Terri Ramsey Beavers A business trip can be a big expense for even the largest of businesses. Depending on where you’re traveling to, the business has to pay the cost of a train or plane ticket, accommodation and even pay for colleagues’ meals for the duration of their stay. As they are such a big expense, it’s important that you get the most out of every trip. Even if you’re only staying overnight in a neighboring city, there are lots of ways you can improve the productivity of every trip.
Book the right room
You might think that a hotel room is just somewhere that you can rest your head at the end of a busy day of meetings, but it can be so much more than that. If it has a good restaurant or café, it could be an ideal place for you to meet clients. It’s also important to choose somewhere with all the facilities you need, like fast Internet, and that is close to where you need to be to avoid wasting time on traveling. If you book somewhere with breakfast included, you could also find yourself saving time and money on looking for somewhere to eat every morning.
The best way to assure you book a hotel that is right for your business trip is to book with a firm that specializes in booking rooms for trips like these. Companies like TurboRes specialize in booking solutions for businesses around the world. They can make sure you get the best price on the best accommodation for any job. Booking through them could even give you access to perks from the biggest brands that aren’t available when you book direct with them.
Network for new clients
Often all of this effort might only be to meet with one client. Even if they are a very important client and you’re going to secure a very lucrative contract, a business trip away can be a lot of time to dedicate to just one customer. Instead, why not use the opportunity of being away to seek out new customers and clients. Before you leave the office, contact similar businesses located near the one that you’re going to and ask to meet with them. Meeting with them face to face makes you appear more professional, and you’ll have a better chance of persuading them to do business with them than if you contact them over the phone or email.
All work and no play is no good
If you’re a manager, you’ll want your colleagues to actively want to participate in trips like these rather than try and avoid them. While being away from their home for a long period of time can cause problems in their social and family life, there are ways you can compensate for those inconveniences. Make sure you plan time in their itinerary for a treat while they’re away. Whether that’s going to see a show or tourist attraction, or something as simple as a meal in a great restaurant, it’ll increase their willingness to go on another trip in the future.