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Top tips on how to plan a business trip

Follow these 6 steps for an effective business trip:

• Make your travel arrangements well in advance
• Select your accommodation based on both price and convenience
• Create an itinerary

Research your destination

• Remember your electronics, accessories and travel documents
• Prepare for your meeting

In today’s digital world, we can communicate across different time zones at a moment’s notice. However, when it comes to brokering a big deal or fostering a solid and long-lasting business relationship, nothing beats face-to-face interaction.  

Corporate travel is still so important, and it’s equally important for anyone making a business trip to prepare thoroughly. When you arrive at your destination relaxed and well-prepared, you’re better equipped to make a good impression and focus on the purpose of your meeting. Preparation lets your mind focus on the here and now, making sure you stay on the ball in that all-important meeting. If you’d like to fine-tune how you get ready for your next excursion, follow these essential tips to become an effective business trip planner.

Make travel arrangements

Whether it’s your name on the travel documents or you’re a travel manager, planning business travel thoroughly is important. Your first step should always be to familiarize yourself with your company’s corporate travel policy . You’re making travel arrangements for a business trip, not planning a personal or a short break, so being compliant with your company policy is essential.

Next, it’s time to book your travel. This may involve traveling by air, rail, car hire or even boat. Think about the journey door-to-door, balancing travel times against cost and convenience. Visualize the various steps of the trip from A to B. Consider details like how long it will take to move between airport and railway station, the time it takes to fill out paperwork at the vehicle hire company, and whether luggage storage might be useful. Use multiple sources and different comparison sites, researching which companies are offering the best deals. Again, be aware of any budget restraints in your company’s travel policy.

Don’t forget the small details. Does the airplane have Wi-Fi so you can work on the move? Would leaving a day earlier allow you to arrive at your first meeting better rested and prepared? At this stage, the more carefully you prepare, the more confident and relaxed you’ll be when you depart.

Select your accommodation

Preparing business travel is, of course, only half the job. Choosing the best accommodation for your requirements is also essential. If you’ve only got one meeting place to reach, make sure you book a hotel that’s nearby – rather than be swayed by a more luxurious option that might be a stressful 45 minute trip away. Use maps on your smartphone to measure distances from the station or airport to your hotel – and remember the roads and transport networks will be busier at certain times of day.

Check your company’s hotel policies to see if there are any preferred hotels - you might be able to get a good deal too. When considering the cost, make sure you compare rates for similar types of accommodation and make sure you select something that’s fairly priced – some companies even stipulate a cost per day that would limit the choice of hotels.

It’s also a good idea to pay close attention to the amenities at the hotel. Some tourist-focused hotels may serve breakfast too late for your early starts, and as a business traveler you’re likely to want free Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service, plenty of power points for charging your devices. CWT Hotel Intel gives travelers access to trusted peer hotel reviews and can be a handy tool for business trip planners.

Create a detailed itinerary

Your itinerary is your blueprint for a successful business trip. Use it to stay in control of every detail – from transport times and the names of those you’re meeting, to your travel reservations and hotel address. Be sure to allow yourself extra time on your itinerary for relaxing, meetings that have been delayed or overrun, and busy traffic. Consider using a specially designed tool like the myCWT app , which syncs your itinerary with work calendars, and allows travelers to share this with colleagues. This is handy from a communication and efficiency perspective, and as a safety measure if you’re travelling to an unfamiliar destination.

It may be that you’re traveling to a destination you are familiar with and feel comfortable in. Or, you may be entering unchartered territory. If that’s the case, research is essential to avoid unnecessary risk. For example, some cities are well known for pick pockets, so you’ll need to be extra careful when storing important and expensive items like phones in your pockets. Depending on where you’re going, reading up on the current political situation at your destination could also be prudent.

Perhaps you’re traveling to a city or country with a different culture and customs to your own. Avoid looking foolish or, worse, causing offence, by researching the differences in behavior and manners before you arrive. For example, if you’re taking potential clients for a meal, do you know the etiquette on tipping, or when to give people your business cards? Or, if you’re visiting a country where English isn’t the common language, you could even learn a few basic phrases, such as greetings and “thank you”, which could make all the difference when making a good first impression.

Prepare your travel documents

Hours of careful preparation and research will all be wasted if you forget vital travel documents. Traveling between countries requires a current, valid passport, travel tickets and sometimes a visa. It’s key to research whether or not you need a visa as soon as possible, even if you are just transiting through a country, without stepping foot outside the airport. Some embassies can take a number of days or even weeks to issue visas. Even if you’re not traveling to a different country, you may need photo ID to clarify that your name corresponds to the one on the ticket - your passport or driving license are the best options so keep them safe at all times.

Remember your electronic accessories

Stay as productive as possible on your trip by taking a laptop or tablet – it’ll make your travel time really count. Remember to pack the relevant chargers and adapters, too. You can usually pick these up at the airport when you’re passing through, but being prepared is key and will save you time and money in the long run.

Get ready for your meeting

So you’ve followed all the right steps for planning a business trip, but what about your business objectives and the meeting itself? Making a note of what you hope to achieve on the trip can help improve your focus - even if you simply want to reach out to new contacts or gain a general overview of potential new client. Arm yourself with as much information as possible about the people you’ll meet, as well as the places they’ll be. What’s the dress code? If you’re visiting an industrial site, for example, will you need sturdy shoes? If you’re going to be giving a presentation, what format will it take and will your host have the equipment you need? Simply emailing ahead to check if they have suitable screens and cables can ensure you avoid embarrassing delays or confusion that would get your meeting off to an awkward start. That first impression counts so give yourself the best chance of making a good one.

By setting aside the time to prepare, conducting some detailed research and following these business travel tips, you can optimize your chances of a productive and enjoyable trip.

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Planning a business trip 101: Tips for regular business travelers

There’s a lot to consider when planning a business trip. This guide is designed to make sure you’re prepared to get going. Travel for business is easier when you’re prepared.

By Jessica Freedman

February 9, 2024

Planning a business trip is not always fun and games ; there’s a lot to think about. Whether you’re a small business owner, a regular business traveler or a travel manager, it’s sometimes hard to know where to start. You have to deal with searching for the best travel deals, planning the ideal itinerary, and if you’re the one traveling, make a packing list.

Dealing with all that goes into planning business trips for yourself, your boss and your company is no easy task, which is why we’ve created this Business Trip 101 to help you get going. Travel easier and be sure how to plan a business trip after reading this guide. 

Get going, travel easier

The more efficient your planning is, the more productive you can be on your business trips as a regular business traveler because you will have a clear agenda and know where your priorities lie. When it comes to corporate travel there is a lot to keep in mind such as flight and hotel bookings, scheduling, ground transportation, checked baggage vs. hand luggage and everyone’s agendas. The more organized you are, the better yours and your team’s results will be.

How to plan a business trip

Planning a business trip can take a lot of work, and part of that is making sure you can balance the business traveler’s mental health (or if you’re the one planning, you have your own wellbeing in mind) as well as the physical needs with the objectives of the company. This is why it’s so important to start with a goal. This way you can see if your agenda is feasible and whether it helps work towards achieving a goal while also following a rhythm that is feasible for the person doing the traveling. If you can, try to have a master planning list that allows you to optimize the time that goes into planning, and then you can more easily replicate for future trips.

1. Start with a goal

If you are looking for how to plan a business trip and stay efficient, we suggest you start with a goal for your business trip . Figure out what you want to accomplish and why you must take a trip to do so. With a goal in place it will be easier to figure out your objectives and then track KPIs related to the trip. KPIs could be the number of new clients onboarded, number of new prospects, number of sales contacts, or goals like designing the Marketing Plan for the following year or simply teambuilding, depending of course on the goal of your business trip.

If you are a regular business traveler traveling for a sales meeting, why not set up several meetings with different potential clients and current clients in the same area to avoid having to travel so frequently? This way you can focus on quality business trips over quantity, which makes them more productive and you will experience less travel fatigue, especially for regular business travelers. 

2. Plan travel once and repeat

Sometimes the biggest part of getting anything done is devising a plan. So start your business trip planning by coming up with a travel plan that is easily replicable for future trips. Start by making a list of everything that you need to do to plan and turn it into a checklist. Business travel like any project needs a roadmap to get anything accomplished.

Need a helping hand to get started? Download our checklist!

3. create a master business trip itinerary.

Creating standard itinerary for a business trip oftentimes will fall in the hands of an administrative or HR professional, but if one isn’t provided for you, there are some important details you must consider jotting down such as transportation times and details, travel reservation and confirmation numbers, addresses, emergency contact information, check in and check out times for the hotel, day-to-day schedule details (such as what time do meetings start, where and how long do they go), as well as contact information for the people you will be meeting with. 

It may seem overwhelming at first but once you have a master business trip itinerary outline it will be easily replicable for your next trip. If you work with a travel management company like GetGoing , you can store all your itineraries and travel documents in one place making managing your business trips as easy as the snap of a finger. 

4. Store all business trip-related documents in one place

As we’ve mentioned, when you work with a travel management company, all of your business and trip-related documents will be stored in one place on the web app, including important contact information for travelers, hotel information, emergency contacts, and a support phone number to call in case of issues. 

If you are booking all your regular business trips on your own without the support of a TMC, then be sure to have a spreadsheet and shared drive dedicated to your travel plans and itineraries. It will be easier to keep track of everything and ensure nothing gets missed.

Packing and trip lists: lists are your friend

When it comes time to pack for your business trip there is nothing more important than having a list ready with everything you need to start your business travel plans, especially if you’re a regular business traveler. That means having a running list of those elements that you can’t travel without like your passport or ID, your computer, a mouse, a pen and notebook, or your business cards.

Consult our ultimate packing list for more ideas about the travel essentials.

Make a list of all the travel extras

Extras can be things like checking a bag, traveling business class on a flight, purchasing an in-flight meal, having a driver pick you up, and more. The kinds of extras permitted might depend on your company’s travel policy. For example, taking a taxi instead of the bus to the airport may or not be allowed based on the budget per trip your company has in mind, so make sure to check with your travel manager, HR or office manager about what is and is not allowed. 

Search for business travel deals

Finding business travel deals is perhaps the most important and time-consuming task when it comes to making your business travel arrangements. If your company doesn’t already work with a TMC, you may consider urging them to sign up for a corporate travel management solutions company who can help you find the best (and most convenient) travel deals . 

Some other cheap travel hacks for regular business travelers are:

• Be flexible with dates
• Travel in the middle of the week instead of Monday or Friday.
• Consider traveling via a historically cheap destination to get to your final destination
• Go with budget flight options like RyanAir, EasyJet or Vueling

Business travel by flight

Business travel by flight is one of the hardest parts of booking a business trip. How can you find the most convenient and shortest route without having to pay an arm and a leg? There is also a fine balance between the amount of time you dedicate to searching for cheap flights and the amount you pay because after all time is money, so you don’t want to whittle away your time to spend a little less. 

It’s also hard to know, whether hand luggage is enough for you when traveling by air, whether it’s worth-it to book business or first class (and if your company even allows it). One of the most important things is to familiarize yourself with your company’s travel policy so you don’t find surprises when it comes time to having your travel approved. 

Checked or hand luggage only: Is hand luggage enough for you when traveling by air?

So should you go with checked or hand luggage only? Is hand luggage enough for you when traveling by air? Our rule of thumb when is to ask yourself the following questions, which can help you decide whether hand luggage is enough or if you should consider fronting the extra bucks to check a bag:

• Is your meeting formal or informal? If it’s formal you may want to consider checking a bag so you can keep your suit or blouse from wrinkling.
• How many days are you traveling for? 1-4 days of informal business travel can easily be packed into hand luggage only. Beyond 5 days, it’s definitely worth checking a bag or if you have to deal with cold weather or different climates on the different stops in your trip.
• Will you be adding time on for bleisure or blended travel? If you decide to add in extra days either before or after your trip you may consider throwing in a bathing suit to hit the beach or the spa or some extra clothes that don’t necessarily scream “I’m on a business trip.”
• What kind of traveler are you? If you’re the kind of traveler that wants to throw in your rain boots and parka in case it rains when you’re traveling to Spain that has an average of 50 days of rain a year, then you might consider checking a bag. If you’re a “worst case scenario” type of traveler then just a carry-on will most likely never suffice. 

Hotels for business travelers

Choosing the right hotels for regular business travelers is no easy decision. Breakfast or no breakfast? What kind of amenities are non-negotiable? Is it better to be close to the office or downtown? Should you choose a hotel just because they include airport pick-up? There are so many questions to ponder that we’re going to dedicate an exclusive post just to choosing hotels for business travelers. Stay tuned.

Use the right tools for booking hotels for your business trip

Kayak, Skyscanner, Google flights or Hopper are all great tools for your every day trip, but when it comes to business travel, you want a company like GetGoing travel management for businesses that will help optimize and streamline your booking process. The easier trip planning is, the less time you will have to spend planning and the more productive you can be in your daily job. 

And that’s how you plan a business trip

Review and refine the process for planning a business trip . To do so, create a short survey that you can share with your team so you can evaluate how the trip went and assess whether the goals of the meeting were accomplished. This is an important step, especially when deciding whether to travel or not to travel for future trips.  The more often you reach your goals and the more your goals are reliant on a trip to meet them, the more it makes sense to travel. 

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How to Plan Your Business Travel

Last Updated: March 18, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Michael R. Lewis . Michael R. Lewis is a retired corporate executive, entrepreneur, and investment advisor in Texas. He has over 40 years of experience in business and finance, including as a Vice President for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. He has a BBA in Industrial Management from the University of Texas at Austin. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 83,816 times.

Planning a work-related trip can be a stressful endeavor. On top of your usual travel concerns, you also have to keep your mind focused on the business aspect of your trip. Business travel doesn't have to be stressful, though. With a little planning and preparation, you can help ensure your trip runs as smoothly as possible so you can stay focused on your work.

Making Travel Arrangements

• If you're traveling internationally, you may need to secure a visa before you leave. You may also need certain vaccinations, including anti-malarial medication.
• If traveling to a city at an elevation above 4,900 feet (1,500 meters), you may be susceptible to elevation sickness. Try to give yourself a few days to acclimate before doing anything strenuous and start drinking two to three liters of water each day to stay hydrated.
• If you're traveling outside the country, find out if you can safely drink the tap water where you'll be. If not, you'll need to stick to bottled, purified water to stay healthy.

• Start with the date and time you're checking into and out of your hotel, then work your way through everything that you'll be doing while you're away on business.
• Don't forget to keep track of your flight's boarding and departure times so you know when you need to arrive at the airport.
• Highlight any work-related events on your schedule. That way your most important priorities won't get lost in the shuffle.

• When booking your flight, make sure that you use your sky miles account so that you can get points and rewards. You might even have enough sky miles already to cover the cost of your flight!
• When booking your hotel, see if you can use sky miles or get points towards a rewards program. You should also make note of your hotel's policies on check-in, checkout, parking, and number of people per room.
• If you need a rental car, make sure that all the roads you'll be driving will be safe with your rental car. Research if you need two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Look around with different rental car companies to see which has the best rate.
• Some credit cards also have rewards plans and perks for traveling. See if your credit card comes with any of these benefits.

Preparing for Your Trip

• Make sure that all your identification is valid and up-to-date well in advance, as it can take several weeks for new documents to be prepared.

• Give yourself at least an extra 15 to 20 minutes if you'll need to print out your ticket upon arrival at the airport.
• If you have a paper ticket, keep it someplace where you won't lose it. You may want to store it with your ID or passport to ensure that you don't misplace any of those documents.
• If you're using a digital ticket, make sure you'll have reception wherever you're flying out of for the return trip. If you can't pull it up on your phone, you'll likely need to print out a paper copy at the airport.

• Try to pack as light as possible. Bring enough dress clothes for the trip and one or two pairs of casual clothes for exploring the town.
• Confirm that your bag will fit in the overhead compartment or under your seat by checking the carry-on bag size restrictions with your chosen airline.
• Check the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website for any updates on prohibited items and packing suggestions to ensure your security check is as quick as possible.

• Read up on the culture and customs of the people you'll be doing business with.
• Talk to other colleagues or friends who have traveled to the country you'll be doing business in. This can help you get a better sense of what's acceptable and what isn't.
• Be respectful at all times. Remember that you're representing your business and possibly your culture, so you'll need to be on your best behavior at all times.

• Keep a backup copy of all your important information on your laptop or a USB flash drive.
• If you really want to cover all your bases, you can also print out hard copies of any important paperwork and keep those papers in a file with your travel documents.

• If possible, give yourself a few days before you leave and start going to sleep and waking up at the times you will be waking/sleeping once you reach your destination.
• Being aware of the time difference has professional implications as well. You'll need to ensure that you don't miss any important meetings or deadlines on your trip.

Taking Precautions to Avoid Jet Lag

• Limit your caffeine and alcohol consumption, as both of these can leave you slightly dehydrated.
• Try to drink two to three liters of water each day, but remember that you'll need more water if you're very active or in a hot environment. [10] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source

• Aim to arrive around dinner time, then plan to stay up until about 10:00 pm in local time.
• When you get to your destination, avoid heavy meals. Instead, choose healthy snacks or a light meal that won't weigh you down. [12] X Research source
• You will most likely be tired after traveling, so by getting in around dinner time and eating a light meal, you'll start to get sleepy in time for a regular night's rest.

• Limit your exposure to bright screens, like laptops and cellphones, for at least a half hour before bed. Bright lights can reset your circadian rhythm, making it harder to sleep.
• Get as much sunlight as you can in the morning and early afternoon. This will help you remain wakeful and energetic during the day.
• Try to get some light to vigorous exercise each day, but be aware of when you work out. Some people find that exercising too close to bedtime affects their ability to sleep. [13] X Research source
• Bring earplugs and a sleep mask to help ensure that you get restful sleep each night, no matter what kinds of distractions present themselves at your hotel.

Expert Q&A

• Consider shipping large presentation materials and other business items that may difficult to carry while traveling. Just make sure that you ship them with enough time to arrive at your destination. If you decide to ship to your hotel, make sure that you contact the hotel and let them know about your shipment. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• Opt for refundable tickets when you arrange your business travel, if at all possible. That way you have the ability to change your plans in case work or personal obligations get in the way of your scheduled flight. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2012/08/27/your-basic-guide-to-business-travel-abroad/#1168ef394f50
• ↑ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/kenny-kline/how-smart-entrepreneurs-prepare-for-business-travel_b_8533712.html
• ↑ https://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/10-tips-for-efficient-business-travel
• ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/236246
• ↑ https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/jet-lag-and-sleep
• ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/269947
• ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
• ↑ https://www.sleepfoundation.org/travel-and-sleep/jet-lag
• ↑ https://sleepfoundation.org/excessivesleepiness/sleep-tools-tips/healthy-sleep-tips

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27 Business Travel Tips to Streamline Your Journey

Business travel is essential for many companies. In a survey by Deloitte , 53% of US companies said they expect their travel spend to exceed three-quarters of 2019 levels by the end of 2023, and these numbers are only getting better. 71% of US companies expect a full recovery in travel spend by the end of 2024.

In another study by Morgan Stanley Research , corporate travel budgets showed dramatic improvement, with 2023 budgets reaching 98% of 2019 levels, on average.

Need some business travel tips to help you navigate corporate travel? You’re in the right place!

27 Best Business Travel Tips

Whether you’re new to business travel or it’s been a while since you’ve traveled for work, you’re likely asking yourself, “What are the most important things to consider when planning a business trip?”

When traveling for business, you’ll need to consider things like the weather at your destination, accommodations, how to save money during your trip, how you can balance your daily work with your travel schedule, and so much more.

We’ve put together 27 tips for business travelers to help you on your journey, including some tips specific to international travel.

Whether you have a corporate travel management team to help streamline the process and venue sourcing on your behalf or you’re working alone on your travel plans, these business travel tips are for you!

1. Know Your Corporate Travel Policies

Every company has its policies, and you should know yours. This can include daily expense limits, means of travel allowed, expected etiquette and dress code, and more.

2. Familiarize Yourself with Your Destination

Whether you’re traveling domestically or abroad, you’ll want to know what to expect when you get there. Research things like expected weather, public transportation cost and availability, bliesure opportunities, and most importantly, cultural differences and customs.

3. Plan Your Essential Itinerary First

To avoid overbooking yourself, plan out your itinerary with essential meetings and activities first, then add in opportunities for fun activities and sightseeing. Everyone wants to enjoy their work trips, but if you plan too much for yourself, your work, sleep, and health can all suffer.

4. Budget for Unexpected Delays

When booking flights, rental cars, and appointments, make sure you budget for delays. If you plan a meeting too close to your arrival time and your flight is delayed, your entire schedule could be affected.

5. Explore Travel Membership Programs

Want a bit more bang for your buck? Find out whether your company already participates in airline rewards or hotel rewards programs. If not, sign up for them yourself! The more points you rack up, the more perks you get while traveling.

6. Choose Your Hotel Accommodations Wisely

When searching for hotel accommodations, you’re looking for more than the right price. In addition to pricing and member rewards, consider:

• Types of hotels
• Types of hotel rooms  
• Hotel room amenities
• Whether you’ll stay in a sustainable hotel
• Best hotel for business travelers
• Whether you can stay at an all-inclusive resort

7. Consider Travel at Your Destination

When you touch down, how will you be getting around? Rental car? Public transport? Rideshare apps? If you’re planning on a rental car, be sure you book early to lock in better prices and ensure there are cars available for your selected dates.

8. Ensure Your Travel Documents Are in Order

If you’re traveling domestically in the US, ensure you have an unexpired ID with you, including either a license or passport. For now, any state license will suffice, but by May 7, 2025, all domestic travelers will require a REAL ID to travel.

*Note: The deadline for obtaining a REAL ID was previously 2023, but that deadline has been pushed back. Still, if you need to renew your license any time soon, it’s a good idea to switch to a REAL ID so you’re prepared for the change.

9. Print Files in Advance

If you have presentation files, meeting files, or other documents you’ll need printed, don’t assume you’ll have access to a printer when you get to your destination – print it in advance.

10. Back Up Your Technology and Documents

Losing a phone, laptop, credit card, or ID can make things exceptionally difficult. Make photocopies of your IDs and bank cards, and back up your technology using the cloud or an external hard drive.

11. Charge Your Devices

An obvious yet forgettable one – make sure your tech is charged before your trip!

12. Download Useful Apps

Your phone can be your best friend when traveling. Before you leave, download your event app , local maps in case of poor service, translation apps, and travel apps like Uber and Lyft.

13. Pack Light – Don’t Check a Bag

For your own sake, only bring the essentials in your carry-on and personal item. Skip the extra pair of shoes (and the long checked baggage line), and consider what you really need for your trip.

Check out the packing list at the end of this post to help!

14. Check In at Home

If you’re not checking a bag, there’s no reason to wait in line at the airport to check in. You can do it all online, including choosing your seat and downloading a digital boarding pass to your phone.

15. Confirm Your Reservations

To ensure you’re all set for your trip and have no surprises waiting for you, confirm everything in advance. We’re talking flight status, transportation to the airport, hotel reservation, rental car, meetings, etc.

16. Pack with Airport Security in Mind

Travel safety and TSA are no joke. Even if you skip the check-in lines, security can take forever – especially if you’re unprepared. Here are a few airport security tips for business travelers:

• Budget about 45 minutes to get through security.
• Check the size of your liquids! Any liquids you pack in your carry-on or personal item must be 3.4 ounces or less and fit into one clear, quart-sized bag.
• Organize your bags so everything you need to remove for security is in the same place. Be sure you only have to open one bag and that you can easily remove what you need to and get it back in your bag once you’re through security.
• Read the signs! Depending on the airport and security line, you may not need to remove your shoes or anything from your bags. In others, you’ll need to remove everything – shoes, belts, tech, food, liquids, etc. Know what’s expected so you can move through the line quickly.

17. Follow Business Travel Etiquette

Beginning with your travel attire, you’ll want to be sure you’re following business travel etiquette. You reflect your company, so if you should be dressed up – especially if you’re flying business class – make sure you are, and follow all corporate travel policies.

18. Prioritize Expense Management

Whether you’re swiping your own credit card or a corporate card, make sure every expense is documented. Expense management is critical at every stage, from booking flights and rental cars to paying for meals during your stay.

Track your expenses and save all your receipts so you can account for all expenses and the reason for each purchase. Consider taking pictures of all receipts or uploading them to a third-party app so you don’t have to worry about losing them and missing out on being reimbursed.

19. Focus on Boosting Your Productivity

Maximizing productivity during travel should be a huge priority for corporate travelers. To boost your productivity, try these time management strategies for business trips:

• Use your hotel business center to improve focus.
• Book meetings in advance so you can plan your working time around them.
• Schedule breaks in your itinerary to avoid burnout.
• If you have time to work while traveling, do it – you never know when your on-site activities will get in the way of work.
• Stay connected with your team – the more you keep in touch, the more accountable you’ll be.
• Identify quiet areas on site where you can work during your downtime without having to return to your hotel or room.

20. Plan Networking Opportunities in Advance

Networking can take up a big chunk of time, whether it’s a networking meet and greet or a one-on-one meeting. Plan these networking opportunities in advance so they’re built into your schedule and you can plan around them.

21. Try Stress Reduction Techniques

Stress takes many forms, but especially for business travelers, there’s a lot to stress over. To make things easier on yourself, try these stress reduction techniques:

• Plan ahead – the more details you’ve planned in advance, the less you’ll have to worry about while you travel.
• Practice meditation and deep breathing to keep calm during stressful situations.
• Stay hydrated! Dehydration can lead to fatigue and stress – not to mention headaches and illness – so keep the water flowing.
• Stretch, exercise, and get your blood pumping. Exercise is a great stress reliever!
• Sleep, and take breaks. Your body and mind will thank you.

22. Leave Room for Swag!

If you’re attending an event where you can expect to pick up some swag, or you plan to do a little shopping in your downtime, make sure you have room in your luggage to take it all back with you!

Additional Tips for International Business Travel

Traveling to a foreign country? Here are a few tips specific to international business travel.

23. Research International Travel Requirements

When traveling abroad, make sure you know the requirements for entry and visiting. Research visas, laws and regulations, valid identification, and requirements for renting a vehicle (some countries require international driving permits ).

24. Learn Some Key Phrases

If you’re traveling to a country where English is not the primary language, make sure you have a few basic phrases down so you can make your way around.

• Hello / Goodbye
• Do you speak English?
• Please / Thank you
• Where is the bathroom / train station / airport?
• Where is “name of your venue?”
• Can I have the check, please?

25. Ensure You Have Phone and Internet Access

Need phone and internet access abroad? If this isn’t supplied by your company, you’ll need to research your own phone/internet plan to make sure you have service while traveling.

26. Study the Cultural Customs

Don’t be a fish out of water. Before you pack for your trip, research acceptable attire, cultural activities and events happening during your stay, customs to participate in, polite behaviors, greetings, hand gestures to avoid, and more.

27. Bring a Credit Card with No International Fees

Converting currency or withdrawing funds at the airport aren’t always the cheapest options. To avoid fees and the hassle of withdrawing cash (if you’re in an area where cash isn’t preferred), consider getting a credit card with no international transaction fees.

Essential Items to Pack for Business Travel

What are the essential items every business traveler should pack? That can depend on the nature of your business, where you’re headed, how long you’re staying, and many other factors.

That said, there are a few packing essentials for business trips that just about everyone needs when traveling for work. Here’s a general packing list to help you get started:

The real challenge of packing the right clothing for your business trip isn’t in choosing what you’ll wear – it’s in making sure you’re not under or overpacking. Here’s what you should consider when packing your business clothing:

• Pack items that are versatile: Bring clothing you can wear both during the day and in the evening for more formal dinners and events. That way, you’re only wearing one outfit per day.
• Bring more tops than bottoms: Pants and skirts can easily be worn more than once, but you’ll need a clean shirt or dress for every day of your trip. Try to mix and match multiple tops with one pair of bottoms to help save space in your suitcase.
• Be prepared to dress up: If there’s a fancy banquet or networking event on the agenda, make sure you have something dressier to wear for this event. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need an entirely different outfit – it could mean bringing jewelry or a dinner jacket to spiff up your daywear.
• Pack 1-2 pairs of shoes: Weather permitting, you only need one comfortable pair of dress shoes and one pair of casual shoes for your downtime. Of course, if you’re traveling somewhere with rain or snow, you’ll need weatherproof shoes. Perhaps those could double as your casual pair!
• Don’t forget the basics: Pack one pair of socks and underwear for each day of your trip, and don’t forget pajamas!
• Company clothing: If you have company swag or a uniform you’re meant to be showing off during your trip, make sure it’s in the bag!
• Specialty clothing items: Consider whether you’ll need workout clothing, swimwear, a special outfit for an event, etc. Check out your itinerary and see what kind of downtime you’ll have and whether any events or activities you’ll be attending require specific attire.

*Hot Packing Tip: If you haven’t heard, rolling your clothes is all the rage – and for good reason! Fold your clothes along the seams, then roll them. This will save you space in your suitcase and cut down on iron/steaming time once you get to your destination.

Business Essentials

• Laptop or tablet and charger
• Phones and chargers (including personal and business)
• Headphones or earbuds
• Adapters/converters (for international travel)
• Notepad and pen (even in the digital age, these still come in handy!)
• Business cards (or have your digital business card link ready to share)
• Printed business files (see tip #9)
• Comfortable business bag (laptop bag, purse)
• Passport or ID for legal travel to/from your destination
• Copy of itinerary , including car rental and hotel reservation details , in case your technology is lost or loses battery
• Boarding pass (this can be digital)
• Photocopies of critical documents and resources (see tip #10)

Personal Items

• Purse and/or wallet (limit yourself to one functional purse)
• Glasses/contacts
• Refillable water bottle
• Jewelry and watch
• All-weather items (hat, sunglasses, umbrella, waterproof shoes)
• Entertainment (download podcasts, books, TV shows, and movies to your devices so you can enjoy them when you don’t have internet access)
• Sleep essentials (ear plugs, eye mask, neck pillow)

Personal Hygiene Items

• Toothbrush and paste
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Brush or comb
• Lotion, skincare products, and sunscreen
• Makeup and styling products
• Hand steamer
• Essential medications
• Emergency kit (include band-aids, pain relievers, cold and sinus medication, etc.)

*Note: While you might find some of these items at your hotel, they aren’t guaranteed. Check with your hotel before packing to see which of these items you should bring yourself.

Need a bit more help planning your trip? Check out more great business travel tips here !

Hope Salvatori

Hope is a Senior Content Marketing Associate who has been with Cvent for more than two years. She has 8 years of experience producing content for corporations, small businesses, associations, nonprofits, and universities. As a content professional, she has created content for a wide range of industries, including meetings and events, government and defense, education, health, and more.

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11 tips for planning a business trip for your boss

Planning a business trip for your boss, 1. make note of their usual preferences, 2. help them prioritize the most important parts of their trip, 3. take care of any extras, 4. create a business trip itinerary.

Save time and money on business travel

Planning a business trip for your colleagues, 5. empower travelers to book for themselves, 6. put everything in one place, can't decide which business travel management company to use, 7. purchase any needed supplies in advance of the trip, 8. give the traveler a trip checklist, 9. save traveler's contact information, 10. create a travel planning checklist template, 11. debrief after the business trip.

• Replenish your traveler’s mobile office supplies so they’re ready to go next time around.
• With your traveler, review any outstanding voice messages, emails, and other updates
• Ask your traveler if everything went well and what could be better.

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How to plan a business trip and make it affordable

Business trips can be a powerful way to create fresh experiences and unique opportunities for your business. However, business travel involves a lot of care and attention, especially when travelling to another country and particularly in the wake of the pandemic and all the complications it managed to spin up. But if you know what you want to achieve and take it step-by-step, you should see how to plan a business trip that’s as affordable without too much hassle.

In today’s digital world, we can communicate across time zones in an instant. However, nothing beats face-to-face interaction when it comes to brokering a big deal or cultivating a solid and long-lasting business relationship.

READ MORE : We put together 14 best ideas on how to travel for cheap

Corporate travel is still very important, and anyone going on a business trip should prepare thoroughly. You’ll be better able to make a good impression and focus on the purpose of your meeting if you arrive at your destination relaxed and well-prepared. Preparation allows your mind to focus on the here and now, ensuring that you stay on track during that crucial meeting. Follow these essential tips to become an effective business trip planner if you want to fine-tune how you prepare for your next excursion.

Do you know how to plan a business trip?

Business travel planning entails much more than just managing budgets or the number of people who will travel; especially if you are not a travel manager or expert.

Did you know that there are some people that devote their entire lives to planning business trips? They are individuals who have received the necessary training and knowledge to manage high-quality corporate travel.

Here are our steps on how to plan a business trip and make it affordable.

Plan your finances

Make no mistake, a business trip could prove incredibly lucrative and lead to enormous growth, but it can be a rather substantial business expense By including business trips in their budgets and planning ahead, often months in advance, companies will have well-defined goals and will be able to work out what they’ll need to do in order to have the desired return. Of course, knowing roughly how much it will set you back also means you’ll know how much you might need to raise in case you need to take out an unsecured business loan to help fill in the financial gaps.

Make travel arrangements

Familiarise yourself with your company’s corporate travel policy and don’t be afraid to update it. You’re making travel arrangements for a business trip, not planning a personal break and plans should reflect this. Balancing travel times against cost and convenience is a must and don’t feel as if you must fork out for business class seats as flying your employees via economy can save you thousands. Also, try to encourage car sharing where possible as I will save on fuel and give staff members an excellent excuse to get to know each other better.

Book accommodation

If you’ve only got one meeting place to reach, make sure you book a hotel that’s nearby. Check your company’s hotel policies to see if there are any preferred hotels or chains you can partner with to gain preferential treatment. If you find yourself travelling to the same location often, you might be able to get some really strong group saver and repeat business discounts.

READ MORE : Here are some useful travel tips for when you remote work

Sort your itinerary 

Optimising time and money on a business trip is of paramount importance. A tight schedule in which activities are provided for each day of the trip will make life easier for employers and lead to less guesswork and the potential for people to turn up late to events or miss them entirely. Try to book meals and excursions as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment.

Prepare travel documents 

Travel in the 21 st century can largely be controlled via your smartphone and digital tickets but that doesn’t mean you still won’t need a valid passport and sometimes a visa . Don’t forget any electronic accessories like your laptop and charger either as if your tickets are on your phone and your phone runs out of charge you could really land your team in trouble.

If you have any ideas on how to plan a business trip on a small budget, please let us know in the comments. It is comments and information from our travel community that keeps this platform active and growing.

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Comprehensive Guide: How to Plan a Business Trip

Business trips are a big deal in the corporate world, and they require careful planning and execution. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or just starting out, a well-organized business trip can mean the distinction between a successful experience and a stressful one.

In this detailed guide, we’ll take you through the process step by step, showing you how to plan a business trip that meets your goals while keeping travel hassles to a minimum.

Read Also: Best Ways to Locate the Best Modeling Agencies For Teenagers

Here are some of the things you need to consider before planning a Business Trip;

Defining Your Objectives

Every business trip should start with a clear understanding of its purpose. Are you attending a conference, meeting clients, or exploring new markets? By defining your objectives, you can tailor your plans to align with your specific goals.

Creating a Budget

Setting a budget is crucial for controlling costs. Consider expenses such as transportation, accommodation, meals, transportation at the destination, and incidentals. Allocating funds wisely will ensure your trip stays within budget.

Scheduling Your Trip

Selecting the right travel dates is key. Consider your work commitments and the optimal times for your business activities. Be mindful of time zones and working hours at your destination.

Booking Travel and Accommodation

To secure the best rates, book your transportation and accommodation well in advance. Consider factors like proximity to meeting locations and transportation hubs when selecting accommodations.

Securing Necessary Documents

Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your return date. Research visa requirements for your destination and apply well ahead of your trip.

Creating an Itinerary

Develop a detailed itinerary that includes your travel plans, meeting schedules, and any personal time. Sharing this with colleagues, clients, or team members who need to know your whereabouts ensures smooth coordination.

Packing Efficiently

A well-thought-out packing list should include work-related materials, appropriate attire for meetings, and essential electronics and chargers. Packing efficiently will keep your luggage manageable.

Staying Organized

Use digital tools like travel and calendar apps to keep your plans, documents, and receipts in one place. Organizational tools like travel wallets or organizers can also be helpful.

Checking Health and Safety Precautions

Before you depart, research health advisories, vaccination requirements, and safety tips for your destination. Consider purchasing travel insurance for added protection.

Communication and Connectivity

Make sure you have a reliable mobile phone plan or a local SIM card for communication while abroad. Set up data roaming or Wi-Fi access to stay connected.

Expense Management

Keep a meticulous record of your expenses, from transportation to meals and incidentals. Use expense management apps or tools to simplify the reimbursement process.

Emergency Contacts

Prepare a list of emergency contacts, both at home and your destination. Include the contact information for your embassy or consulate for added security.

Security and Safety

Stay informed about the safety situation at your destination. Share your travel plans and itinerary with a trusted contact and follow any recommended safety precautions.

Preparing for Meetings and Presentations

Review and prepare any materials or presentations you’ll need for your business engagements. Ensure you have all necessary documents and equipment.

Travel Comfort and Wellness

Prioritize your well-being during the trip. Stay hydrated, get enough rest, and manage jet lag by adjusting your schedule according to time zone changes.

Post-Trip Review

After your trip, assess your accomplishments and gather feedback. This post-trip review will help you make improvements for future business trips.

In conclusion, planning a business trip effectively is essential to achieve your goals and ensure a productive and stress-free experience. With careful planning and attention to detail, you can navigate the challenges of business travel and maximize its benefits.

These FAQs provide a foundation for planning a successful business trip and can help you address common concerns and challenges that may arise during the process.

What are the essential steps in planning a business trip?

The essential steps in planning a business trip include defining your objectives, creating a budget, scheduling your trip, booking travel and accommodation, securing necessary documents, creating an itinerary, packing efficiently, staying organized, checking health and safety precautions, managing expenses, preparing for meetings and presentations, ensuring communication and connectivity, and considering post-trip review.

How can I stay within budget when planning a business trip?

Staying within budget involves setting a clear budget that includes all anticipated expenses, such as transportation, accommodation, meals, and incidentals.

To manage costs, consider booking transportation and accommodations well in advance to secure better rates, and be mindful of expenses during the trip. Use expense management tools and apps to track your spending and make adjustments as needed.

What should I consider when selecting accommodation for a business trip?

When choosing accommodation, consider factors such as proximity to your meeting locations, transportation hubs, and the overall convenience of the location.

Ensure that the accommodation provides necessary amenities like Wi-Fi, a workspace, and a comfortable environment for relaxation after work. Also, take into account your budget constraints.

Read Also : The 10 Best Pole Dancing Classes in Philadelphia, PA

How can I ensure I’m well-prepared for meetings and presentations during my trip?

To prepare for meetings and presentations, review your materials and presentations well in advance. Make sure you have all the necessary documents, equipment, and any technology you’ll need. Consider conducting a dry run to familiarize yourself with the technology and to address any potential issues before the actual meeting or presentation.

What are some tips for ensuring safety and security during a business trip?

To ensure safety and security, research health advisories and vaccination requirements for your destination. Stay informed about the local safety situation and adhere to any recommended precautions. Share your travel plans and itinerary with a trusted contact and have emergency contact information readily available. Consider travel insurance for added protection in case of unforeseen circumstances.

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How to Plan Business Travel & Business Travel Planning Checklists

• June 4, 2013

Travel Planning for Executive & Administrative Assistants

When I was an executive assistant planning hundreds of trips for my executive over a 20-year period, I thought I did a good job. Most of the time, my executives were pleased. But I really didn’t understand the intricacies of travel until I became an executive and traveled often. For 22 years, I have been traveling; mostly within the United States. I have had a few trips to Bermuda and the Caribbean but not overseas—this is by choice. So, if I think it is tough being a traveler in the United States, just imagine how difficult it is for the executives who travel great distances often—and have to show up for meetings! Being a road warrior is not glamorous like people think. You spend hours and hours waiting in the airport; dealing with changed scheduled; late flights; bad weather; lost suitcases; rides that don’t show up; uncomfortable beds and noisy hotels. I could go on and on about the difficulties of traveling but I won’t. I hope you get the picture. So anything you can do to make your executive’s life easier when planning travel is outstanding!  I am going to share with you, my tips from experience on both sides of the desk on how to plan business travel . 

I often hear executives tell me that they don’t think their executive assistant or administrative assistant is doing the best job of the planning of their travel, even though their assistant has been working with them for years. So this subject is a big deal and one you should pay attention to. Of course, every executive has their preferences when it comes to travel. For me, I always want an aisle seat toward the front of the plane. And I prefer to sit on the left side of the plane, as you enter the plane. Some executives do not want less than a 60-minute layover because they don’t want to run through long concourses. You must know what your executive prefers and cater to that. Also, be warned that their preferences can change. So where I may tell Jasmine don’t let me get into a city later than 5:00 p.m., I may change my mind because it is summer and it will stay lighter later in the day; I have been to this city numerous times and know my way around; I know the client and class and can linger a little longer in the morning before showing up for the class.

I am sharing with you a few things to consider when you plan business travel. There are many more considerations and I will be offering online training on this topic later this year with other pertinent topics to make your life great and make you a more effective assistant. For now, consider some of these points as you arrange for business travel. As you go through my business travel checklist, ask yourself:

• Am I already doing this? If so, are you doing this every time?
• Do I need to do a better job?
• If I’m doing this, why not? How soon can I implement this action? 

Business Travel Itinerary should include:

• Weather report for each day leader will be in the arriving city and other cities he will be visiting during his trip.
• Any issues or events in arriving city that could affect leader’s travel into the city or when he arrives or departs the city.
• Main contact’s cell phone number (for emergencies or in-transit arrival delays or changes).
• At the very top of the first page, have a noticeable box with ALL contacts’ names and telephone numbers. The leader should not have to hunt through the itinerary to locate these if he needs them quickly.
• Frequent Flyer Club Information – locations of clubs at the airport(s).
• Will food be served during the flight? If so, is it a snack or meal?

When traveling for business, a leader should leave the following items home:

• Copy of his/her itinerary (and other important information)
• International trips:  Copy of passport (photo and visa pages) 
• Unneeded credit cards

When booking flights, the assistant needs to consider:

• Layover time—should not be too long but must be long enough for the leader to walk through concourses and make his connection.
• Is this the best time of day for the leader to depart local airport based on when he needs to arrive? 
• Is this the fastest route? Sometimes it is better to wait at the airport for a later flight that is a direct flight then to take an earlier flight with connections and arrive home later than the direct flight.
• Upgraded seating available? When can you check for availability and how many hours before his flight will he be notified—24 hours? 
• What other benefits does leader have with the airlines and his Frequent Flyer status? 

Other business travel preparation tips for an assistant:

• How can I more effectively work with the travel agency to find the most efficient ways to structure leader’s travel given all factors of each trip, i.e., time frames, travel dates, meetings with customers, dinners, time to and from airports, etc. 

o Ask about other options that better suit leader’s requests.

o Do some of your own research about the flight(s) and then speak to the travel agent.

o Tell them to confirm that this is the best, most efficient, most convenient route for leader’s travel.

• Have you thought through the schedule the travel agency gave you? Once the schedule has been identified, think through the entire trip as if you were the traveler—does it make sense? 

What meetings, luncheons, or dinners should be scheduled? (Always think: what, who, when, where)

• Team Dinner

o Who needs to be invited?

o Restaurant, club or other facility?

o Any special communications from you to the team?

• Town Hall Meetings
• Customer Meetings
• Business Colleagues

Restaurant Name: _________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________ Phone: _________________________________________________ Website: ________________________________________________ Dress Code: _____________________________________________ Type of Meal: _____________________________________________ Guests Attending: _________________________________________

• Leader’s notes, folders, files (soft or hard copies)
• Handouts and other documents
• PowerPoint slides (saved to USB?)

Cash for Travel: Make sure leader has cash a few days before he departs. Here is a suggested list. Find out Leader’s preferences. This will depend on the length of his trip and where he is traveling to. An example is

$1.00 (10 bills) $5.00(6 bills) $10.00 (6 bills) $20.00 (6 bills) $50.00 (4 bills) $100.00 (3 bills) Does leader want Traveler’s Cheques? If so, how much and in what dollar amounts?

• Cell phone charger (or Universal charger) 
• Laptop (and carrying case)
• iPad (and carrying case)
• Spare batteries 
• Lighter (for emergency/power outages at hotel due to storms) 
• Plug adapters and voltage converters
• Trench coat 
• Casual attire
• Business attire
• Workout attire (including tennis shoes)
• Business suit or sports jacket
• Toiletries (place in appropriate baggies if taking a carry-on suitcase) 
• Personal items 
• Medical items:

o Prescription medications o Advil o Tylenol o Sinus medicine o Throat lozenges

• Boarding Pass
• Business cards
• Pens and/or special notepads or portfolio for writing

NOTE : Carry-On Baggage Although there is no regulation for common items such as clothing, reading materials, cameras and laptop computers, the TSA regulates the number of liquid items, such as toothpaste, shampoo and bottled water, permitted in carry-on luggage. Travelers must pack their liquid items in a single, clear quart-size bag. Each item in the bag must be in a 3.4-oz. or smaller container. Airline passengers can also take small scissors, those with a 4-inch or shorter blade and tools that are 7 inches or shorter with them on the plane, although larger tools are prohibited.

Departing leader’s home first day of travel: Town car service to the airport and schedule the pickup for the leader when he returns home. – Times (allow sufficient time get to the airport; are certain days busier at departing airport than others, such as Monday?) What times of day are busiest for driving to the airport?

Arriving City: Town car service (driver needs to be there when leader arrives) If yes, where is driver meeting leader? – Bottom of escalators – At baggage claim – Curbside Does leader need to call the driver upon his arrival?

Will the driver be holding a sign with his name on it near baggage or at the baggage carousel? Or will the name card be placed in the car window for the leader to see curbside?

Taxi pick up – Where are they located? Is there a taxi booth or does leader just step outside to the curb?

Will an individual be picking up the leader from the airport? If so, provide all details.

Car rental? If yes, provide all details.

Travel time (not miles) to destination: ________________

Hotel Information: Name: ________________________________________________________________ Phone #: ______________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________ Website: ______________________________________________________________ Confirmation #: ________________________________________________________ Cancellation Policy: _____________________________________________________ Non-smoking room: _____________________________________________________ Room type: King or 2 Queens/2 Doubles ____________________________________ Prefers room be located away from the elevators and very end of hallway Does Leader prefer certain floors (lower vs. higher in case he has to exit for fire) Internet Service – Free – Charge at $ __________ per day (or 24 period) Concierge Floor requested Yes ____ Hours of operation __________________ No ____ Exercise Facility In Hotel – Where in the hotel? – Hours of operations Reciprocal club near hotel? Pool Indoor Outdoor Restaurant(s) in the hotel: Full-service restaurant(s) Café only

Restaurants within walking distance (full-service/fine dining vs. casual)

Nearest Pharmacy Name ________________________________ Phone # ________________________________ Hours ________________________________

Emergency Medical Information for International Travel: provide details

Transportation from Hotel to and from Scheduled Meetings/each day: Date:

Mode of transportation:

Time of departure from hotel:

Who will be meeting leader? Exactly where will they meet leader once he arrives? What time?

Don’t just plan travel— try to imagine that you are taking this trip. You want every detail covered. If you support a female traveler, safety and security will be their #1 concern. Good luck. I hope you feel like you have some good checklists started to help you plan better business travel for your executive now.

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Businessing Magazine

Strategizing     Destiny Clarkson    June 22, 2023     4 min read

Important Things to Remember When Planning a Business Trip

Professional vacations provide possibilities for networking, customer interactions, and broadening one’s horizons in the professional world. But thoughtful planning and attention are necessary for a successful business trip. It is important to pay attention to different factors, from transportation and lodging to scheduling and packing, in order to ensure a pleasant and trouble-free vacation. This article will go through the crucial details to remember while organizing a business trip and give you insightful advice on making the most of your trip.

Determine the Purpose and Objectives

It is essential to decide on your visit’s objective and the outcomes you hope to achieve before leaving on any business trip. Are you visiting clients, attending a convention, or looking for new business opportunities? Having a clear understanding of your objectives can assist you in organizing your schedule, placing activities in the appropriate order, and making the most of your available time. If you go on the trip with a specific goal, you’ll be able to adjust your preparations to meet those needs.

Research and Prepare an Itinerary

Planning a business trip requires careful planning and preparation. Spend some time learning about the area, taking note of any cultural differences that can affect your encounters, as well as local traditions and business etiquette. Make a thorough itinerary that includes your scheduled events, meetings, and travel arrangements once you have received the relevant information. To guarantee realistic scheduling, consider variables like the distance between places, the flow of traffic, and potential delays. A well-planned itinerary can help you stay on course and utilize your time as effectively as possible, which will eventually result in a great vacation.

Book Your Lodging and Transportation Beforehand

A comfortable and convenient work travel is mostly dependent on lodging and transportation. Depending on your tastes and where you’re going, you could choose commercial flights or look into other options, like private aircraft, for more luxury and flexibility. Using a private jet cost estimator can assist you in evaluating the viability and possible cost savings of private jet travel. Pick and book a hotel with the required services and a convenient place for lodging. To prevent any last-minute headaches, it is advised to book your lodging and transportation beforehand.

Pack Smart and Efficiently

To minimize stress during your work travel, packing wisely is crucial. Make a list of the things you must bring, such as formal dress, gadgets, important papers, and any other items unique to your trip. Plan your clothes based on your planned activities and bring adaptable, mix-and-match apparel. Ensure to keep any necessary travel documents, including IDs, passports, and visas. Consider any additional tools or supplies needed for meetings or presentations as well. You will save time and effort when traveling if you pack effectively.

Stay Connected and Organized

Staying connected and organized is essential for successful work travel in today’s connected world. Make sure you have all the equipment you’ll need for communication, including a dependable cell phone, laptop, and chargers. For uninterrupted communication and internet connectivity, set up a mobile data package or make sure you have access to Wi-Fi. Use organizing tools like task management apps and digital calendars to keep track of your schedule, due dates, and crucial contacts. By being connected and organized, you can remain on top of your obligations, successfully manage your time, and react quickly to unexpected developments or opportunities.

Prepare for the Business Trip

It’s crucial to fully prepare for business trips if you want to leave a good impression and accomplish your goals. Learn about the people or groups you will be meeting with, become familiar with their work, and discover any shared interests. Create a brief but powerful presentation that demonstrates the value you can add to their company.

Be prepared with thoughtful replies to potential queries or concerns. Don’t forget to bring any relevant resources, including business cards, brochures, or samples, to make a good impression. You’ll have a better chance of succeeding in business trips if you come prepared.

To achieve a good end, meticulous attention must be paid to many elements while planning a business trip. You can increase productivity and accomplish your goals by deciding on the intended use and goals, researching your location, making travel, and lodging arrangements, packing wisely, being connected, and organized, and getting ready for meetings. Your business trip can be a wise investment in your career and professional advancement if planned and carried out well.

Destiny Clarkson

Destiny Clarkson is a writer from Knoxville, Tennessee with a love for country music, poetry, and dancing in the rain.

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Employee Experience

Key steps for successful business travel planning, essential steps for successful business travel planning   .

Business travel planning covers every aspect for an employee's journey when they are on business trips. Planners need to ensure all aspects of each trip comply with company policies, fall within the travel budget, allow employees to achieve the goals of the trip, and account for travelers' safety and well-being. 

As a travel manager oversees this process, you should understand the travel industry, price trends, and other fundamental factors. But the job also involves curating itineraries so that they fit with the goals of the trip and the unique needs of each traveler. This process requires researching destinations, assessing risk, and, sometimes, negotiating with service providers to get corporate rates when booking. 

Here are the steps to take to meet all the requirements of business travel planning. 

How a business travel planner handles cost controls and productivity needs 

Cost control is an important factor in travel planning. Recent surveys about travel have found that companies are taking fewer business trips and creating strict guidelines for travel and spending. 

You also have to balance the requirements of employees with cost-control policies. There is a link between employee engagement and satisfaction with travel plans and arrangements. Employees who feel valued are likely to be more productive on the road. 

This balancing act may require negotiating upgrades with vendors, finding low-cost perks, and learning the standards and preferences of each employee. 

Travelers need access to the tools and systems necessary to remain productive. This can include items like in-room Wi-Fi, cell phone coverage, and transportation options for getting to appointments on time. 

Steps to Streamline the Business Travel Process 

Organizations can streamline the travel process and also make future trip plans easier. 

Steps to consider for organized business travel planning 

• Create a database of employees and include personal details needed to book travel, special requirements, and preferences. You can use these details instead of asking the employee again for each trip. 
• Make a business travel itinerary template and include all necessary details. This form ensures you do not miss any vital details and provide all necessary information about the trip. 
• Establish a system for employee feedback. A survey, post-trip debriefing, or informal meeting gives employees a chance to express needs and lets you know if your planning process and strategies are working. 
• Notify employees of travel policies and announce changes. This step educates employees about expectations for their trip. It also gives them the knowledge and understanding to comply with these policies. 
• Define a procedure for special travel requests. You can give employees specific steps to take to ask for accommodations that are outside of normal travel policies. 
• Build a checklist to assess itineraries for policy and budget compliance. You can compare each itinerary item and booking to ensure it meets travel policies and budget constraints. This step can also help keep standards consistent. 

You can also consider relying on software and applications to plan trips, manage bookings, and track travelers after they leave. 

Apps to help with travel business planning 

These apps can help you organize plans and add helpful details. 

• FLIO is an app that provides information for navigating airports. You can use it to provide details to travelers, such as directions to car rental kiosks and the location of lounges with Wi-Fi access. 
• Clime provides detailed forecasts for destinations. It can help you tell travelers weather details and what to pack for their trip. The app can also notify you about potential weather problems, like hurricanes, in the destination. 
• Google Travel can help with the research phase of travel planning by allowing you to organize all necessary information in one place and bookmark it for easy reference. It's easy to share these insights with travelers, as well. 
• CityMapper can assist with trip planning outside of hotels, airlines, and car rentals. It allows you to decide how to get to different locations around the city and is useful for managing transport and helping travelers find alternatives if necessary. 

You can use these tools alongside SAP Concur, which manages expenses, centralizes booking and reservation data, and serves as the overall backbone of your travel planning process. 

Account for cultural differences while networking 

A business travel planner can help employees prepare for international trips by offering insights into their destination's culture. An understanding of culture and etiquette can help your team feel comfortable on their trip. Of course, many international businesspeople will not expect visitors to understand their cultural practices. However, preparing travelers for the host country's customs can set the stage for success and help them build rapport with local partners during the journey. 

Preparations can include researching the destination's business culture practices and confirming your findings with people in that country or employees who went there before. 

Plan for delays, cancelations, and other unexpected events 

The unexpected can happen during business trips. 1-2% of flights get canceled, and 20-25% are delayed by more than 15 minutes. One such incident could throw off an entire itinerary, leaving the travelers scrambling to get back on schedule. 

Business travel planning involves preparing for these situations. Contingencies can be helpful, and you should also always purchase travel insurance. These policies can include coverage for lost baggage and illnesses, as well. 

Your travel policy should include a set of steps travelers can take if they encounter problems. You should give them information about who to contact, where to go, and resources they can use. 

In almost all cases, a cloud-based travel management platform is invaluable for changing plans, sharing information, and staying in contact during crises. 

Use SAP Concur for travel planning 

As a business travel planner, you have to juggle many different tasks. SAP Concur allows you to put the most important aspects of managing corporate travel, from budgeting to booking to expense tracking, on one platform. You can also look to us to provide valuable insights as you try to plan your management strategies in the evolving travel marketplace. 

Visit us to experience an interactive demo, or connect with us to learn more. 

Step-By-Step Guide For Business Travel Arrangements

Home » B2B » Step-By-Step Guide For Business Travel Arrangements

When making business travel arrangements, the convenience and safety of business travelers are of prime importance besides the productivity of business travel. Appropriate and careful travel arrangements ensure a better travel experience. A business trip is a mission-critical activity with specific business objectives. The organization invests money in business travel to generate higher ROI. However, a lack of proper arrangements and planning can cause frustration and loss of funds, impacting the success of a business trip. Keep reading to learn practical tips for making travel arrangements for a business trip.

Business travel arrangement essentials

1. prepare an essential itinerary.

The essential itinerary outlines the fundamental aspects of business trips. These may include meeting locations, time slots, and business meetings or seminar dates. The ‘essential’ itinerary is a basic overview of the business trip to help you book transportation and accommodation and arrange local transport for ground transportation.

2. Make travel arrangements

The business traveler should explore the travel options after creating an essential itinerary. The following steps are crucial to make business travel arrangements.

3. Implement travel policy guidelines

A travel policy helps business travelers stick to the travel budget while making travel arrangements for a business trip. The policy sets limits on airfare and hotel accommodation for different employee levels. Business travelers should comply with the travel policy directives without fail.

4. Get the most profitable deals on travel

Checking different travel suppliers and negotiating for the best travel deals is necessary to curtail travel costs without impacting the travel experience. Employees can also use reward points and other discounts to minimize travel costs.

5. Check flight times

Business travel requires the employee to reach the destination at the right time. Knowing convenient times of flights is critical for a successful business trip. Choosing early morning flights helps you avoid traffic snarls while reaching the airport from your home.

6. Focus on being fresh for the business meeting

Arrange your travel by selecting a flight that allows you some rest before the first assignment. Reaching the destination early is crucial to reach the venue on time.

7. Find affordable and reliable local transport

Cab services or public transportation are suitable for ground transport. Select the one which saves money and helps you reach the meeting venue on time.

8. Book your travel with suitable travel suppliers

You are in a better position after in-depth research to book travel. Check with the travel suppliers and book your journey tickets by considering the date and time of the flight. You can fine-tune the essential itinerary by adding journey dates, flight details, boarding details, arrival time, and the contact number of the cab service for ground transport. Early booking will ensure better deals. Consider booking refundable tickets as business travel plans are likely to change.

9. Book your accommodations

Business travel comprises transportation and accommodation. Therefore, researching your options for booking accommodation is necessary to get the best deals on rooms and amenities. Remember these tips for making business travel arrangements for your accommodation.

• Check hotel tariffs: Leverage hotel booking services to get the best room rates and amenities for a comfortable stay after a hectic schedule.
• Focus on location: Choosing a hotel near the city center or the convention venue is the right approach to reduce the cost of local transportation and save time.
• Check cancellation policy: Book, a hotel that allows cancellation of booking without charging heft cancellation fees

10. Create a detailed itinerary

It is time to prepare a final itinerary after you have clarity about your travel plans and bookings. Use an online travel management platform to track your itinerary with ease. Do share the itinerary with your near ones to let them know your whereabouts on specific dates.

11. Plan for travel expense reimbursement

Storing the receipts for expenses during the business trip is crucial to claim reimbursement. The organization can benefit from the tax rebate on tour expenses. Online travel management solutions enable the scanning and storing of payment receipts on the go. It saves you the hassle of keeping paper receipts.

12. Get your travel documents in order

Business trips involving overseas travel require multiple documents besides a visa and passport. These may be vaccine passes, custom clearance documents, personal ID cards, and other documents according to the immigration rules of the destination country.

13. Make a list of what you’ll need to bring

Depending on whether the business trip is short or extended, you will require a long list of things to carry with you. These will add to your luggage weight and may impact travel convenience unless you know how to travel lighter and smarter.

Toiletries, casual clothes, formal dresses, shoes, and medicines are vital personal things to carry besides electronic devices like laptops, chargers, and power banks. Choose the right luggage, such as a compact carry-on, to help you travel with only cabin luggage.

Suggested Read: Reasons Why Business Should Use Corporate Travel Technology

Proper business travel arrangements pave the way for a successful and smooth business trip. These tips help plan business travel systematically. Many forward-thinking organizations allow employees to use online business travel management solutions like Paxes, making travel arrangements for a business trip free from the complexities of finding the best travel deals. These platforms enable self-booking with access to GDS and NDC airlines. Employees can create and submit expense reports through the online platform that integrates with expense management solutions.

Business Travel Arrangement FAQs

What is business travel.

Any travel with a specific business purpose, like business expansion, client servicing, project work, or trade-fair participation, is business travel.

What does GDS stand for?

GDS in the travel industry stands for Global Distribution Service, an advanced interface between travel suppliers and bookers.

How can an organization curtail travel expenditures?

Implementation of an effective corporate travel policy helps organizations save on travel costs. The travel policy enables employees to book travel through specific travel suppliers offering the best travel deals.

Is it possible to book car rentals while booking an air ticket?

Several airlines allow access to car rentals through their websites for simultaneously booking ground transport and air travel.

Pratyush is a traveling enthusiast who always looks for innovations in business travel management. He has 5 years of experience writing content on corporate travel management and working closely with expert business travel facilitators.

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The Top 8 Business Travel Management Tools

• Written by Lyle Del Vecchio
• 18 min read

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Business travel management involves planning, booking, and managing all aspects of corporate travel, including flights, accommodations, ground transportation, and expenses.
• Corporate travel management software streamlines business travel processes by automating tasks such as booking flights, tracking expenses, and providing insights into travel spending patterns.

Effective business travel management can lead to cost savings, increased employee satisfaction, and improved productivity.

• The right travel management solution can help ensure compliance with company policies, provide valuable insights into travel spending, and streamline the entire travel process.

Business travel can be both exciting and exhausting. Between booking flights, finding accommodations, and managing expenses, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But fear not, weary traveler!

The right business travel management tools can save you time, money, and countless headaches.

In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 tools every business traveler should have in their arsenal and answer some common questions about business travel management.

What Is Business Travel Management?

Business travel management refers to planning, booking, and managing all aspects of corporate travel. This includes arranging flights, accommodations, ground transportation, and managing expenses related to business trips.

A well-managed business travel program ensures employees have a seamless travel experience while controlling costs.

How Do You Manage a Company’s Travel?

Managing company travel involves setting clear travel policies, selecting preferred vendors, implementing a centralized booking system, and using a robust expense management tool.

Regularly reviewing and analyzing travel data can also help identify areas for improvement and cost savings.

This brings us to the question, should you allow your employees to handle their own travel arrangements?

Allowing employees to handle their own corporate travel booking can have several advantages:

Flexibility and Autonomy

Allowing employees to book their own business travel gives them the flexibility and autonomy to choose travel arrangements that suit their preferences and needs. This can lead to higher employee satisfaction and a sense of ownership over their travel plans.

Time and Cost Efficiency

Employees may better understand their travel requirements and preferences, which can result in quicker decision-making and efficient bookings. Allowing employees to take charge of their travel arrangements reduces the burden on travel managers or administrative staff, freeing them up to focus on other important tasks.

Cost Control

When employees are responsible for booking their own travel, they tend to be more mindful of costs. They can search for the best deals, compare prices, and choose options aligned with budget guidelines. This level of cost-consciousness can contribute to overall travel cost savings for the company.

Empowerment and Trust

Allowing employees to book their own business travel demonstrates trust and empowers them to make decisions in line with company policies. It promotes a sense of responsibility and accountability, fostering a positive work environment.

Personalized Preferences

Employees may have specific preferences regarding travel arrangements, such as seat preferences, hotel amenities, or airline loyalty programs. Allowing them to book their own travel enables them to customize their travel experience and may contribute to their overall comfort and productivity during business trips.

However, it is essential to establish clear guidelines and policies to ensure travel policy compliance and manage potential risks.

Travel Policy

Have a well-defined travel and expense policy that outlines guidelines for bookings, preferred vendors, budget limits, and reimbursement procedures.

Communicate the policy clearly to employees to ensure they understand the expectations and limitations. It should clearly outline what expenses are reimbursable, whether or not they can use their personal credit card or will be required to use a company card, etc.

Approval Process

Implement an approval process to ensure that travel bookings meet company requirements and align with the travel policy.

This allows managers to review and authorize travel requests, ensuring consistency and control over travel arrangements.

Expense Reporting

Set up a standardized expense reporting process to ensure accurate and timely expense reimbursements .

Provide employees with clear instructions on submitting expense claims and the necessary supporting documentation. You should also consider introducing a dedicated app for travel and expense management to automate expense management .

Communication and Support

Maintain open lines of communication with employees to address any questions or concerns they may have about booking their own travel.

Offer support and assistance when needed, such as providing resources for finding the best deals or offering guidance on travel-related matters.

What Is Corporate Travel Management Software?

Corporate travel management software is designed to streamline and automate various aspects of business travel management.

These tools can help book flights and accommodations, track expenses, and provide insights into travel spending patterns.

They can also integrate with other systems, such as accounting or HR software, for seamless data transfer and workflow management.

What Is the Difference Between Business Travel and Leisure Travel?

Business travel refers to trips taken for work-related purposes, such as attending meetings, conferences, or visiting clients.

On the other hand, leisure travel is taken for personal enjoyment and relaxation.

While both types of travel involve similar activities (booking flights, accommodations, etc.), business travel typically has additional requirements, such as expense tracking and adherence to corporate travel program policies.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to the best travel management software. Consider how often people travel, the types of travel, etc., when making your choice.

What Are the Benefits of Business Travel Management?

By streamlining the booking process, enforcing travel policies, and automating expense reporting, companies can reduce travel-related stress for employees and ensure they have a positive travel experience.

How Do You Find a Corporate Travel Management App?

When searching for a corporate travel management app, consider factors such as ease of use, integration capabilities, customization options, pricing, and customer support.

Researching online reviews and seeking recommendations from colleagues or industry peers can also help identify the best app for your needs.

Additionally, many corporate travel management apps offer free trials that can provide an opportunity to explore the features and determine if it is a good fit.

Once you’ve identified a travel management app, ensuring all stakeholders are on board with its implementation is important.

Create usage guidelines for employees and ensure everyone understands the policies for booking flights, hotels, etc.

This helps with risk management to ensure employees aren’t booking personal travel on your dime or spending excess on car rentals, meals, and entertainment.

How Do You Book Flights for Business Travel?

Booking flights for business travel can be done through a corporate travel management tool, which centralizes bookings and approvals while providing personalized recommendations based on traveler preferences.

Alternatively, flights can be booked directly through airlines or third-party platforms, though this may not offer the same level of control and oversight as a dedicated tool.

What Is a Corporate Travel App?

A mobile corporate travel app is designed to streamline and simplify booking and managing business travel.

These apps often provide features such as real-time flight alerts, itinerary organization, and expense tracking, making them an essential tool for busy professionals on the go.

The Top 8 Business Travel Management Tools: In-Depth

Planergy for business travel and expense management.

Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without us mentioning our own tool.

With our business travel and expense management software, you can easily track and manage employee travel, allowable expenses for reimbursement, create expense reports, and more.

Our travel and expense management system works hand-in-hand with our procurement software to give finance teams a comprehensive control and oversight on all spend management.

TripIt: Your Personal Itinerary Wizard

TripIt is a comprehensive itinerary organizer that consolidates all your travel plans in one place, making it easy to access and share with colleagues.

The app also sends real-time flight alerts to keep you informed about any changes to your flights.

Additionally, TripIt offers helpful features such as maps and directions, ensuring you can easily navigate your destination. With its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with your email, TripIt makes managing your travel plans a breeze.

TravelPerk: One-Stop-Shop for Travel Bookings and Approvals

TravelPerk is a comprehensive solution for booking and managing corporate travel. The platform centralizes bookings and approvals, streamlining the process and saving time.

With transparent pricing and flexible options, TravelPerk ensures you get the best value for your travel budget.

The robust reporting dashboard provides insights into travel spending patterns, enabling you to identify areas for improvement and cost savings.

TravelPerk’s user-friendly interface makes managing all aspects of your business travel easy.

Airbnb for Work: Unconventional Accommodations for Business Travelers

Airbnb for Work offers unique accommodations tailored for business travel, providing a more comfortable and personalized experience than traditional hotels.

The platform simplifies group bookings, making coordinating travel arrangements for your team easy.

Additionally, Airbnb for Work offers convenient workspaces and meeting rooms that can be booked on demand. The platform also features experiences and team-building activities, enhancing your trip and promoting team bonding.

PackPoint: Handy Tool To Ensure You Pack Everything You Need

Packpoint is a handy packing app that can simplify preparations for your business travel by ensuring you have all the items you need for your trip.

By avoiding forgetting essential items, devices, or documents you can avoid any last-minute panic, cost incurred, or time wasted trying to replace them during your trip before your presentation or meeting.

Not having to worry about missing items will avoid disruption to your schedule and ensure you can perform your tasks effectively.

Packpoint will even make suggestions based on your destination, the weather forecast, and the activities you have planned.

Egencia: Comprehensive Corporate Travel Management

Egencia is a complete corporate travel management platform that offers a user-friendly mobile app for booking and managing trips.

The tool provides 24/7 customer support and travel assistance, ensuring you have access to help whenever you need it.

With its robust features and comprehensive approach to travel management, Egencia makes it easy to stay organized and in control of your business travel.

SAP Concur: Integrated Travel, Expense, and Invoice Management

SAP Concur is a powerful platform that combines travel, expense, and invoice management in one centralized solution.

The tool allows for seamless data transfer and workflow management, ensuring all aspects of your travel process are integrated and efficient.

Customizable policy enforcement and approval workflows help ensure compliance with company policies, while detailed analytics and insights into travel spending enable you to make informed decisions about your travel program.

Google Travel: Plan and Track Trips Easily

Google Travel , previously known as Google Trips, helps you plan trips and will centralize all your travel information by linking it to your Google account.

By guiding you through the process and identifying the most useful information and best offers it simplifies the planning process and keeps everything in one place.

Not just for business travel, Google Travel is equally useful for leisure and family trips.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are business travel management tools.

Business travel management tools are software applications and platforms that help organizations and individuals streamline and optimize their travel planning, booking, and expense management processes.

How Can Business Travel Management Tools Benefit My Organization?

These tools can save time, enhance productivity, improve cost control, and ensure compliance with travel policies. They provide a centralized platform for managing travel-related tasks, such as booking flights, tracking expenses, and creating itineraries.

Are These Tools Suitable for Small Businesses As Well?

Absolutely! Many of these tools cater to businesses of all sizes, including small and medium enterprises. They offer scalable solutions that can be tailored to your organization’s specific needs.

Can I Integrate These Tools With Our Existing Systems?

Most business travel management tools offer integration capabilities with popular travel booking platforms, accounting software, ERPs, and other relevant software. This ensures seamless data flow and minimizes manual effort.

Are These Tools Secure?

Reputable travel management tools employ robust security measures to protect your data. They utilize encryption, secure connections, and adhere to industry standards to safeguard sensitive information.

How Do I Choose the Right Tool for My Organization?

Consider your specific travel management needs, budget, scalability, integration capabilities, and user-friendliness. It’s also beneficial to read reviews, request demos, and evaluate multiple options before deciding.

Simplify Your Corporate Travel Expense Management With These Tools

Efficiently managing business travel is crucial for organizations of all sizes. From itinerary creation and business expense tracking to policy compliance and analytics, you have everything you need to stay on top of business travel.

By leveraging these tools, you can optimize your travel planning, save time, reduce costs, and ensure a seamless travel experience for your team.

Embrace the power of technology and make your business travel management a breeze with these innovative tools.

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5 Factors to Consider when Planning Business Trips – 2024 Guide

Whether you are new to corporate travel or an experienced campaigner there are plenty of things to consider when planning a business trip.

From a work standpoint, you have to understand the reasons and priorities for the visit and the benefit it will bring to the company.

And, of course, there is the logistical side of things. If you are away for a long trip to the capital, for instance, serviced apartments in London can help with choosing accommodations and offer more comfort than a budget hotel.

Taking into consideration the price and convenience of the lodgings to make sure you are close enough to conventions or offices is one aspect, here are some other things to consider when planning a business trip.

1. Travel arrangements

The accommodation is the only area to consider, of equal importance is travel arrangements, so first and foremost whether it is your name being put down or a travel manager arranging on behalf of someone else make sure you are familiar with your company’s corporate travel policy.

It is not just the travel to a country or a venue to think about, but also how will you get around different places when on the trip itself. Make sure you have flights and cars booked well in advance when possible to help things run smoothly and also take out added stress and anxiety caused by travel.

Think too about other work essentials, such as whether the trains, planes, or boats you will be traveling on have Wi-Fi to allow you to work on the move or plug sockets to charge phones and laptops.

In October 2024, it was reported around four in 10 businesses are aiming to ramp up business travel as the world continues to move towards pre-pandemic ways of working, so it has never been more important to be on the ball with your travel arrangements.

2. Itinerary

They say chance favors the prepared mind, and certain preparation is key for the smooth running of a business trip.

A comprehensive itinerary, whether for a single day, a week, or longer, is essential. Knowing what is going on each day allows you to use your time accordingly, throw in any downtime and react to unforeseen circumstances in a more timely manner.

Furthermore, a good itinerary allows a better understanding of the likely costs involved with the trip, which means excitement can build ahead of your journey and relieves some of the stresses around work travel.

Nearly everyone in the UK, not just businesses, has been affected in some way by the cost-of-living crisis, with inflation still at 10.7 percent as recently as November.

So, rarely has it been so important to be meticulous with your budget when planning a business trip, and that does not just involve taking into account the cost of travel and accommodation.

There are considerations needed for food and refreshments, any potential entertainment for clients, other necessities that may arise, and replacements for any damaged or lost technical equipment such as a laptop or phone chargers.

Before heading off on your business trip, make sure you have adequately budgeted for the expense of your visit.

4. Health and Safety: Taking Care of Yourself

It is important to remember that health and safety should be the primary concern. By taking steps to protect your physical health, you will be able to optimize your productivity while at work and remain alert throughout the trip.

Before you go on any business trip, it is important to research the health concerns in the area where you are traveling and take precautions accordingly. Check if there are any national or international vaccinations that might be required before entering the country. Also, research local medical facilities so that medical help can be obtained quickly in case of emergencies.

When traveling with a laptop or other electronic items, strategies must be developed in order to guard against theft or loss of valuable information.

Security measures such as password protection should be established wherever possible to ensure that confidential data remains secure. Also, obtain detailed information from your hotel about safety precautions such as locks and alarms for rooms and security systems within the property’s premises.

It is also essential to pay attention to physical well-being during business trips by paying special attention to diet and exercise plans. Eating healthy meals always is key but when traveling this can prove difficult due to unfamiliarity with the local cuisine or limited choices at airports or hotels.

To accommodate dietary needs, make sure not only to stock up on snacks from home but stocking up on some non-perishable foods as well which do not require refrigeration.

Additionally, take time during each day of travel for physical activity such as yoga or light stretching; this will help manage fatigue which can easily accumulate while sitting for hours every day in airplanes or trains between meetings. Remember that remaining safe and being alert is crucial when engaging in international business activities so plan accordingly and stay informed!

5. Post-trip Reflection

Although the primary goal of it is to attend meetings and conferences for the purpose of generating more business, it’s important to take some time afterward to reflect on your experience. Even if the trip was a success, it’s invaluable to have an honest discussion about potential areas for improvement as well as what worked well.

Once you’ve returned from your trip, assess how successful it was in terms of your overall goals. Begin by reflecting on the strength of the meeting or conference and analyze how the opposition received your ideas or propositions. Consider any feedback you received and take into account any new contacts you made.

It’s also important to appraise if conversations were conducted in a professional manner if any items were left unresolved and whether any opportunities were missed during the course of events. If there were any miscommunications that hindered or delayed progress in relation to goals set out before leaving, make sure they are identified and addressed as soon as possible.

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Planning to combine business and leisure travel? You’re not alone

On a Sunday in late January, Ms Melinda Buchmann, who lives in Florida and supervises client relations for RevShoppe, a 30-person remote company advising organisations on sales techniques and strategies, arrived in Banff, Alberta, to help set up a four-day company meeting.

On the event’s last day, her husband Josh, a director of strategic partnerships for delivery company DoorDash, who also works remotely, joined her. They spent two leisurely days hiking in Banff National Park and visiting Lake Louise.

“I take advantage, because I don’t know when I’m going to return,” Ms Buchmann said of the decision to combine downtime with a business trip.

As post-Covid-19 work life has changed, and arrangements now include full-time office attendance as well as hybrid and remote work, so, too, has business travel.

The phenomenon known as bleisure, or blended business and leisure travel, was initially embraced largely by digital nomads. But such combined travel is now also popular with people outside that group.

Allied Market Research, a subsidiary of Allied Analytics, based in Portland, Oregon, estimated that the bleisure travel market was US$315.3 billion (S$429 billion) in 2022, and would reach US$731.4 billion by 2032.

As employees increasingly add leisure time to their business trips, firms are struggling to determine where their legal obligation to protect staff from harm – their so-called duty of care – begins and ends.

Workers may think that because their trip started with business, they will get all the help they need if something goes wrong on the leisure end. Instead, they should generally consider the leisure part of a trip as a regular holiday where they cover all expenses and contingencies.

Companies are responsible for knowing where their staff are during a business trip, covering expenses if an accident or emergency occurs, securing new lodging if a hotel is damaged or even swopping out a broken-down rental car. Still, it is not entirely clear if that coverage ends completely after the conference or the last client meeting.

Companies recognise that threats are rising, said Mr Robert Cole, a senior research analyst focusing on lodging and leisure travel at Phocuswright, a market research company. They are trying to figure out how to take care of a valuable company resource – the employee – without leaving themselves open to financial risk or potential litigation.

 Mr Nikolaos Gkolfinopoulos, head of tourism at ICF, a consulting and technology services company in Reston, Virginia, wrote in an e-mail: “Crafting a comprehensive policy that balances business objectives, employee well-being and legal considerations can be challenging.”

Employees may be on their own without realising it and may be surprised by out-of-pocket expenses if they require hospital care abroad or evacuation, said Ms Suzanne Morrow, chief executive of InsureMyTrip, an online insurance travel comparison site in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Ms Morrow added that medical coverage provided by a company “is generally only for the dates of the actual business trip abroad”. If travellers are extending the trip for personal travel, “they would want to secure emergency medical coverage for that additional time abroad”.

Employers and employees are left to figure out when the business portion of the trip ends and the leisure part begins, a significant detail if an employee has a medical emergency. “Where does the corporation liability end?” said Ms Kathy Bedell, senior vice-president at travel management company BCD Travel.

Companies have varying policies to deal with the new travel amalgam. RevShoppe CEO Patricia McLaren, based in Austin, Texas, said the company provides flexible travel options and allows staff to work anywhere they choose.

Even so, there are constraints. The company requires all employees, including executives, to sign liability and insurance waivers when they are on a voluntary company-sponsored trip, such as an off-site meeting. Such waivers typically place responsibility on staff for their own well-being. If they bring someone, they are responsible for that person’s expenses.

Staff are responsible for requesting the paid time off and notifying their managers of their whereabouts, although that part is not a requirement. Managers have to ensure adequate staffing, Ms McLaren said.

Elsewhere, employees may not bother to mention the leisure portion of their trip.

Mr Eliot Lees, a vice-president and managing director at ICF, said he had been on trips as a child with his parents when they combined business and leisure. His parents were academics, who would piggyback holidays onto conferences.

Now he does the same. “I don’t think I ever asked for approval,” he said. (ICF has no formal business-leisure travel policy. It is allowed as part of personal time off.)

After a conference in the Netherlands in 2023, Mr Lees spent four days hiking in the northern part of the country.

“I go anywhere, and take more risks than I should,” he said, adding that he did not carry personal travel or accident insurance.

Any nonchalance may quickly evaporate if a threat emerges. Security experts say even low-risk locations can become high-risk for a few days or weeks of the year.

“Companies are concerned about losing visibility into a traveller’s whereabouts if they booked flights and hotels outside their corporate travel management company,” Mr Benjamin Thorne, senior intelligence manager in London for Crisis24, a subsidiary of GardaWorld, wrote in an e-mail.

“The company may think the traveller is in one city when, in reality, they could have booked a holiday package to another nearby city. This lack of visibility by the company makes it difficult to support travellers when a disaster occurs.”

He also raised the possibility that “a traveller with bleisure travel reservations and expectations may find their work trip cancelled due to changes in the risk environment or company policy, disrupting their leisure plans”.

Will a company step in off-hours if there is a problem?

“That depends on how you are booked,” said Phocuswright’s Mr Cole. A rule of thumb is, the farther you get from corporate control, the greater the grey area gets.

Half of GoldSpring Consulting’s clients take the responsibility for the entire trip, said Mr Will Tate, a partner at the consultancy based in Cross Roads, Texas, and a certified public accountant. They do not want the reputational risk. The other half say: “The business trip ended Friday. That’s when we end our duty of care.”

Some companies are trying to define and narrow the grey area. “If you are clearly on personal time, there is no legal requirement for your employer to provide for you,” said Ms Nicole Page, a lawyer whose practice includes employment law at Reavis Page Jump in New York.

Uber provides staff with advisories before a trip, travel assessments, safety tips while travelling and emergency travel assistance, including medical aid, airport travel support, urgent and emergency assistance, and lost or stolen personal property insurance whether they are on business or pleasure travel or a combination.

At DoorDash, Mr Chris Cherry, head of global safety and security, wrote in an e-mail that “while personal travel is not something we track, we have received requests to extend our travel support capabilities to personal travel”.

He said that in those cases, the company has manually added employee leisure itineraries to its travel risk management system and “provided the same level of overwatch that we do for regular business travel”.

The Buchmanns plan to travel in April to Barcelona, Spain, for the McDonald’s Worldwide Convention. DoorDash will have a booth, and Mr Buchmann will work on the exhibit floor and also entertain clients.

Ms Buchmann will accompany him. She plans to go sightseeing in the morning, and work in the afternoons and evenings (Barcelona time). She will also take three days of paid time off and has shared her plans with Ms McLaren, the RevShoppe CEO.

The couple will stay a day after the conference and plan to visit the Dalí Theatre and Museum in Figueres, Spain.

“I’m sure there will be no shortage of tapas and window shopping along way,” Mr Buchmann said. He expects to be back at work the next Monday. NYTIMES

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Spin the wheel now

Want to see the next total solar eclipse in 2026? An expert recommends booking travel now.

• 2026 will be Europe's first total solar eclipse in 27 years.
• Travelers worldwide will likely head to Spain, Iceland, and Greenland for the event.
• A hotel expert encouraged travelers to start planning and booking their trips now.

It'll be two decades before the next total solar eclipse hits the US .

Another option: hop on a plane to Europe and turn the 2026 total solar eclipse into a viewing vacation.

Eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler at GreatAmericanEclipse.com told Space.com that up to 3.7 million people likely traveled for the solar eclipse on Monday.

HotelPlanner's chief communication officer, Philip Ballard, told Business Insider that the eclipse was a major revenue generator for many cities. For places like Austin, Texas, and Rochester, New York, it could have created $1 billion in revenue, Vox reported.

"I would say the total solar eclipse has become a global phenomenon," Ballard said.

Ballard added that the next solar eclipse , which will pass through Iceland, Greenland, and Spain on August 12, 2026, could result in similar tourism and revenue influxes.

And if travelers are considering a trip to Europe for the solar eclipse, Ballard recommends planning your trip now.

Determine your eclipse viewing destination

According to Space.com , 2026 will be Europe's first total solar eclipse in 27 years. Its path will go through Greenland, parts of western Iceland, and northern Spain.

Choosing where to watch the eclipse will be a tough and important decision for travelers.

Iceland and Greenland have some positives. These regions will experience longer totality times, so viewers can watch the eclipse longer. Plus, the sun will be higher in the sky, so finding a spot to watch the eclipse will be less challenging, Space.com reported.

The downside is that these regions are more likely to be cloudy, according to the outlet.

Related stories

While parts of Spain are likely to offer clearer skies, the eclipse's timing will be shorter and closer to the horizon, which means travelers will need to plan and track down a viewing location with unobstructed views of the western horizon, Space.com reported.

Regardless of the destination, according to the outlet, one bonus is that the strongest meteor shower in the Northern Hemisphere will happen the following night, so travelers can pack two events into one trip.

Book flights and hotels far in advance

Ballard encouraged people to book their hotels in their destination of choice as far in advance as possible.

"You should start looking now and booking hotels now because those cities in the path are already going to be at peak season," Ballard said.

Ballard said it's similar to when a Super Bowl city is determined or a Taylor Swift tour date is announced — you immediately see spikes in bookings. He predicts hotel occupancy rates will hit near-record highs, and room prices may double around the solar eclipse date.

Ballard's general rule of thumb is to book international travel at least three months in advance, but since this is such an anticipated event, booking earlier is smart. His advice is to start discussing plans with friends and family. If you decide on a destination, book a refundable room to keep your options open if plans change.

Regarding purchasing a plane ticket, a study from Expedia states that international travel's sweet spot is at least six months in advance.

According to Expedia, travelers who book six months in advance save an average of 10% more than travelers booking within two months or less.

Skip the hassle of planning altogether and book a solar eclipse tour

Another option is to let a tour operator do the work for you. A handful of tour companies have seen the increased interest in the solar eclipse and launched tours designed around the event.

These tours will have predetermined locations to view the eclipse, hotel blocks reserved, and itineraries highlighting both the region and the eclipse.

However, these can sell out quickly. For example, Space and Telescope created an 11-day tour of Spain around viewing the 2026 solar eclipse. The tour has already sold out as of Wednesday, and the waitlist is full.

Other operators, such as Wilderness Travel and Eclipse Traveler, have similar itineraries for the total eclipse in 2026.

Watch: A small Australian town was treated to a rare hybrid solar eclipse

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Road Trips: How to Plan an Accessible Getaway

By Syren Nagakyrie

Planning an accessible road trip is getting a little easier for people with disabilities. There are more resources created by and for the disability community, and the tourism industry is starting to recognize the value of accessible travel. As a disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent person, I take road trips every year and have learned some tips and tricks along the way.

Renting a vehicle

Most major car companies offer adaptive driving devices for their vehicles at no additional cost. Enterprise , for example, offers hand controls, left foot accelerators, pedal extenders and spinner knobs to facilitate steering. Budget can provide hand controls, spinner knobs, a panoramic mirror, swivel seats and transfer boards. Be prepared to request adaptive devices at least three business days in advance.

For a wheelchair-accessible van with a ramp or a lift, rent from a mobility company like BraunAbility , one of the largest builders of wheelchair-accessible vans in the country, with rentals at many locations. MobilityWorks , an accessible-vehicle and adaptive-equipment dealer, has rental locations in 34 states. AccessibleGO , which offers a one-stop shop for adapted rental cars and wheelchair-accessible vans, has agreements with 100 wheelchair van rental locations nationwide; request a quote on their website. For accessibleGO’s rental cars, you can request hand controls and a spinner knob at checkout.

Route planning

You can use Google Maps, Waze and MapQuest for initial accessibility research using photos and street view. Google Maps provides directions for some wheelchair-accessible pedestrian and transit routes.

Sites such as Roadtrippers and Furkot can plot an entire itinerary. While these websites are not disability specific, they are invaluable tools. (Roadtrippers does have a wheelchair-accessible check box in the search function.) You can filter by types of destinations such as national parks or museums, and search for hotels and campgrounds. Furkot allows you to input how long you want to drive each day, whether you want to travel on Interstate highways or take more scenic roads. The app will determine the best route and length of time between stops, and suggest where to stay overnight.

Finding lodging

While hotels and other accommodations are required to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act, many hotels do not meet all accessibility needs. Most of the booking sites list hotels with accessible rooms for those with mobility, hearing and vision needs, but this information is not always verified. Do additional research on review sites and look for photos. Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton and Fairmont hotels offer allergy-friendly and scent-free rooms in some locations. Call the hotel to verify accessibility and to make sure a specific room is reserved for you.

Vacation rentals are typically not required to be A.D.A. compliant, but some do provide accessibility information. Airbnb recently rolled out an adapted category with accessibility search features and homes that have been scanned for accessibility. Review photos and contact the host for more information. Some hosts will make accommodations, such as changing the cleaning supplies or shifting furniture, but document your request using the in-app messaging system so that customer service can help if you run into issues.

Wheel the World is an accessible travel agency offering bookings at over 3,000 verified accessible hotels in the United States. The hotels have been reviewed in person by trained assessors; only those that meet the criteria are listed. Sign up as a disabled traveler or a companion and complete a personal profile that includes options for a variety of disabilities and accessibility needs. The site will provide listings that match your profile with partial, adequate and outstanding match options.

Food and medication

There are a variety of options to keep food or medication cold while traveling. Electric coolers can plug into your vehicle’s 12-volt outlet, but pay attention to the type of cooling mechanism — the less expensive versions are usually thermoelectric and will cool only to about 30 degrees below ambient temperature (if it is 70 degrees in the car, it will cool to 40 degrees). Compressor coolers are more expensive but maintain normal refrigerated temperatures.

Many hotels provide mini-refrigerators. When you know you will be stopping somewhere with a fridge almost every night, layer large ice packs and supplies in a cooler, then top them with another insulating layer like a cooling bag. This keeps everything cold for a couple of days at a time.

It’s also a good idea to travel with a single-burner cooktop — electric to use inside, or propane to use at rest areas and campgrounds — and a camp mess kit so that you can safely cook meals.

Some of the best apps to find food, restaurants and grocery stores that accommodate dietary needs are Fig for allergy-specific options, Happy Cow for vegan-friendly options and Find Me Gluten Free for celiac-safe spots. Add your favorite options to the route-planning app so that you know where to stop.

Finding activities

In addition to the apps mentioned in the route-planning section, state and local tourism organizations are good sources for accessible destinations.

National parks and monuments, which are required to meet federal accessibility guidelines, typically have visitor centers and recreation sites with accessible features. Each park website has information, as well as programs and services within the park. While accessibility varies, you can usually find information on wheelchair-accessible trails and campsites, tactile and audio features, assistive listening devices, and American Sign Language interpreters.

At state parks, accessibility features may not be consistent, but you can usually find some information on each park’s website.

Apps like AllTrails list wheelchair-friendly trails across the country, but the information may not be verified, so contact the park or land manager for verification. Among the parks with notable accessible trails are Redwood National and State Parks, North Cascades National Park, Badlands National Park, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park .

Syren Nagakyrie, the founder of the nonprofit Disabled Hikers and the author of “The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Western Washington and Oregon” and “The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Northern California,” among other guidebooks, leads group hikes and conducts assessments throughout the United States.

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

Turn Your Curiosity Into Discovery

Latest facts.

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40 facts about elektrostal.

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

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Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.

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A cruise vacation can take much of the stress out of planning a vacation. With a pre-set itinerary on the high seas, you don't have to worry about how you're getting to your destination and what you're going to do there. However, an unexpected emergency can take the wind out of your sails and money out of your travel budget. So you'll want to ensure you have the best cruise insurance plan that won't leave you high and dry in an emergency.

Best Cruise Insurance Companies

Best Overall: Nationwide Travel Insurance

Best for affordability: AXA Assistance USA

Best for seniors: Seven Corners Travel Insurance

Best for expensive trips: HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance

Best for exotic locations: World Nomads Travel Insurance

Best overall: Nationwide

Nationwide Travel Insurance  is a long-standing and reputable brand within the insurance marketplace that offers cruise insurance plans with solid coverage and reasonable rates.

It has three cruise insurance options: Universal, Choice, and Luxury. The Nationwide Choice plan, for example, offers $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and $500,000 in emergency medical evacuation coverage.

The right plan for you depends on your budget and coverage needs. But each plan offers cruise-specific coverages like ship-based mechanical breakdowns, coverage for missed prepaid excursions if your cruise itinerary changes, and covered service disruptions aboard the cruise ship.

Read our Nationwide Travel Insurance review here.

Best for affordability: AXA

AXA Assistance USA  offers three comprehensive coverage plans: Gold, Silver, and Platinum. Each of these plans offers coverage for issues like missed flights, medical emergencies, lost luggage, and more.

The highest-tier Platinum plan provides $250,000 in medical emergency coverage and $1 million in medical evacuation coverage. The baggage loss coverage is $3,000 per person, and their missed connection coverage is $1,500 per person for cruises and tours.

In addition, travelers can take advantage of AXA's concierge service, which provides an extensive network of international service providers. They'll be able to assist you with things like restaurant reservations and referrals, golf course information, and more. This service could come in handy if you're stopping at a variety of unfamiliar destinations during your cruise.

The coverage limits on AXA's policies are on the higher end compared to other providers. And you can buy coverage for a little as 4% of your trip cost depending on your age, travel destination, and state of residence.

Read our AXA Travel Insurance review here.

Best for seniors: Seven Corners

Seven Corners Travel Insurance lets cruisers enjoy traveling in their golden years with the knowledge they're covered in the event of an accident or emergency. While other providers do offer coverage to those 80+ years old, Seven Corners is known for its affordable premiums while offering above-average medical expenses and medical evacuation coverage limits — two areas of travel insurance coverage that are even more important as we get older.

Seven Corners also offers the option of a preexisting conditions waiver and CFAR insurance at an additional cost, plus "Trip Interruption for Any Reason" coverage, which you won't find on many policies.

You can choose between the Trip Protection Basic or Trip Protection Choice plans, with the higher-tier Choice plan costing more but providing more coverage.

Read our Seven Corners Travel Insurance review here. 

Best for expensive trips: HTH Worldwide

HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance  offers three levels of trip protection: TripProtector Economy, Classic, and Preferred. The higher the tier, the more coverage you'll get for things like baggage delays, trip delays & cancellations, and medical expenses. But their premiums remain reasonable even at the highest tier of coverage.

Not only does the HTH Worldwide Trip Protector Preferred plan offer higher-than-average medical emergency and evacuation coverage limits ($500,000 and $1 million, respectively), but you'll also get a baggage loss coverage limit of $2,000 per person and coverage for trip interruption of up to 200% of the trip cost. You also have the option to add CFAR coverage for an additional cost.

Read our HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance review here.

Best for exotic locations: World Nomads

World Nomads Travel Insurance  has been a top choice for comprehensive travel insurance for many years now. And it's a great option when it comes to cruise coverage, too.

Even the most basic Standard Plan comes with $100,000 in medical emergency coverage and $300,000 in emergency evacuation coverage. And you'll get higher coverage limits with their Premium Plan. Plus, unlike many other providers, World Nomads trip cancellation and emergency medical coverage include COVID-19-related issues.

What sets World Nomads apart from many other insurance companies is that its policies cover 200+ adventure sports. This can be important for adventurous cruisers who plan to take part in activities like jet skiing, scuba diving, or parasailing during their cruise.

Read our World Nomads Travel Insurance review here.

Introduction to Cruise Insurance

Cruise insurance may offer unique coverage like missed port of call and medical evacuation coverage. You might not need the flight protections of a regular travel insurance plan if you're catching a cruise at a port near you, but medical and cancel for any reason coverage could be critical. The best travel insurance plans will provide flexibility to add coverage options to fit your travels needs.

Understanding the Basics of Cruise Insurance

At its core, cruise insurance is your financial lifeboat, designed to protect you from unforeseen events that could disrupt your sea voyage. Whether it's a sudden illness, adverse weather, or other unexpected occurrences, having the right insurance can make a world of difference.

Why Cruise Insurance is Important

Picture this: You're all set for your dream cruise, but a sudden family emergency means you can't set sail. Or worse, you fall ill in the middle of the ocean. Without cruise insurance, you're not just missing out on an adventure, but also facing potentially huge financial losses. That's why securing cruise insurance isn't just recommended; it's a crucial part of your cruise planning.

Types of Cruise Insurance Coverage

Cruise insurance isn't a one-size-fits-all life jacket. There are various types of coverage, each tailored to protect different aspects of your cruise experience.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Coverage

This coverage is like your safety net, catching you financially if you need to cancel your trip last minute or cut it short due to emergencies, be it due to personal, health-related, or even certain work conflicts.

Medical Coverage

Being on a cruise shouldn't mean being adrift from medical care. Medical coverage ensures that if you fall ill or get injured, your medical expenses won't sink your finances.

Emergency Evacuation Coverage

In the rare case that you need to be evacuated from the ship due to a medical emergency or severe weather, this coverage ensures you're not left adrift in a sea of expenses.

Baggage and Personal Effects Coverage

Imagine reaching your dream destination only to find your luggage lost at sea. This coverage ensures that lost, stolen, or damaged baggage doesn't dampen your cruise experience.

Buying Cruise Insurance

Securing the best cruise insurance isn't just about finding the best price; it's about ensuring it covers all your potential needs. 

When to Purchase Cruise Insurance

Timing is everything. Purchasing your insurance soon after booking your cruise can often provide additional benefits and ensure you're covered for any early surprises. As you get closer to your trip your coverage options may get more expensive, and certain providers may not be able to offer you coverage.

How to Find the Best Deals on Cruise Insurance

Keep a lookout for deals, but remember, the cheapest option isn't always the best. Balance cost with coverage, and ensure you're getting the protection you need at a price that doesn't rock your financial boat. A travel insurance comparison site like SquareMouth is a good place to compare multiple quotes from all of the major carriers at once.

How we reviewed cruise insurance plans

When comparing cruise travel insurance providers, we evaluated them based on the following criteria to come up with our list of top picks:

Customer Satisfaction

We look at ratings from JD Power and other industry giants to see where a company ranks in customer satisfaction. We also look at customer review sites like Trustpilot and SquareMouth.

Policy Types

We look at policy types and offerings, from standard travel protections to adventure sports coverage. We look at the amount of insurance offered

Average Premiums

We compare average premiums per trip. Some companies also offer annual plans, and we compare policies accordingly.

Claims Paid

How frequently do companies pay claims easily and quickly? We check customer reviews and other resources to see which companies honor policies most effectively.

We look at the company's overall behavior. Is it operating ethically? Companies can earn additional points for such behaviors.

You can read more about how Business Insider rates insurance here.

How much does insurance cost for a cruise?

As a rule of thumb, you can expect to pay between 5% and 10% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses for cruise insurance coverage. The price will vary depending on factors like your age, your travel destination, and whether you require additional coverage.

When is the best time to buy cruise insurance?

If you're booking a cruise, we recommend purchasing travel insurance when you make your first trip payment. That could be for the cruise itself or an expense like airfare to get you to your cruising destination. This way, if you have to cancel your trip, you'll have the most extended coverage period possible.

Can I buy my own cruise insurance?

You can buy your own cruise insurance that isn't offered directly through the cruise line operator. In fact, this could be a better option if you want coverage for your travel to the cruise's departure point, not just for the cruise itself.

What is the difference between travel insurance and cruise insurance?

The difference between traditional travel insurance and cruise insurance is that cruise insurance offers more specialized coverage, for situations such as missing a departure port and more coverage for medical evacuations, since it's more expensive to evacuate someone at sea than on land. 

Can I claim for missed ports on a cruise?

Most cruise insurance includes coverage for missing a departure port, so you should be able to claim for a missed port. Just make sure you check the details of your policy before you file a claim, and before you travel so you know what compensation you're entitled to.

If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Business Insider on Microsoft Start.

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Next section of Moscow metro Line 11 opens

By Railway Gazette International 2018-02-26T14:55:28+00:00

RUSSIA: Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin opened a 10·5 km metro line on February 26. The line from Delovoy Tsentr to Petrovsky Park with five stations will initially be operated as part of Line 11.

Construction started in November 2011. Later this year the line is due to be extended from Petrovsky Park to Nizhnyaya Maslovka. The northeastern section of Line 11 is scheduled to open next year, with completion of the route in 2023.

When completed, Line 11 would form a 69 km ring. This would incorporate the existing 3·3 km line between Kashirskaya and Kakhovskaya. The Delovoy Tsentr – Khoroshyovskaya section would then be operated as a branch, before becoming part of the future of Line 13 in 2025.

• Urban transport projects

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Moscow metro expansion funding announced

2019-12-04T10:25:00Z By Metro Report International

The funding covers several projects, including Line 11. RUSSIA: The Moscow city authorities have announced plans to invest around 700bn roubles in metro projects in 2020-22, with majority of this funding to go towards network expansion. The funding package includes completion of the 69 km circular Line ...

Moscow metro reaches Khovrino

2018-01-03T11:10:00Z By Railway Gazette International

RUSSIA: Line 2 of the Moscow metro was extended by 2·9 km on December 31, with the opening of a northern extension from Rechnoy Vokzal to Khovrino. Construction started in 2014, with Stroygazconsulting acting as main contractor. Khovrino station was built by SGK Avtostrada and Mostotryad-114, and is 14 ...

Moscow metro Line 8 extension opens

2017-03-16T14:25:42Z By Railway Gazette International

RUSSIA: Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin opened an extension of the western section of metro Line 8 on March 16. The 7·3 km southwestern extension from Park Pobedy to Ramenki adds three stations. Construction of the extension started in April 2013, and test runs commenced on December 30 2016. Already ...

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MDOT launching public survey to collect travel data vital to transportation planning in the state

April 15, 2024

Fast facts:

• MDOT is launching a household travel survey, MI Travel Counts, this week.
• Randomly selected households in Michigan will have the opportunity to participate via smartphone application, web or telephone.
• Data collected from this survey will provide information on how travel behavior has changed over the past 10 years and inform forecasts to help shape Michigan's transportation system.

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is kicking off a household travel survey that will provide information necessary to set transportation priorities for the next 20 years. Starting April 15, randomly selected households across Michigan will have the opportunity to provide details regarding how they travel.

The survey, MI Travel Counts, will be conducted by nationally recognized research firm Resource Systems Group, Inc. (RSG) on behalf of MDOT. Survey results will help transportation planners better understand how, when, where, and why people travel in and around the state of Michigan. Last conducted in 2015, this update will help planners account for the many changes in travel that have occurred, like the prevalence of remote work, the increase in online shopping, and greater use of ridesharing and delivery services.

Randomly selected households will receive an invitation to participate in the survey via U.S. Mail. Upon accepting the invitation, household members will provide demographic data and then report their travel either via a smartphone application, online or by telephone. The information provided to MI Travel Counts will be anonymized and aggregated to calculate statistics for study purposes.

This survey will be conducted in three phases. The first is scheduled from April 15 through early June, with additional phases anticipated in spring 2025 and fall 2025.

Invited households will be selected at random across the state, with survey materials available in English, Spanish and Arabic. Participation is possible through smartphone application, web or telephone. For more information about MI Travel Counts, visit www.MITravelCounts.com .

About RSG: RSG conducts research on behalf of public and private sector clients using software applications, smartphones, websites, surveys, computers, tablets, and other means of collecting data. They specialize in designing, implementing and applying sophisticated data-driven models with in-depth analytics to help clients understand why people and systems do what they do.  

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Michael Frezell

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[email protected]

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Watch CBS News

Biden is canceling $7.4 billion in student debt for 277,000 borrowers. Here's who is eligible.

By Aimee Picchi

Edited By Alain Sherter

Updated on: April 12, 2024 / 3:29 PM EDT / CBS News

The Biden administration on Friday said it's canceling $7.4 billion in student debt for 277,000 borrowers, with the recipients scheduled to receive emails today to alert them to their loan discharges. 

The latest effort extends the debt relief provider under President Joe Biden after the Supreme Court last year blocked  his administration's plan for broad-based student loan forgiveness. With the latest batch of loan cancellations, the White House said it has forgiven about $153 billion in debt for 4.3 million student borrowers. 

Biden, who had made student loan relief a major campaign pledge, is tackling an issue that affects about 43 million Americans with a combined  $1.7 trillion in student debt. It's a burden that some borrowers and their advocates say has harmed their ability to save for a home or achieve financial milestones, an issue that was echoed by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in a conference call with reporters. 

"I talked to a teacher in New York this week who took out a loan for $30,000," Cardona said Friday, "and after over a decade of paying and being a teacher the debt was $60,000, and she was saying that the interest was so high that the payments that she was making wasn't even touching her principal."

He added, "We are fixing a broken system. We're relentless and taking steps to transform a broken system into one that works people across the country."

Here's what to know about who is eligible for the latest round of forgiveness.

Who qualifies for the student loan forgiveness?

Three groups of people qualify under the latest round of debt relief, the White House said. 

• $3.6 billion for 206,800 borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan.

About $3.6 billion will be forgiven for nearly 207,000 borrowers enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, an income-driven repayment program, or IDR, that the Biden administration created last year. 

The White House said borrowers who are getting their debt discharged under SAVE had taken out smaller loans for their college studies. The plan allows people to receive forgiveness after they made at least 10 years of payments if they originally took out $12,000 or less in loans to pay for college; borrowers with larger loans are eligible after 20 or 25 years of repayment, depending on what types of loans they have. 

 "You sacrifice and you've saved for a decade or more to make your student loan payments, and you originally borrowed $12,000 or less, you're going to see relief," Cardona told reporters. "An overwhelming number of those who qualify for SAVE were eligible for Pell grants and come from low- and middle-income communities."

• $3.5 billion for 65,700 borrowers in income-repayment plans.

These borrowers will receive forgiveness through "administrative adjustments" to repayment plans where loan servicers had made it tougher for some borrowers to qualify for relief.  

"These are people who paid for a long time but were being deprived of relief because of administrative and servicing failures," Cardona said. "These people met the contract of their loan" and will receive forgiveness.

• $300 million for 4,600 borrowers through Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).  

The PSLF program is designed to help public servants like teachers and government employees achieve debt forgiveness after 10 years of repayment. It's a program that started in 2007 but had been plagued with complex rules that effectively hampered people from getting their debt discharged, with only 7,000 receiving loan forgiveness prior to the Biden administration. 

With the latest round of discharges, the Biden administration has forgiven $62.8 billion in loans for 876,000 borrowers through PSLF. 

Are there legal challenges to Biden's debt forgiveness plans?

In two separate lawsuits, Republican attorneys general in 18 states are pushing to have the SAVE plan tossed and to halt any further student debt cancellation. They say the SAVE plan oversteps Biden's authority and makes it harder for states to recruit employees. They also contend the plan undermines a separate cancellation program that encourages careers in public service.

It's unclear what the suits could mean for loans that have already been canceled. A court document filed by Kansas' attorney general says it's "unrealistic to think that any loan forgiveness that occurs during this litigation will ever be clawed back."

—With reporting by the Associated Press.

• Biden Administration
• Student Loan

Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.

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