4 Tips to Have a Successful Business Trip

Sponsored by Hipmunk:

If you travel regularly on business, then you know how stressful business travel can be. You need your trip to go well because there is most likely a great deal of money at stake. You can’t afford to have anything go wrong that might cause you to miss the meeting with your client.

This is why an extra amount of thought must be put into any business travel plans that you make. When it comes to ensuring the success of a business deal, you need to be prepared and plan ahead for all possibilities. For example, if you are looking for hotels in Los Angeles to stay at during your business trip, you should compare the rates listed at many of the travel websites.

Here are four tips to help you have a flawless business trip:

1. Always Make Reservations

Reservations don’t just apply to planes and hotels. Many business meetings take place during a meal in a restaurant. If you plan on wining and dining an important client at a fancy restaurant, you need to make reservations.

If you just show up with your client at the restaurant, you may not be able to get a table, or it might be an extremely long wait. In either case, it would be a very embarrassing experience for you. Needless to say, your client would not be impressed with your lack of preparation. A mistake like this could easily cause your deal to fall through.

It is equally important to confirm any of the reservations you make. Don’t assume the restaurant is well organized. They might lose your reservation, so you should call them a day earlier to make sure that your reservation is still in place.

2. Wear Business Clothes on Your Flight

Airlines lose bags every day. This is an unfortunate reality of air travel. However, if your bag does get lost, you don’t want to be forced to meet with your client wearing only jeans and a T-shirt.

If you’re already wearing nice clothes on the plane, you’ll be able to meet with your client and still look professional. Once again, you need to plan ahead because anything can happen.

3. Don’t Bring Too Much

If you’re going on a short business trip, don’t waste your time bringing too much. Many business travelers make the mistake of bringing a large suitcase full of things that they are never going to use on their trips. Not only is this one more thing they need to carry, it’s another item that could get lost.

Try to limit yourself to a carry-on bag. Unless you’re going to be in your destination city for an extended period of time, there is no need to bring a large amount of clothing or other items. A carry-on bag and your laptop should be enough for a trip lasting one or two days.

4. Program Customer Service Numbers into Your Phone

There will be times when your flight will be cancelled and you need to make a new reservation. Having the customer service number of the airline you’re using handy will make it easy for you to make a new reservation. This will also help you avoid standing in a long line at the airport.

Of course, this tip doesn’t just apply to airlines. Keep any customer service numbers related to any reservations you’ve made as well as your credit card company on hand. Unusual charges in locations where you don’t usually use your credit card can trigger a fraud alert on

This article was written by Fiona Moriarty of Hipmunk, a travel website that helps visitors locate the best deals on transportation, accommodations, and more.

Contributor

More Posts