Travelling across Europe can make for truly memorable and enriching experiences. The old continent is packed with spectacular natural and man-made landmarks and boasts a huge cultural heritage that attracts people from all across the globe. Each country in Europe is unique and has its own charm, creating an intricate and diverse cultural mosaic that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. That’s why Europe is considered by many as the cradle of western civilisation.
However, the appeal of exploring different European countries fades a bit when you throw work-related tasks into the mix. Truth be told, business trips are not something that most employees look forward to, even if that means they get to travel to some of the most beautiful destinations in the world, and Europe has plenty of them.
Travelling for business is a lot different than travelling for leisure. No one really enjoys being sent to a different city or country, spending time in an unfamiliar environment, adjusting to the time difference, jumping from one meeting to another and then coming back home without even getting the chance to explore and enjoy their surroundings. This can be an extremely frustrating experience and even impact the outcome of the trip, given that performance and productivity are directly linked to employee satisfaction.
So, if you want to keep employees happy and productive when they’re away, here are a few things you can do to enhance the business travel experience for your team.
Improve transportation
When it comes to business travel, getting from point A to point B is often regarded as a mere technicality. Employees need to reach their destination fast, safe and sound, and that’s about it. Not much thought goes into making the travelling experience a bit more comfortable and enjoyable for them.
Transportation can become a real hassle considering your employees are probably not familiar with the local transport system. So, instead of burdening them with the task of navigating an unfamiliar location on their own, you should make travel arrangements well in advance and inform employees of their itinerary. Ensuring a chauffeur service that can take them whenever they need to go can make their lives much easier and ensure they don’t lose precious time trying to make their way around town.
It’s also a good idea to provide employees with more transportation options and ask them about their preferred method of travel. Although air travel is the safest and most convenient mode of transportation, some of your team members may have flying anxiety, which will require you to come up with a few alternatives. Most countries in Europe have great railways systems in place, making train travel fast, reliable, comfortable and relatively cheap. So, instead of booking an expensive flight to Paris, you might arrange for your employees to go to Paris by train, which will also give them the opportunity to relax and enjoy some of the most scenic routes in Europe.
Give them time to rest
The point of business travel is to send your employees to different locations so they can get the job done and get back as soon as possible. That’s why most business trips are packed with back-to-back meetings, visits, and conferences. There’s a constant rush that often requires employees to go from the airport or train station directly into a meeting without even having the chance to change their clothes or catch their breath. Sometimes, by focusing so much on efficiency, you can actually impair productivity.
Employees need time to rest and recover after a trip, so they can be present and focus on their work. The good news is that efficiency and relaxation can go hand in hand if you organise business trips properly. For example, train travel can be both relaxing and efficient. One can easily jump on a train to Brussels from Amsterdam and reach their destination in less than two hours while also taking the time to unwind and bask in the beautiful landscapes that stretch along the way.
If your employees have spent a lot of time on the road, make sure they have enough time to settle and rest before they go back to work. Booking a comfortable accommodation that provides all the necessary amenities and allows them to commute to work with ease is also a great way to make life easier for your employees.
Include leisure time in the schedule
It’s true that business travel doesn’t have much to do with tourism. You’re not sending your employees on a business trip to roam around the city and then report back on the culture and architecture of the place. But that doesn’t mean you can’t give them a chance to explore and discover their destination. The focus should not be on the job alone, as you can also mix business with leisure successfully.
Your employees would be extremely grateful if you included some time for touristy stuff in their schedule. And by that, we don’t mean allowing them to take extra-long lunch breaks so they can take a quick walk around town. It’s about creating space in the schedule, so they can spend this time however they see fit and have some fun seeing the sights.
Apart from allowing them to disconnect from their work-related tasks for a short while, this can also serve as a great incentive for employees to be more willing to go on business trips and be more productive in their endeavours. And speaking of incentives, you can also be more generous with daily allowances. A substantial per diem can make your employees’ stay a lot more pleasant and comfortable.
Taking the time and interest to make business trips more appealing and enjoyable for employees can benefit both your team and your company, so it’s a win-win situation all around.
