Traveling to new places for business sounds exciting, isn’t it? If you ask seasoned corporate travelers, they are most likely to tell you that it is anything but exciting. With so many things to deal with other than the crucial meetings and conferences, corporate travel can be very stressful. Thus, it is important to plan your business trip thoroughly to make it as stress-free as possible. If you are traveling to India for business, then here are some tips for you.
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Six Tips for Successful Business Travel in India
Do some research on your destination
Whether you are visiting India’s capital city (Delhi) or the nation's IT capital (Bengaluru) or some other Indian city for your business trip, it is always recommended that you do some research beforehand. You can also get a map of the city, which you can use while traveling.
Pack Light
A business trip doesn’t mean you would be packing a couple of formal suits and leaving for the airport. However, you can try to avoid checked baggage for short business trips as this saves you a lot of time at the airport. But this clearly doesn't work for long business trips. In that case, ensure that you carry all the essentials in your carry-on luggage. Business or leisure travel, it is a good idea to pack light for a stress-free journey.
Utilize the Perks of Flying Business Class
Business class flights offer you a variety of perks, one of which is access to airport lounges. An airport lounge offers a quiet and comfortable space to relax. You can disconnect yourself from the noise at the airport and sit here in peace as you wait for your boarding call. Or you can even get some work done in case your flight gets delayed. Airport lounges also provide great refreshments.
Pick Your Hotel Wisely
Staying in a 5-star hotel located in the heart of the city benefits you in many ways. Apart from offering a range of luxurious facilities and special amenities for business travelers (like meeting halls and dedicated workspace within rooms), these hotels also help you save commuting time. From airport shuttle availability to laundry services, make the best use of the hotel services to unburden yourself. You can consider staying in one of these hotels during your business trip in India - the Leela Palace (Bengaluru), the Taj Mahal Palace (Mumbai), JW Marriott Hotel (Delhi), ITC Grand Chola (Chennai), Lemon Tree Hotel (Hyderabad), etc.
Arrive in the city at least one day before your schedule
As you would be flying across the time zones from USA to India, your sleep pattern gets disrupted and this can make you feel restless and disoriented. So, try to arrive at your destination ahead of your actual business schedule, if possible. This gives you enough time to recover from the jet lag and focus on your work.
Take out time to explore the city you are visiting
Make your business trip in India not only successful but also memorable. Go for a casual sightseeing trip after your scheduled meetings and conferences are over. Take time to unwind and explore the tourist attractions in and around the city you are visiting. Experience the diverse culture of India and enjoy the unmatched hospitality of this great country.
A Few More Quick Tips:
- Make sure that you carry your passport, credit cards and other valuables in your money belt or small bag/purse while heading out of the hotel.
- Keep yourself hydrated and drink only bottled water.
- Get the recommended vaccine shots before traveling to India
- Digitize your travel documents
- Get business travel insurance