For the first time, your job demands you travel abroad. While you are probably very excited to be going, you may be a little apprehensive of the idea of traveling to a completely unfamiliar place, within an unfamiliar culture to meet complete strangers. Breathe easy. By following some simple steps you can plan your international business trip for the best possible outcome.
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What’s Your Purpose?
Before planning, you should decide why you are traveling. Most business trips have an objective or goal to be obtained from the visit. For example:
- Market assessment for new product placement
- Survey business conditions
- View market conditions and viability
- View competitors
- Generating leads
You will want to create a daily itinerary to keep yourself on track and to make certain you accomplish what you need to.
Making Travel Arrangements
First things first, you must make sure your passport is current. Do what you must to get it that way if it is not. Ensure you have other credentials necessary for travel like a business or work VISA. Check with your local health department for needed immunizations for the area you are visiting.
Spend some time on the internet booking air travel to find cheap tickets. Every boss loves an employee that saves money. Book travel and lodging together (if possible) to save money and avoid finding yourself in questionable lodging. Ensure luggage meets both dimension and weight requirements, and contents are acceptable to avoid hang-ups at the airport.
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Know Your Destination
It is wise to learn as much as you can about the culture you are visiting, especially when dealing with businessmen. Knowing cultural and business norms will keep you from committing a social faux pas or offending your hosts. Spend time learning important words and phrases in the native tongue. Here are some phrases and words to learn:
- Please
- Thank you
- Hello
- It’s nice to meet you
- Good day
Knowing how you will get around, whether it’s by taxi or subway, can save you headaches. Visit the bank to determine local currency and if your destination will accept U.S. currency. For safety, determine if your destination is a travel hot-spot, or a destination where you are at more personal risk. Some countries are not U.S.-friendly; being prepared and staying on guard can help you have a safer trip.
You went, you conquered, and then you came home. Do not let the trail you blazed burn out. Effective follow-up will ensure that your trip and the work that went into it were worth it.