Business travel is often packaged as a job perk and in Asia, many business travellers tend to look for unique travel experiences and “feel good” add ons. For many companies, business travel is a way to connect with key stakeholders and clients on a more personal level.
The Covid-19 pandemic, however, has accentuated business travel anxiety for travellers with its health risks and complicated travel documentation. There are certain etiquette expectations for Covid-19 business meetings to keep participants safe and healthy.
However, business trips are stressful for other reasons too such as long transits and travel delays. On top of that, the thought of spending long periods away from home can be tough while working ‘on the go’ to keep up with work demands. And for first-time business travellers, the prospect of giving presentations or making a sales pitch can be daunting.
If you are restarting travel but you’re feeling anxious, here are some useful tips to help you manage your business travel anxiety and feel more confident ahead of time.
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Nothing is more frustrating than forgetting to pack an essential item like your mobile charger. Good planning is the only way to avoid leaving things behind inadvertently and is crucial as it ensures that you are well prepared for all eventualities.
Writing out your own customised travel checklist can be useful for all future trips. With Covid-19, some useful items to hand-carry include surgical quality face masks, hand sanitiser, surface wipes and disposable gloves. A travel checklist not only ensures nothing important gets left behind, but ticking items off the list can be satisfying and put you at ease. If you need help getting started, check out our Covid-19 travel checklist.
With travel rules constantly changing, it’s essential to regularly check the latest travel information and entry requirements until the date of your trip. This way you will be able to catch any changes and prepare as needed. Travel rules are easing but many countries still refuse entry if you have been travelling in the prior weeks.
If you are an avid business traveller, keep track of special travel lanes and exemptions that are applicable to you. With a single click, Covid Entry Check lets you check the latest and most accurate information on vaccines exemptions, testing and other requirements.
Carefully go through the requirements and prepare your travel documents. This includes your passport, visa, vaccine certificates and Covid-19 test results. If you are using a travel safety app to store your vaccine information with its QR code, ensure that it is quickly accessible on your mobile as you will be required to show it to airline staff at the check-in desk.
Getting familiar with your travel itinerary can help you feel less anxious before boarding your flight. Check that your daily schedule has been well planned and allocate some time for leisure if possible – especially if this will be your first visit to the city or area.
Pinpoint your hotel’s location and reconfirm flight connections, your arrival time at the airport and transportation arrangements from the airport to your hotel. If you can, take direct flights and make sure that you arrive at your destination early enough. With the added travel requirements, you should also plan ahead for long queues at immigration or testing booths.
You should have easy access to medical and security assistance 24/ 7 should there be an emergency or you are taken ill. Read through your insurance policy and have a clear understanding of your company’s Duty of Care commitments. If there is anything you are unsure about, talk to your insurance provider or HR leader before your trip.
With the risk of Covid-19, it is important that you don’t feel pressured into travelling for business. Ask your HR Department about its travel risk policy and complete a pre-travel risk assessment. You should be confident that your employer is well-versed in his Duty of Care responsibilities and can be contacted easily while you are away.
Business travel plans can change at a moment’s notice, even without the unpredictability of pandemic travel restrictions. When booking flights and hotels, choose flexibility to ensure you don’t lose out if you have to cancel your trip.
For example, TruFlex lets you cancel your business trip for any reason up to 24 hours before. All you have to do is cancel with a single click and get 80% of your trip cost refunded in cash immediately. This article gives you all the information you need about TruFlex.
Not surprisingly, it is a proven fact that business travellers are more likely to suffer from anxiety and stress – the more they travel, the higher the risk.
Travelling alone can be stressful so it is much better to travel with a co-worker or a friend. Plan your relaxation for the flight; be it a book or some games to play on your mobile. Make sure you drink plenty but avoid caffeine. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables while you are travelling as they are both light and nutritious.
When you have some downtime, use it to enjoy some sport or to get out and about exploring. Don’t feel like you have to beaver away at work in your hotel room.
With real-time monitoring, travel alerts and 24/7 support, TruTrip makes business trips safer for you. We constantly thinking about how we can make business travel better for you. Book a demo with us or sign up for a free trial to see how we can add value to your journey.
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