By When you’re a corporate road warrior, you want to be ready to hit the ground full speed when you land. Anything that can make your journey less like work and more like play is priceless. Seasoned C-suite travelers share some of the strategies that make for smooth sailing.
Jessica Parker, Founder & CEO, Kusshi
“I travel about 100,000 miles a year and have been for the last five years primarily for business. I am an Expat living in Munich but am in New York City for work and visiting family every month. I do long haul flights a lot. Traveling East I always sleep most of the flight. Traveling West, I only take a short nap. Need help sleeping? Eat something full of protein like a hamburger and fries or hummus and veggie sandwich (no sugary drinks please) 30 minutes before your flight, add a sleep mask and ear plugs and you will sleep like a baby.”
Hannah Cox, Founder & CEO, Bitternuts
“Podcasts. I love to listen to podcasts and audible business books while I travel to give me inspiration and get my creative juices flowing. The best business ones I recommend are Start Up, How I Built This and Business Wars.”
Calloway Cook, President, Illuminate Labs
“I fly totally free on business trips thanks to travel rewards credit cards. Most people don’t realize that travel rewards accrue at a higher rate per dollar spent than cash-back rewards. This means that for $1,000 spent a typical cash-back card will net you $15 back, but a travel points card might net $30 or even $50 worth of flight credit. If the credit card is under the business name it will improve the business credit score when used responsibly so it’s a win-win.”
Aaron Stahl, President & CEO, P3 Cost Analysts
“Apple Airpods – I ‘cut the cord’ about a year ago and haven’t gone back. This is easily the best $150 I’ve spent in years. Being able to listen to podcasts on the plane, take phone calls on the go, all without untangling headphone cords makes life so much easier. It’s amazing how often the cords were in the way while traveling.”
Lilia Stoyanova, CEO, Transformify
“As Transformify is an all-remote company and our team is scattered around the world, I travel 70% of the time. My time is split between Europe and Asia and receiving the best deals on flights and hotels is imperative. Being a Booking.com client for 10+ years, I already receive Genius discount on most hotels worldwide. Sometimes, it is up to 70% which makes a difference. The same is valid for flights. Some airlines like Wizzair have special discounts for loyal customers and planning your trips ahead may result in huge savings.”
Ben Bloch, Founder & CMO, Bloch Strategy
“Working and living in Los Angeles, I spend around eight hours a week on the road. I cringe at the idea of allowing this to become “dead” time, as I strive to add value to every moment of the day (even when I’m stuck in the hellish 405 traffic). Recently, I have been playing this interactive voice trivia game called Drivetime. It’s a mobile app that’s completely hands free, eyes free, so I never have to worry about looking or touching my phone while I drive. Its daily trivia channel has two charming hosts that come up with a broad range of questions on topics ranging from Seinfeld to the periodic table. It’s an awesome way to challenge my brain while focusing on something positive and constructive outside the office – it almost feels like my mind is going to the gym with two of my funniest friends.”
What do you think?