How To Plan A Business Tri P How to plan a business trip. It's time for you to plan your first business trip. Maybe your boss requested you to check in over a client. Or perhaps you're a sales person investigating a brand new business lead. In any event , you haven't traveled around the company before and do not want to sound like the biz travel neophyte that you are by inquiring too many questions. Here are a few straightforward considerations to get you on the right observe. * Review your corporation's travel policy. In all likelihood, a person received an employee guide when you started at the company. Generally this manual will cover subject areas ranging from your daily spending limit for meals while traveling on company , preferred hotels at which your company may be given a discounted rate, regardless of whether you ever have the choice of flying first class or ordering room service, and how to manage your expenses. Look closely at these guidelines; neglecting to do so may prevent you against receiving full compensation for your travel expenditures (while also ticking off your boss!). * in choosing flights, consider the time-frame of your meetings. If you have a morning meeting , you will probably want to reach your destination the night time before. It is embarrassing to arrive at your meeting late or skip it completely because you slept through your 6 am flight! additionally , travel delays are common enough that you should want to land at your location at least three hours prior to your meeting. This will allow you to drop off your bags at the hotel and renew before conducting your business. * Make travel and accommodation arrangements. For most company travelers, Marriott- or Hilton-caliber are seen because appropriate as far as equally quality and cost. Sometimes, although , you may find a good price at a higher ranked property such as a Ritz Carlton or 4 Seasons if you are touring during a low season for that destination. Additionally , watch for special charges that include breakfast. When booking flights, make an effort to find the best priced trip that is also effective. Unless you are touring from a very small city/airport, you generally won't need to consider itineraries which make two or more stops. Whether or not you need a rental-car will depend on your location. It would be insanity to rent a car for a trip to Manhattan, yet a car is oh-so-necessary in many other cities. If you're not familiar with the destination, ask the contact what they would recommend to get around town. Special consideration for feminine travelers: don't be self conscious about making special demands at your hotel. The hotel may not be able to cater to you, but it's well worth asking for a room nearby the elevator or a room not on the ground ground. If you get to the room and spot a thing that doesn't make you feel risk-free , such as a dark passageway or a lack of the deadbolt, speak upwards. What to ask the boss: If you are having difficulty finding a flight and/or hotel that seem inexpensive , draw up an email punctuation out the estimated expense of your trip and the limitations you are
encountering (at the.g., major conference in town, the rest of your company partners are staying at a specific hotel and it is expensive, etc.), and also seek guidance concerning how best to move forward. * Evaluate your hard earned money and credit situation. If you have a business credit card, great. Put it on for every business expense you can in order to avoid using your very own money during the trip. New York City recently added credit card functionality towards the majority of its taxis. Drivers may grumble , but this is a great development for company travelers previously pressured to shell out cash each and every turn. In some instances , your company may allow you to apply for a cash advance. The advance will allow you to devote less of your own funds out of pocket, however you is going to be expected to account for this money later, via an expense report copied with receipts showing that the cash was utilized for appropriate company purposes. What to ask the boss: obtain a sense of whether or not it is expected of you to entertain the customer or business partner over a meal throughout the trip and if so, just what price range you should make an effort to stay within. With this situation, it's a good idea to analyze dining options close to your hotel or near the client's business office ahead of time in order to be equipped with suggestions in that price range. * Pack suitable attire for the weather conditions and for business features. Check weather.com before departing. It's not perfect, but it is better than going on your trip without the sense of what you should expect. Most trips, you need to pack a small travel umbrella just in case, so when choosing clothing, believe "layering" vs. Packing an extra jacket or sweater. A number of layers can work equally well and take up less space in your carrier. I always bunch slippers or sandals. Walking barefoot on hotel floors? Ew. I also pack 1 pair of sensible footwear for when the meeting is over. I like to wander around my location if time allows , and running from the airport in heels after a gate modify is announced is no fun at all. Don't forget to take the cell phone charger and also power source for your laptop. Missing these things could short routine your trip. * right then and there of the trip. Arrive early at the airport. Give yourself enough time to park at the airport (not always as easy as that sounds!) or to get there via a cab or public transportation. As a rule, believe you need to be at the airport no later as compared to 60 minutes prior to the domestic flight if you want to check a carrier. For international plane tickets , it's two hours preceding minimum. Pack the liquids as required by the TSA (http://www.tsa.gov/) or stash them in your checked out bag. Don't be the loser at the airport who slows down the complete line stuffing locks products in a squat lock bag last minute. You're a business traveller , darn it! Preemptively take off your coat, buckle and shoes. Consider your laptop or other electronics out of it's bag and send it down the belt by itself. * Meeting preparation. Ensure that you know what the goal of the biz trip is and carry out what's necessary to get ready.
Practice your presentation. Double check to ensure that you have enough copies of your materials. Take extra business cards, for those who have them. Re-confirm the meeting time and area with your contact. Inquire if there is anywhere in particular you should park. Make use of a mapping web site or GPS to get instructions from the airport in your meeting location and also hotel, and anywhere else you might need to drive throughout the trip. Change your office voice mail to mirror that you're out of the office, yet checking for communications twice daily. Set up a good out of office autoreply for your email. * In Closing With these tips , you should be quite well prepared. Business travel often represents the opportunity to see a place you might not normally get to visit. Attempt to relax and enjoy yourself! Guanacaste