My Five Tips for Road Warriors: Triumphing on the Road

Business trips can be draining but you need to see them for what they are – an opportunity to push your career to the next level.

Every trip is a chance to meet with a new customer, connect with that investor, or close the big deal that gets you one step closer to your goals. 

As someone who’s constantly traveling (I’m on the road 100 days + per year!!),  I’m familiar with the unique challenges of preparing for and doing business on the road.

While there is no clear roadmap to success, here are my top five tips for triumphing on the road…

1. Perfect Your Packing

Recently, I partnered with La Quinta by Wyndham on an innovative survey, “La Quinta Means Business”, uncovering what makes us business travelers tick. We discovered that 54% of business travelers think that packing and unpacking is the biggest headache faced when preparing to travel. Don’t let packing be the bane of your travel experience! I learned a long time ago that the key to packing is in the planning and the organization. I pack light and never check a bag! I always travel with just a carry-on, so I pack efficiently and from the bottom up: first shoes, then socks, then pants, belts, shirts, jackets and so on so I don’t forget anything. The same goes for layering my suitcase: I pack my outfit for the last day on the bottom and layer upwards.

 I’m also an efficient “unpacker”. Along with the 40% of business travelers who unpack their suitcases and put things away in the closet or dresser, I take out any clothing that needs to be hung up as soon as I get to my hotel room - think shirts, jackets and pants - to prevent creases, and I put my toiletries away. Everything else gets left in the suitcase and I take it out as needed (I guess I’m like the 60% that way!).

 2. Find A Travel Partner You Trust 

When I’m traveling, it’s all about business so it’s important that every facet of my travel experience, especially my hotel, helps me make the most of my most valuable resource: time. When I was building my business, I just wanted an efficient hotel that provided the essentials I needed to succeed on the road. For me that’s Wi-Fi, free coffee, a 24/7 gym, a comfortable bed and ample workspace. I also love a good loyalty program. It’s nice to earn rewards points to use toward future trips with my family, and I’m not alone! We found that 59% of business travelers would never stay at a hotel when traveling for work where they could not earn rewards points, which just goes to show how important loyalty programs are to people. Wyndham Rewards, which La Quinta is a part of, offers more than 30,000 options to redeem your points around the world. 

3. Maintain Your Routine

Maintaining a nutrition and exercise routine are of the utmost importance when you’re constantly on the road. According to our survey, nearly 1 in 4 (23%) people think that exercising is the most important thing you can do to feel prepared for work when on a business trip. I always make time to work out, especially when traveling for business, and make sure to pack healthy snacks in my carry-on bag, like peanuts or fruit, to keep me fueled throughout the day. I love to stay at a hotel that has a 24/7 fitness center on-site because I tend to work out very early in the morning or late at night, depending on my schedule that day. Being too busy is not an excuse – schedule your time to work out and you will make it happen! If I have a client dinner following a day of meetings on the road, I’ll wake up earlier so I’m able to break a sweat in the morning.

4. Never Eat Dinner Alone

I received some great advice years ago: in order to maximize your time on the road, never eat dinner alone. You’ve already committed to traveling and showing up in-person so why not schedule a dinner with some of your customers, or business partners? Plus, in the digital age, it’s a competitive advantage to get face time in with people who matter most to your business and is more productive than eating in your hotel room alone.

5. Make Your Hotel Feel Like Home

I have a hard time being away from my family when I’m on the road. Our survey found that 35% of business travelers actually bring a framed picture of family or friends with them on a business trip specifically to help them get in the right state of mind for work. This shocked me – but maybe it’s because I’m addicted to my phone and don’t remember the last time I printed a photo. One way I can make any hotel feel like home is by having my dog Lola with me. I can’t take her everywhere I stay obviously but I do tend to be loyal to pet friendly hotels. It makes a real difference that helps my time on the road feel more like a home away from home.  

A long time ago someone close to me helped change my perspective on business travel. They told me to never say I “have to” travel but to say I “get to travel”.

Remove the negative from your travel experiences. Every mile on the road brings me one step closer to my goals.

With this mindset, business travel is no longer an obligation – it’s an opportunity.

How will you triumph on your next business trip?

To your success,

RH