Make The Most Of Work Travel: Tips For Success

Work travel can be a great opportunity to explore new places and cultures, and it can also be a chance to earn rewards and benefits. Here are some ways to maximize work travel:

- Sign up for travel reward programs and loyalty programs for airlines, hotels, restaurants, and rental car companies.

- Use a credit card that earns bonus points or miles on travel purchases and expenses.

- Plan ahead and be flexible with travel dates and destinations to take advantage of deals and direct flights.

- Automate tasks and build a strong team to stay productive while on the road.

- Take care of yourself by getting quality sleep, eating healthy, and staying hydrated.

- Make the most of your rewards by using them for more valuable redemptions, such as long, expensive flights or higher-priced hotel rooms.

Sign up for travel reward programs

Signing up for travel reward programs is a great way to maximise work travel, especially if you travel frequently for work. Airline and hotel loyalty programs are enticing because they offer perks like free flights, room upgrades, and other benefits. However, maximising these perks can be challenging, and attaining meaningful travel points and miles may come with some caveats.

Choose the Right Programs

Select the best travel rewards programs that align with your lifestyle and travel habits. Research and compare different airline and hotel loyalty programs to find those that offer the most value for your specific needs. Consider factors such as the size and diversity of their networks, how quickly you can accumulate points or miles, the ways you can redeem rewards, and the additional benefits offered to members.

Sign Up for Airline Frequent Flyer Programs

Even if you don't expect to fly frequently, joining an airline's frequent flyer program is worth it. These programs are usually free to join and can earn you valuable miles that could have a real cash value. For example, you might be able to transfer those miles to a hotel rewards program. So, take a few minutes to sign up and start accumulating miles towards future rewards.

Link Your Loyalty Accounts to Travel Reservations

Whether you book your own travel or someone else does it for you, ensure that your travel reservations are linked to your loyalty accounts. After booking, gather your flight and hotel reservation confirmations and look for the reservation codes. Then, log into your airline and hotel loyalty programs and manually add those reservations to your accounts. This ensures that you don't miss out on earning points or miles for your work trips.

Use Credit Cards that Earn Miles or Points

When making work-related travel purchases, use credit cards that earn you extra points or miles. This includes expenses like Wi-Fi, bags, food during your flight, hotel stays, and other travel-related costs. By using the right credit cards, you can maximise your rewards and earn bonus points or miles on your work trips.

Choose Partners You Already Have Status With

If you have elite status with a particular airline or hotel, try to book your work travel with those companies. This way, you can extract even more value from your trips by earning additional points and enjoying perks like free room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, seat upgrades, and additional baggage allowance.

By following these strategies and signing up for the right travel reward programs, you can make the most of your work travel and reap the benefits of your loyalty.

Plan for no Wi-Fi

Planning for no Wi-Fi is an important consideration when maximising work travel. Here are some strategies to ensure you remain connected when travelling for business:

Use a VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a great way to ensure security when using public Wi-Fi. It encrypts your data, keeping it safe from potential interception. Reputable VPN providers, such as Private Internet Access (PIA), offer a no-logs policy, further enhancing your security.

International Phone Plan

If your business trip is brief and you only need basic email access and minor internet usage, an international phone plan may suffice. You can activate an international plan through your wireless carrier, choosing either a monthly or daily plan. This option avoids roaming charges and lets you continue your domestic coverage while abroad.

Portable Mobile Hotspot

If you anticipate heavy internet usage, a portable mobile hotspot device, such as the Skyroam Solis Hotspot, can provide a steady and secure online connection. These devices are battery-powered and can last up to 16+ hours. They create a private Wi-Fi network that can connect your laptop, tablet, and phone, with some accommodating up to ten devices.

Hotspot devices offer various plans, including daily and monthly subscriptions, as well as pay-as-you-go options. Some are better suited for international travel, while others are more country-specific, so be sure to check the specifications.

Hotspot Tethering on Your Phone

If you have an unlimited data plan on your phone, you can enable mobile hotspot tethering to convert your data connection into a Wi-Fi signal. This option will incur roaming charges unless you set up an international data plan. It will also drain your phone's battery, so ensure you're close to a power outlet when using this method.

Hotel Wi-Fi

If you don't need to access sensitive company files, hotel Wi-Fi can be a convenient option. However, privacy and security may be a concern. To enhance security, consider using a VPN, as mentioned earlier.

Wi-Fi Range Extender

A Wi-Fi extender can amplify an existing signal and help it reach through dead zones. This can be useful if you're dealing with a weak hotel Wi-Fi signal. There are several types of extenders available, including USB dongle extenders, freestanding battery-operated extenders, and wall socket extenders, some of which have antennas for longer-range coverage.

Ethernet Cable

If your internet usage is confined to your hotel room, consider switching to a wired connection using an Ethernet cable. This eliminates the need to compete with other hotel guests for a strong Wi-Fi signal and ensures a more reliable connection.

By employing these strategies, you can effectively plan for no Wi-Fi and maximise your work travel experience, ensuring productivity and seamless business operations while on the road.

Automate processes

Automating processes is a great way to make work travel easier and more efficient. It can also help to strengthen your business and prevent human error, which is the main cause of surprise problems.

Travel Request Process Automation

Automating your travel request processes means that staff are reimbursed for expenses quickly and travel management becomes easier. This can be done by using business travel request management software that digitises the entire process. This means no more sorting through paper files or losing receipts. It also means that forms can be auto-populated and auto-validated, and can be accessed and signed off from anywhere.

Third-Party Bookings

An effective ERP system can automatically process external bookings and integrate them with your larger database of bookings. This saves time and money and frees up employees to focus on other tasks.

Customer Profiles

A travel ERP system can automatically track corporate policies and other relevant information to create a unique client profile. This means that anyone attempting to work with a given client has all the information they need, and the resulting transactions are efficient.

Invoicing

Travel ERP process automation can generate and process invoices with minimal human intervention. This not only saves time but also reduces the possibility of human errors.

Reports and Alerts

Creating reports is a time-consuming activity that can be automated by ERP software. The software can also send email alerts, freeing up resources for more meaningful tasks.

Credit Limit Management

ERP software can monitor corporate clients' credit limits and integrate credit monitoring with other areas like billing, invoicing, and enforcing travel policies. This saves man-hours and money and can make the work that cannot be automated more efficient.

Use a credit card that earns points

Using a credit card that earns points or miles is a great way to maximise work travel. This is especially useful if you're purchasing any extras during your flight, such as Wi-Fi, extra baggage or food. By using a credit card that offers rewards, you can accumulate points that can be redeemed for future travel or other benefits.

When selecting a credit card, consider one that aligns with your travel preferences and offers bonuses for travel-related purchases. For example, some cards may provide higher points for hotel bookings, while others might offer rewards for flight purchases. Additionally, certain credit cards have partnerships with specific airlines or hotel chains, allowing you to earn even more points when booking with their partners.

It's also beneficial to use a credit card that suits your travel frequency. If you're a frequent traveller, a card with an annual fee might offer more substantial rewards. On the other hand, if your work travel is less frequent, a card with no annual fee and good base-level rewards could be a better option.

Another strategy is to use a credit card that complements your hotel or airline status. For instance, if you've achieved elite status with a particular hotel chain, using a credit card that boosts your points earnings during your stay can accelerate your progress towards the next status tier. Similarly, if you often fly with a specific airline and have achieved a certain membership level, using a co-branded credit card can enhance the benefits you receive, such as priority boarding or access to exclusive lounges.

Maximising your credit card rewards is also about being mindful of the expenses you charge to your card. This includes not only your flights and accommodations but also other travel-related expenses like taxis, dining, and fuel. By using your rewards-earning credit card for these purchases, you can increase your points balance and get closer to redeeming those points for your next trip or desired reward.

Lastly, keep an eye out for promotional offers or limited-time bonuses that can significantly boost your points balance. Credit card companies occasionally run campaigns where you can earn bonus points by meeting certain spending thresholds or making purchases with specific partners. These promotions can be a great way to fast-track your points earnings and maximise the benefits of your work travel.

Prioritize work

Prioritizing work while travelling can be challenging, but with careful planning and strategies, you can stay productive and efficient. Here are some tips to help you prioritize work while on the road:

Create a Priority List:

Determine what tasks are essential and need immediate attention. Use a to-do list application or a CRM like Pipedrive to keep track of your tasks and stay organized. This will help you focus on the most important tasks first and ensure that nothing slips through the cracks.

Set Clear Goals:

Define specific goals for each day or week of your trip. Break down your goals into smaller, manageable tasks and assign realistic deadlines. This will help you stay focused and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Stick to a Schedule:

Create a daily schedule that includes dedicated work blocks. Structure your day by allocating specific time slots for different tasks. Try to work during your most productive hours, whether that's early in the morning or late at night. Stick to your schedule as much as possible to maintain a sense of routine.

Minimize Distractions:

Identify potential distractions that may hinder your productivity and take steps to minimize them. For example, if you're working remotely, find a quiet workspace away from noisy areas. Inform your colleagues or clients about your travel schedule to manage their expectations regarding your availability and response time.

Automate Tasks:

Look for opportunities to automate tasks or processes to save time and effort. Use cloud software, project management tools, or other technological solutions to streamline your work. Automation can help prevent human errors and surprise problems, ensuring a smoother travel experience.

Delegate Tasks:

Build a strong team that can support you while you're travelling. Delegate tasks to your team members and trust them to handle certain responsibilities. This will free up your time to focus on more critical tasks and ensure that work continues seamlessly even in your absence.

By implementing these strategies, you can effectively prioritize work while travelling. Remember to also take care of yourself, maintain a healthy diet, and get adequate sleep to operate at your full potential.

Frequently asked questions