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3 Resource-Saving Tips for Business Travelers
By
Celeste
Stewart
If you're on the go, frequently bouncing from one business trip to the
next, you
know how fast you can burn through both time and money. As a business professional, you also know that time is money
so it
makes sense to get the most out of these precious resources. Even if you will later be reimbursed for your expenses,
you can't
reclaim your time so it pays to be resourceful.
Business
Travel Tip #1: Booking Hotels
Book a
business-friendly
hotel that is close to the airport or to your client's office, depending on which option makes the most sense. These
hotels
cater to business travelers and do not necessarily cost any more than traditional hotels. Amenities such as wireless
Internet
access and business centers with standard office equipment are an absolute must. Not only are free continental breakfasts
and breakfast buffets convenient and cheap, they allow you to quickly eat a hearty meal without the long delays associated
with restaurants.
Business Travel Tip #2: Using Delays
Take advantage of "found time." Airports are notorious for delays.
In
fact, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, in 2008, flights were on time 73.90 percent of the time.
That
means that over 26 percent of flights were delayed! Plan for this by having a carryon bag loaded with easily accessible
files,
reports, notebooks, and other data related to your trip.
Rather than pacing back and forth at the gate, brainstorm ideas that you
can pitch
to your client or analyze the latest sales figures. You may also find free time while at your destination. Use this
time to
organize your thoughts, formulate questions that have come up during your visit, or check in with your office. If
you have
a large block of free time, ask if you can shadow one of the client's employees. Shadowing will give you a different
perspective
of your client's business and could lead to further innovations.
On your return trip, compose a summary of your trip, work on your expense
report,
or write thank you letters to the business people you met with during your trip.
Business Travel Tip #3: Managing
Travel Expenses
First, evaluate whether that in-person meeting is completely necessary.
Many small & medium-sized businesses are saving thousands on business travel by holding online meetings (webinars). Services
such as FuzeMeeting and GoToMeeting let you exchange ideas and documents with clients in realtime online, while saving loads
of time and money that would otherwise be spent on airfare and hotel stays.
For those times when travel is necessary,
spend company money as if it were your own. Let's be honest, if you weren't going
to be reimbursed, you wouldn't order all of those appetizers, cocktails, market rate seafood dinners, and fancy desserts,
would you? You'd probably be fine with a standard hotel room as opposed to a suite. And you certainly don't need
a luxury
SUV to travel from your hotel to your client's office, do you?
Managing your travel expenses and keeping them modest makes you look good.
Your
boss will recognize that you respect the company's bottom line, and as the commercial says, that's "priceless."
The next
time you
need to head out of town for business, book a business-friendly hotel, plan for delays, and be frugal with your expenses.
These three resource-saving tips are easy to follow and will help ensure that you have everything you need without
sacrificing
time or money.
