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The modern business traveler needs to be both organized and super tech savvy for maximum productivity and efficiency gains. From choosing the right place to stay to packing smartly and being switched on at the airport, the most experienced business travelers never miss a trick.
Booking.com for Business suggests some of the best
1. Be an accommodation guru
The last thing you need on a business trip is to arrive at an apartment, villa or hotel without Wi-Fi, or be stuck in the middle of a hectic hen-do when you're trying to prepare for an important presentation. That's why it's worth finding a destination that has been recommended by other business travelers. Booking.com for Business provides access to more than 700,000 properties with verified reviews from millions of business travelers, with 10% off selected properties for account holders.
As business travel evolves beyond the one-size-fits-all approach of the past, you can find a different, unexpected place to stay on your next business trip. Booking.com for Business also has a range of diverse properties from apartments and homestays to boats and treehouses and more, everywhere from major cities to mountains and coasts.
2. Get smart with your air miles and airport time
If you travel frequently for business, then it's really worth being loyal to one airline. Not only will you have access to more perks, but it's more likely that you will get an upgrade. You could also consider signing up for a rewards credit card. This will also let you earn points and save miles regardless of which airline you choose.
Arrive at the airport early and make use of the airport lounge, which can be a great place to unwind or get some extra work done for a small sum - which you can claim as a legitimate business expense.
3. Find the right travel tech apps
Keeping a record of and claiming expenses, as well as keeping on top of boarding cards and schedules, is one of the main headaches of business travel. Air miles tracking apps can be a lifesaver, such as AwardWallet, a one-stop shop for tracking miles from all of your accounts or TripIt, an invaluable app to keep your entire travel itinerary in one place.
There are also plenty of apps that can help, letting you track any kind of expense as well as billable time and mileage, too. Wi-Fi app finders are also great and will direct you to the nearest zone and you will avoid paying those expensive roaming charges.
Don't get caught unaware by currency rates again. XE is the go-to place for currency conversions. It also functions offline by saving the last updated rates, which is great if you're in a place with limited connectivity or trying to save on data.
Because business trips aren't always predictable, the Booking app from Booking.com helps you find a room at a moment's notice. Stand on any street anywhere in the world and the app will use your personal preferences to automatically suggest accommodation choices based on your current location, as well as provide a step-by-step route map to get you there quickly.
4. Be on top of your packing game
Remember: Frequent fliers never check their luggage.
David Barrett, founder and CEO of Expensify, only carries a bag slightly larger than a tennis racket case. He says: "Aim to travel light enough that you can carry everything with you at all times - to the conference, to dinner, to the meetings, everywhere. It's a business trip, after all, and to make the most of it you need to be out shaking hands, not ferrying back and forth to your hotel room."
If you do lots of back-to-back business travel, save time by keeping a partially packed suitcase, suggests Gillian Tans, president of Booking.com. "Replenish toiletries and essentials as soon as you return," she says. "Then, next time you have to pack, you've only got to add some business clothes and you're ready to go."
5. Think about all of the little details
Call your credit or debit card company before heading abroad. This will make sure you're authorized to spend abroad or even in another city within the country. The last thing you want is to be reported for suspicious activity and not have access to your money.
Also, make sure to have all of your travel documents on email. Scan your passport, ID, and itinerary and email it to yourself so you have a digital copy in the event of loss or theft.
Make sure you charge up all your devices. Having full power will stop panic at the gates when you need to scan your boarding pass. Remember if you forget to bring a suitable plug adapter, you can always charge your devices through the USB slot on a TV in your hotel room, suite, or apartment.
Finally, delays are bound to happen so do take time out to check before you leave. "There's no point being at the airport longer than needed," says Tans. "But, remember things change so don't cut it too fine!"
6. Find time to enjoy yourself
Once the work that originally brought you to the destination is over, extend your stay by a day or two and switch it over to a trip of leisure. In 2016, 49% of business travelers already extend their business trips to further enjoy the destination, while three-quarters (75%) intend to do so the same or more in 2017. (Booking.com collected data from 12,781 respondents aged 18+ across 13 markets in September 2016). If you can't extend your trip, fit a little leisure into your business trip by sampling some of the local cuisine at area restaurants. Most major cities offer free walking tours, which is another great way to see the city from beyond the windows of an office or convention center and learn about the history and culture of the area.
When next traveling for business or leisure, access more than one million diverse properties at Booking.com.
This post is sponsored by Booking.com for Business.
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