The best way to handle sudden and unexpected business travel is to be prepared in advance. You should have a plan for dealing with everything from unexpected meetings to delays on the road. Use this cheat sheet to guide you through the process of handling sudden and unexpected business travel.
Make sure your travel documents are up-to-date
Make sure that all of your travel documents are up-to-date and accurate before you leave for your trip. This includes your passport, visas and any other forms of identification that may be required by immigration officials upon arrival in another country as well as any documentation that proves where you’re staying during your trip (such as hotel reservations or rental car receipts).
Pack appropriately
Pack appropriately for sudden and unexpected business travel — especially if it involves a long flight or a long drive. In addition to clothing and toiletries, pack any necessary medications in your carry-on bag so they’re ready at a moment’s notice if needed (for example, if you need medication while traveling).
Inform your clients of your travel plans
Inform your clients of your travel plans. If possible, let them know before you leave so they can plan accordingly. If you are working on a project with a client and it involves travel, try to keep the client updated as much as possible about your plans for the day or week.
Consider working from home
If possible, consider working from home when you plan to be away from your desk for an extended period of time. This will allow you to take care of any business issues that arise while you are out and about and will also give you time to relax and focus on enjoying your vacation instead of worrying about work.
Make arrangements in advance
Before leaving on your trip, make sure everything is in place such as meetings scheduled with clients or colleagues and any meetings that need to be set up beforehand. If there are any important meetings that need to take place while you are away, make sure they are scheduled well in advance so they won’t get pushed aside during vacation time. Also, let them know if there
Be flexible
It is important to be flexible when it comes to sudden and unexpected business travel. If there is something that needs to change, don’t panic! You can always adjust your plans at a later date if needed. For example, if an unexpected meeting requires you to stay longer than expected at the hotel, simply extend your reservation for that day or evening and move forward with your original plans for the following day or evening.
Check in early
If possible, try to arrive at the airport early so that you can check in before everyone else does. This will give you more time to go through security without having to wait in line with everyone else who arrived late last night! It also means that you won’t have any trouble finding a seat on the plane because most people will already be seated when they check.
Write down important information
Write down information such as meeting times, locations, and topics covered during the event (for example, “We will discuss X topic at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday at our office”). Include notes about what will happen after each meeting — such as “meet with team members” or “review results of sales call” — so you can follow up later if necessary.
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