Top tips on how to breeze through corporate travel
A LOT of planning and organisation goes into outsmarting cramped flights and snagging elusive hotel upgrades.
Business travel requires you to have the best arsenal up your sleeve in order to have an enjoyable adventure.
Kamogelo Maerman, a frequent business voyager and FCM Travel national sales leader, said business travel requires you to slow down, get ahead of the inevitable hassles, pack strategically, work smarter and enjoy the journey.
Here are his top travel tips for corporate travellers:
Keep work to the lounge
An airport private lounge is the ideal place to kill items on your to-do list.
“Get to the airport early and use the time to get urgent emails out of the way. You can spend two hours in the lounge before a domestic flight and four hours before an international trip. Use a virtual private network if you’re not comfortable with the airport wi-fi,” he said.
If your travel programme doesn’t allow for this perk, consider asking if the entry fee can be covered by your company.
Maerman believes his winning strategy is to get the work out of the way and to then use the time on the plane for reading or relaxing.
“Working on the plane is like trying to do ballet in a broom closet – between turbulence, poor lighting, and pricey but unreliable wi-fi, you may end up with a headache instead of a winning presentation.”
Get ahead of yourself
Maerman advised business travellers to arrive at their destination a day before an important meeting, rather than jetting in like a rockstar for the main event, only to under-perform because they got lost or have jet lag.
He also highlighted that an early check-in pays logistical dividends, allowing you to get ground transportation sorted as well as to discover your way around the neighbourhoods near your hotel and meeting locations
before your meeting. Pack like a pro
Maerman said he prefers to travel light, with a laptop, power bank and essentials such as a jersey in case his flight neighbours put their air vents on blast.
“Travel with what makes you comfortable, but don’t try to check in with a litre of whisky in your hand luggage as it will be confiscated. Read the fine print,” he cautioned.
Pick a seat – but not any seat
Maerman said he opts for seat 26C on a regular Airbus.
“I like to sit behind the wing, but not have it obstruct my view because a window seat gives you a unique vantage point. When I flew from Kigali to Nairobi recently, I enjoyed seeing the Congo River and the villages along its banks from 25 000 feet,” he shared.
He added that when flying on a larger aircraft, he prefers the lower deck as disembarking is easier.
He recommended reviewing a seat map on the airline’s website and checking in 24 hours ahead of time to secure the seat you want.
Relax, don’t do it
The business traveller said that although it’s tempting to be the first person out of your seat and off the plane, there’s no point in standing for 15 minutes then getting caught in a stampede.
“I like to relax, wait until everyone else has disembarked, then head over to the carousel, where my bag is sure to be waiting for me and has probably done a couple of revolutions already.”
Choosing a hotel
When it comes to choosing a hotel, he advised corporate travellers to find one close to their client for ease of access, but make sure it’s in a safe area.
If you are going to work from your hotel, make sure you’ve got good wi-fi, a comfortable bed for a go od night’s rest as well as a well-lit and decent-sized desk.
“Have a substantial hotel breakfast to set you up for the day, but dine at a local restaurant to get to know the city. It can be a conversation starter with your client, plus you won’t experience Barcelona, for example, from your hotel room.”
Splurge a little
Maerman advised travellers to stick to their travel budget but splurge a little to allow themselves to get to know a place. “If you’ve been to Nairobi but haven’t tried their beers, you’re not living. I’ll save money when I go to Phalaborwa,” he joked.