The first business trip can often be daunting. It takes you away from your comfort zone and challenges you to deal with a completely new environment. But don’t despair as Clarendon is on hand to help you pass your first business trip with flying colours!
1) Pack what is necessary
Yes it can be tempting to go overboard with different outfits for your business trip, but remember you only have a set baggage allowance! So consider the most important things first that are essential for ensuring your business trip goes smoothly i.e. a business suit, laptop, charger and relevant documents. Remember if you forget certain toiletries you can always buy them from the country you are visiting.
2) Don’t forget to collect loyalty points- they will come in handy later on!
This is probably the first business trip of many, so don’t forget to collect any loyalty/mileage points from accommodation providers, airlines or any other service that you use during your business trip. Over time this will accumulate and it may lead to a free night’s stay or subsidised air travel. In the long term this will certainly earn you brownie points from your manager, as you will save the company money.
3) Understand where you are going
Don’t just rely on your company’s travel or HR department to sort out your itinerary and travel arrangements-take an active role yourself. This way you will feel more relaxed and in control during your first trip. A useful app to use when planning your first business trip is TripIt, which will store your itinerary, booking details and provide useful information such as maps and weather updates for the place you are going to.
Remember: Print off any important documents such as your booking confirmation before you depart for your business trip. There is nothing worse then relying on technology, which can let you down despite its brilliance!
4) Have a Wireless Charger
Ensure that you pack a wireless charger, so that you avoid the panic of desperately searching for a plug point when your ipod battery hits the red zone! Another useful tip is to ensure that your devices i.e. phones and laptops are fully charged at the beginning of each working day, so that you are ready to go if an unexpected meeting takes place!
5) Don’t forget the expense report!
Yes we have saved the best for last- the dreaded expense report!
It is easy to forget about the expense report and be lax with collecting receipts etc. But adopting this attitude will certainly land you in boiling water when you go back to the office! So Clarendon’s tip is to bring envelopes or folders to collect all you receipts. This way nothing will mysteriously go missing!
Alongside this keep a note of all your expenses and a rationale as to why you spent the money. This is very important!
We hope that these tips help you prepare for your first business trip. And if your next business adventure takes you to London, Clarendon can help when it comes to accommodation. We have serviced apartments in Canary Wharf, The City, West End and South West London. With a range of configurations, there is sure to be something that meets your needs.
Finally, if we have missed out any important business travel tips please share them on our twitter page (@clarendonapts). We are eager to hear your thoughts!