In a recent BCD travel buyer survey, traveller wellbeing and satisfaction were viewed as “extremely important” (39%) or “very important” (48%) for a combined 87% of business travellers.
And let’s face it, if you’ve ever had to wake at the crack of dawn to catch an early flight in time for a morning business meeting, you will relate.
Luckily, there are some tried and tested tips and tricks travellers can use to reduce travel stress, and companies can follow to improve traveller wellbeing.
Here’s a list to help you make sure road warriors are productive and happy when globetrotting.
1. Planning your trip
For the traveller: Make sure you are up-to-date with your company’s travel policy so you know what travel is allowed, the process for booking, who needs to approve the trip, which suppliers to use and what expenses you can claim. If you want to add personal time, make sure this is allowed and understand the parameters.
PRO TIP: Maximise value from fewer but longer trips – this will improve your work/life balance, and your company will thank you as it reduces your carbon footprint, too. If you can, make the most of your destination by tagging some personal time onto your trip to explore.
For the company: Ensure your travel policy is updated regularly and outlines procedural “do’s & don’ts” for booking company travel. Also, make sure that the policy is easy to find – posting it on a company intranet is usually a popular option.
PRO TIP: A few tweaks to the travel policy, like including direct flight options, minimising travel outside working hours or including bleisure, can drastically improve productivity and wellbeing.
2. En-route
For the traveller: Give yourself a break. Plane time is one of the few times you can have uninterrupted personal time. Try to resist the urge to work and rather use the time to give the brain a rest. Pack a good book or take time out to do some blue sky thinking. You will feel refreshed and more focused by the time you land.
PRO-TIP: Access your travel documents and keep updated on travel changes when you need them by downloading the best apps for business travel. Of course, TripSource is at the top of the list.
For the company: Support employees with what they need to maintain healthy travel habits. For example, you can permit lounge visits to let travellers spend waiting time in comfort, pay for pre-seating or allow travellers to join loyalty programs that let them benefit from the perks of frequent business trips.
PRO-TIP: Provide travellers with sim cards to keep them connected while travelling, cyber security tips to protect their data, and keep them safe with traveller tracking software.
3. At the destination
For the traveller: Staying on top of your game is essential to make the most out of your business meetings. That’s why it’s a good idea to take your most important daily routines back home on your business trip.
TOP TIP: Beat jet lag with exercise. If you’re travelling east, plan an early morning workout. If you’re travelling west, try getting some exercise in just before you go to bed.
For the company: According to Corporate Wellness, “frequent business travellers experience 20 percent less productivity due to jet lag,” which results in lower productivity and increased risk of illness.
TOP TIP: Providing gym access, information on healthy restaurants, or a healthy meal stipend improves traveller wellness and shows travellers that you care.
4. Back home
For the employee: When you get back home, try not to race back to the office. Take time to catch up with family or loved ones – it helps to restore a work/life balance and gives you time to recharge and get back to work energised.
For the company: Employee feedback is critical for maximising traveller wellness and effective policies. Conduct post-trip surveys and use the insights to adapt your policy and improve future travel experiences.
Ultimately, grinding through presentations and working all hours of your trip may make you feel productive. Still, a balanced approach to business travel will reward you with better results and a more enriching experience. Give it a try!