop, wallet, passports, and so on. One carry-on baggage plus one backpack should be enough for most business trips and you will be incredibly grateful when you are able to move around with ease and forgo long baggage line waits at the airport.
With the meeting agendas and things to discuss, business trips indeed might be tough for many people. But follow these tips and you will be off to a good start; don’t let packing add more weight to you, stay organised with your checklist and bring a gift for your business partners. Following these steps will ease your trip and improve efficiency. Good luck and have fun!