There are a lot of people who are excited to return to the business travel world once again. Even though it is great news that a lot of places are opening up, it is also true that many people are unfamiliar with business travel.
You need to make sure that you put your employees in a position to be successful, and everything flows from the top down. That is why you need to think carefully about how you can avoid a few common mistakes companies make with business travel.
What are some of the most common examples of mistakes, and how can you avoid them?
1. Not Researching Pandemic Regulations
Yes, it is true that a lot of companies are opening up to travelers once again, but you must make sure that you research all regulations related to the pandemic. For example, there are some countries that are only allowing people in if they are fully vaccinated. You also need to take a look at how they define fully vaccinated.
You also need to see if countries require people to wear a mask when they get there. There are some situations where you might still be required to quarantine, and there are other situations where you might be required to take a test on arrival. You must make sure you are familiar with all pandemic regulations in the destination country.
2. Not Having a Detailed Itinerary
You should also make sure that you have a detailed itinerary regarding your travels. You need to figure out exactly how much time you need to spend on certain tasks. Then, you need to figure out where the best location is for the hotel. If you have a detailed itinerary in place, you can maximize every minute of your time during the travel trip.
Even though there might be some opportunities for you to explore a new place, you are not there to go on vacation. You are there to work, so make sure you have an itinerary that maximizes your time and minimizes your expenses.
3. Not Having Business Travel Insurance
Particularly in the current environment, there is always a chance that something can go wrong. That is why you need to have travel insurance. Even though you probably have enough insurance policies for your business, this is one that you cannot afford to go without if you decide to start traveling once again.
Business travel insurance might be able to cover the cost of the trip if something goes wrong. Take a look at the different policies that are available, and make sure you select the right one for your company.
4. Not Centralizing Your Expenses
You need to make sure you invest in the right business travel spend management program for your company. You might think that all of these trips are necessary, but you need to keep an eye on your expenses. How much money are you spending on plane tickets? How much money are you spending on hotel rooms? If something seems out of the ordinary, you need to know about it as quickly as possible.
The best way to figure this out is to centralize all of your expenses on one screen where you can keep an eye on them.
5. Not Planning Ahead
Finally, you need to book your trips as early as possible. The earlier you book your trips, the more money you can save. If you wait until the last minute to book your plane tickets and hotel rooms, they could cost you thousands of unnecessary dollars.
There might be some situations where you don’t know about a trip until the last minute, but where possible, try to book your trips several months ahead of time. There are opportunities for you to save money on your travel trips as long as you book them early.
Avoid These Common Mistakes With Business Travel
It is good news that a lot of businesses are traveling once again. This is a sign that commerce is returning to normal, and the supply chains may soon follow. On the other hand, it may have been a long time since you traveled for business. You need to make sure that you, and your employees, are comfortable with the current travel landscape.
If you can avoid some of these common mistakes, you can reduce the amount of money you spend on business travel. Controlling your overhead expenses right now is a critical part of putting your company in a position to succeed.