I travel a lot for work and I absolutely love it. I know some people hate work trips and find them tedious because they end up working the whole time without a chance to see the city that they’re visiting. Trust me, I’ve been there too – conferences with happy hour networking after, 8-hour workshops in the office, team building off-sites at some escape room – the list goes on. I used to dread these trips because I was visiting these amazing cities without a chance to explore.
When the lightbulb went off, I realized that I could change my mindset, plan better, and utilize these work trips as mini-vacations. With some intentionality and a mission to explore, I can help you rethink your mandatory work trips. So, let’s get into it.
Pre-Trip Planning
Intentionality and preparation are the name of the game here. Start by organizing your schedule, dedicated work time, and can’t-miss meetings or events. Once that is established, with some buffer built-in, you can start planning the fun stuff. Start researching local attractions, landmarks, cultural experiences, local cuisine, or outdoor activities that pique your interest. It’s crucial to take this part seriously because you will be strapped for time once your trip begins. You do not want to miss out just because you weren’t prepared.
Research the Destination: Really take time to learn about the city or country you’ll be visiting. It helps to familiarize yourself with history, culture, local customs, popular attractions, and cuisine.
Extending Your Stay: If your schedule and budget allow, consider extending your trip by a few days. The extra time will allow you more leisurely time to explore without the weight of your work commitments.
Utilizing Reward Programs
Travel rewards programs are your new best friend. Sign up for a rewards program that aligns with your travel needs, granting you access to exclusive airport lounges, flight upgrades, hotel discounts, car rental discounts, access to unique experiences, advanced ticket sales, and much more.
With every hotel stay, flight, rental, or meal, you can accumulate reward points that can be redeemed for future travels or experiences and since your job is reimbursing your travel, these points are literally free.
Put It On Your Card: For the longest time, I thought that companies paid for trips on the corporate credit card to make it easier with reimbursements – at least that’s what most of my old jobs did. Turns out, many companies allow you to use your cards and your reward programs so you can reap the benefits of free points and loyalty benefits.
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Stick to a Brand: Sign up for programs like Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and Hertz Gold Plus, also join an airline miles program and always use them when you travel for work. The points/nights you build from brand loyalty will boost your personal accounts and, over time, provide enhanced statuses to use on your personal time. Every time I travel for work, I book hotels within the Marriott network which brought me up to Gold Elite status. Now when I travel to Marriott I can receive complimentary room upgrades, automatic 2 PM late checkout, and welcome gifts. Loyalty really pays off.
Balancing Business and Leisure
So, now you have a list of your travel, accommodations, and a list of your must-sees. What’s next? Balance. Finding the perfect balance between work and leisure will require an understanding of your schedule, the distances between sites, and where you can blend priorities. Modern business trips usually offer a ton of flexibility as many of us still live in a very remote world, so take advantage. Can your virtual call be off-camera while you sip coffee at that famous cafe? Are you able to take a walk through that beautiful park while you listen in on a training module? Be creative!
Manage Your Expectations: Most work trips are very busy, it is for work after all, so there is no way for you to see and do everything, especially when your trips are 2-4 days long like most of mine. During this planning process, take note of your must-see/do/eat and prioritize them the rest will be nice-to-haves.
Team Building That’s Actually Fun: Hear me out! Not all team-building activities are boring. There are so many ways to have fun with coworkers in nontraditional ways. The last time my team met in Atlanta we went indoor go-kart racing at K1 Speed. It was fun, competitive, and a cool way to end the trip.
Business Case for Leisure, Health & Wellness
Send this one to your supervisor.
It’s no secret that rest and relaxation boost your productivity and creativity. Taking breaks to have some fun allows your mind to rest, renew, and recharge. You’ll return to the office feeling more inspired, focused, and ready to tackle new problems if you include leisure into your business trip. So, don’t underestimate the power of leisure; it’s a hidden weapon for higher professional achievement. Why jeopardize your health and sanity when the solutions is so obvious?
Conclusion
The art of blending business and leisure travel is a skill that can be learned and mastered. There are many ways to enhance your business trips to fit your style and interests but the most important step is planning. Be mindful of your time, health, and sanity by mixing fun and enriching experiences with mundane business. Give it a shot and let me know how it goes!
