Going on a business trip is one of the best ways to find good contacts and forge meaningful business relationships. Not to mention it gets you out of the office for a few days and you get the chance to explore a new city. You’ve got to be careful though, this isn’t just a vacation. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying yourself during the trip but make sure that you don’t lose sight of why you went on the trip in the first place. There are a couple of different ways that you can get the most out of your business trip.
Never eat alone is a great tip because, not only does it make the trip a bit more fun, you can use meals as a social occasion to meet with potential contacts in a more informal setting. Forging a closer relationship with the people that you want to work with will help you land better deals. When you’re inviting people to eat with you, encourage them to bring people along, you never know who you might meet.
Getting a few cities into one trip is always a good idea as well. If you’re flying long distance and you’ve got a stopover somewhere, try to plan it so you stop in a city that might have something to offer your company.
Setting goals before you set off is another great way to make sure that you actually get something out of your trip. If you go over there without any meetings set up or anything, you’ll find yourself sat in the hotel room trying to call people the whole time. Do all of that before and set a bit of a schedule and you can avoid wasting time. However, you should leave a bit of time in your schedule open so if you find any new contacts, you’ve got time to have meetings with them.
In certain countries, there are very specific customs around business dealings. For example, in China, there is a protocol about the room and the way that everybody sits. They prefer to meet in a very large room and the most senior person on the hosting team will sit in the centre of the table, always on the side facing the door. The visitors then sit on the other side with their backs to the door, with the most senior member of that team in the centre of the table. It might seem a bit odd to you but that’s the way they do things so you should respect it. If you break any of the country’s conventions during a business meeting, you’re starting negotiations from a bad position at the outset and you risk not getting a good outcome. Always do a bit of research before setting off.
That’s how to make sure you get the most out of your trip, now let's have a look at some of the best cities to visit.
Chicago
If you’re looking for something close to home, there are plenty of great US cities that you should check out. Chicago has a fast growing tech industry so if that’s your area, there should be some valuable contacts for you there. There is also a very well-established media industry over there so if you’re hoping to address some marketing concerns on your business trip, Chicago is a must. During your downtime, you can take a walk around the city and admire the world famous architecture and art scene, or go and see one of the many world renowned sports teams in the city.
New York
When it comes to American cities, New York is obviously still one of the best business destinations there is. It’s one of the best places in the world to network because of the sheer number of high ranking business people that live and work in the city. It’s also home to some of the world's biggest companies and financial industries. Anybody worth talking to is going to pass through New York at some point in their business career so make sure you’re one of them. After those meetings are done, you can see all of the usual tourist sights like the Empire State and Central Park. There are also thousands of amazing restaurants that you can take clients to if you really want to impress.Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia is going through a bit of a business boom at the moment because a huge amount of companies are moving across from Singapore, which was previously a very popular place to do business. However, the costs of living in Singapore are shooting up and lots of big companies are choosing to jump ship and head to Malaysia where it’s cheaper. Setting up a business over there is also very simple so it attracts a lot of startups. It’s a good place to make regular contacts because if you look for a house for sale, Malaysia is one of the cheapest companies. There are a lot of good opportunities for outsourcing, as well as finding new client bases so Kuala Lumpur is a good city to build a more permanent relationship with.
Rio De Janeiro
Rio is the centre of South America and one of the funnest places on our list. It’s well-known for its amazing beaches and vibrant party atmosphere, just don’t forget to do some work while you’re there. All of the largest corporations operating out of South America have their headquarters in Rio De Janeiro and Brazil’s media outlets all run through the city as well. If you’re trying to break South America, Rio should be your starting point. The city is also home to the best universities in South America so you can headhunt some of the best minds on the continent while you’re out there. Another great reason to go to Rio on a business trip is that you can see the statue of Christ The Redeemer, one of the seven wonders of the world. Ticking one of the seven wonders off your bucket list and making valuable business contacts at the same time sounds like a successful business trip to me.Mexico City
Mexico is often overlooked as a business destination but its capital has some incredibly lucrative industries. Anybody in the pharmaceutical or any related industries should definitely factor it into their business trip because some of the biggest drugs manufacturers are there. The consumer products industry is also fairly large in Mexico City so most business should be able to find something to help them out there. Beyond the business contacts, you’ll get the chance to see some of the most interesting cultural and historical sights in the world. The country is full of all sorts of amazing Aztec ruins that you can visit. There is also lots of historical sights of interest from the colonial era, and the cuisine over there is incredible. Mexico is such a close neighbor but it tends to be neglected, which is a shame because there’s so much value there.
Business trips are a brilliant way to expand your contact base and find new opportunities for your company, just as long you remember that you aren’t on vacation.
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