The Last Business Trip: A Reflection on Four Decades of Corporate Travel

In the last 4 decades, I’ve logged close to a half million miles in corporate travel. From the rocky coasts of Maine to the industrial hubs of the Midwest, from Seattle’s rainy streets to the beaches of San Diego, and from bustling metropolises like Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Mexico City to quieter spots in Quebec and Juarez—I’ve seen a lot of places. Some were postcard-perfect; others were remote, rugged, and anything but glamorous. But each destination played its part in shaping my career and providing countless memories along the way.

Last week, I found myself in Southern California for yet another project. It was a routine trip, nothing extraordinary about the meetings or the schedule. But as I sat in the terminal at Atlanta’s airport Friday night, waiting for my connection back to New York, a thought crept into my mind: When will I take my last business trip?

After four decades, I know that moment is closer than I’ve ever imagined. Maybe I have five or ten more trips ahead of me—perhaps ?as many as ?20. But the end of this chapter is near, and that realization feels both bittersweet and liberating.

Corporate travel has been a defining aspect of my professional life. It has allowed me to build relationships with colleagues and clients across the globe, experience different cultures, and gain a deeper understanding of how business operates in places vastly different from home. I’ve learned to navigate the quirks of airports, handle the inevitabilities of lost luggage and flight delays, and find the best coffee in terminals from LAX to Shenzhen. Yes, I am a Starbucks guy and need my coffee after a long trip.

But corporate travel is not without its challenges. It’s easy to romanticize the idea of jet-setting, but reality includes a fair share of exhaustion, missed family moments, and the monotony of hotel rooms that all start to look the same. Let’s not forget the issue of the shrinking leg room in coach the past few yrs. and my loss of platinum status after 12 yrs. of regular upgrades. I now travel more like a novice every few weeks versus the two weeks a month from my time at Limited Brands in the late 90’s through just a few short years. ago. For every vibrant city skyline I’ve admired, there’s been a late-night arrival at a small-town motel with no functioning Wi-Fi or hot water for the shower. And for every productive meeting or successful project, there have been long flights spent catching up on work, trying to balance the demands of the road with the responsibilities waiting back at the office.

Now, as I approach the twilight of my career, I find myself reflecting more on the why of corporate travel rather than the where. The destinations have been diverse, the miles impressive, but the true value of all this movement has been in the connections forged and the lessons learned along the way. It’s the problem-solving in real time with a client halfway around the world, the camaraderie built over shared meals in unfamiliar places, and the moments of clarity found somewhere between takeoff and touchdown. I used to do my best work left uninterrupted on flights to Seattle and Hong Kong before the advent of Wi-Fi connections at 30,000 feet.

The prospect of my last business trip feels strange yet inevitable. It’s not an ending so much as a transition—an opportunity to trade TSA lines and red-eye flights for more time with family, new hobbies, and the occasional trip taken purely for pleasure. And perhaps, instead of the hustle of the corporate world, I’ll find myself exploring a new rhythm, one focused more on savoring life than chasing the next deadline.

So, as I sat in that terminal in Atlanta last week, I realized something: the countdown to my last business trip isn’t a reason for sadness. It’s a milestone to celebrate, a signal that a new chapter is on the horizon. Until then, I’ll savor the remaining miles, the familiar rituals of travel, and the knowledge that this journey has been worth every step.