Luxatia International specialises in bringing people together through outstanding strategic business conferences & summits, professional training and b2b congresses. We maintain the highest standards of quality in research and market analysis, finding the right issues and then producing high-profile events.
Showing posts with label Business Travellers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Business Travellers. Show all posts
As some countries begin to release restrictions around the Coronavirus (COVID-19), what does this mean for Luxatia International events?
Well, our goal is still to provide the safest possible platform for event speakers, sponsors and attendees to gather, share knowledge and discuss innovations of the future.
Safety Precautions
To ensure your safety, we are continuing to closely monitor the guidance and recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and local authorities in locations where our events are held.
As the situation in those countries changes, we will update our event attendees accordingly. This is why it is extremely important to register early so you are informed of any updates.
Measures To Guarantee Your Safety
The safety of everyone attending our events has always been our top priority. That is no different now; the only difference is how we are responding to this new threat. To guarantee your safety, the following terms will be implemented during summits:
A limited number of event participants
Seating will be set up to keep all participants socially distanced
Extra sanitization measures will be in effect during the event such as the availability of plenty of anti-bacterial disinfectants throughout the event venue
Networking will be encouraged through digital devices and platforms instead of handing out physical business cards
Registration Reassurance
The situation around COVID-19 is constantly changing but we have hope the disease will be contained and we can move forward with in-person activities soon. If you are looking to attend one of our events, you can register without fear.
If Luxatia International must reschedule an event in which you are registered, your registration will remain valid for the new event dates and venue or for the virtual edition. We will inform you of the need to reschedule and the new event details as soon as it is confirmed.
If Luxatia International is not able to organize the event within 18 months of the original date, you will receive a full refund.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us:
Business conferences or summits provide great value but they can be overwhelming if you are unprepared. These events are usually filled with speaker panels, networking sessions, interactive workshops and more.
So, how do you make the most of your conference experience without being overwhelmed or getting lost in the crowd?
Do not wander through the crowd hoping to meet your favourite speaker or worse, finally meet them and forget what you wanted to discuss.
In this guide, we will provide some of the best tips to overcome traditional summit woes and achieve a great conference experience.
Focus Your Goals
The first thing you should do before you even start travelling to a conference is to focus on your goals and establish what you want to get out of the event.
Are you hoping to build your business connections? Do you want to gain more industry knowledge? Or, maybe you are hoping to pitch a new strategy to like-minded individuals and receive feedback?
Whatever your reason for attending is, setting specific goals beforehand will help you focus during the event and accomplish more.
Plan Your Day
Our next tip is to plan your day. Many summits have different programs set up and some of them overlap so you must research the topics and prioritize which ones you will attend.
Besides planning the actual panel sessions you will attend, you also need to think about what you will need for a full day of networking and learning.
In the months/weeks leading up to the conference, take advantage of any online resources offered. Each of our events has a subscription area at the bottom of the page that helps you stay up to date on event changes.
Simply enter your full name and email and then you will be alerted if a speaker is added or removed, if social activities are added, etc.
We also provide individual LinkedIn groups for each summit as a resource before the summit. The event chairman, keynote speakers and other industry executives are all added to these groups well in advance of the summit.
These groups are a great place to connect with the other attendees of the conference and share challenges or ideas before or after the event.
LinkedIn also has a great nearby feature to use during the conference.
Connect With Your Internal Team
Companies do not always have the budget or resources to send more than one representative to an event. If you are the lucky one chosen to attend, connect with your internal team before you leave.
See what issues they are facing or what questions they want answered and then take that with you to the conference.
Schedule Time With Speakers
As we mentioned earlier, the schedules during these events are usually packed and even during the “free time” you have speakers can be approached by many different people, making it hard to establish a genuine connection with them.
To help avoid this, connect with the speakers before the summit and try to schedule one-on-one time with them. Even if it is grabbing coffee or lunch, this creates valuable time for you to get your questions answered.
We mentioned our LinkedIn groups that provide a platform for you to connect with speakers or attendees on but you can connect through any social media channel. Tweet at the speaker you are most excited to meet and watch the relationship evolve from there.
Having a networking plan is vital to your success at a conference or summit, yet most people still show up to an event without one.
Maybe you are thinking — I will just show up and meet a bunch of people. While you can easily accomplish that, it does not create a solid foundation to build those relationships on. Either you or your new connection will possibly forget the meeting ever occurred because you meet so many people over a few days.
Establish a plan with whom you want to meet, questions you need answered and successful examples to add to the conversation. By researching and preparing this information, you create valuable topics to discuss which creates a more memorable experience for everyone.
For even more advice on how to create a great conference experience, read our full blog here!
Looking for business conferences to attend or speak at? Check out our upcoming events and register today!
Business trips can be exciting, stressful, insightful, and hectic or any combination of feelings. We have gathered the top tips for business travelers to hopefully minimize any discomfort while travelling and create a smooth and efficient trip.
Stick With A Single Company
When possible, try to book your airline, hotel and rental car (if needed) through the same company. Bundling usually saves you money and you will collect reward points quicker to use on future travel needs.
Traveling with the same company each time will also reduce the stress of adapting to different rules, prices, etc.
Research The Area You Are Traveling To
A quick research session can provide you with so much information about your trip and make it much more enjoyable. Do not waste your time attempting to navigate a new city while you are on a tight schedule.
If you are attending a conference hosted at a hotel, look into staying at the same location or very close by. If you must travel to a separate location or client, research the safety of the area for potential spots to avoid.
If you are unable to stay at the same location as your event, think about how you will be getting around the city.
Look for public transportation first as it is usually the cheapest option. Some public transportation is very easy to navigate while other cities have a more complex system so you will have to decide how confident you are with navigating that particular system. Looking at a map of the city’s public transportation online before you arrive will help you make that decision.
If you prefer not to use public transportation, decide if you will need a rental car or not. If you only need transportation to a couple of locations (to and from the airport, for example) then an uber or car-sharing service is a cheaper option but make sure it is offered in the city you are traveling to.
Keep Bags Light And With You
Packing light is essential on any trip but sometimes not possible when you are traveling with kids or family members. Solo business trips are ideal for packing as light as possible.
Even though you want to pack as light as possible do not forget valuable items. Here are a few things you should think about when packing:
Leisure Clothing — even on a business trip, you will want at least one pair to help you relax after a busy day.
Weather-Related Clothing — is it significantly colder/hotter where you are traveling? Will it rain while you are there?
Your Preference — if you know you get cold easily, bring a light jacket, even in the summer, for times you might get cold inside.
Really analyze what you will be doing during the trip and only pack the essentials. If you can wear a pair of dress pants or a blazer more than once, do it!
You do not want to overpack and end up with a heavy bag to lug around or worse, be forced to check your bag.
This is the ultimate business travel tip, NEVER CHECK YOUR BAG.
Besides additional travel time to check your bag and then retrieve it from baggage claim, you are risking a travellers worst nightmare — a lost bag!
If for some reason you do have to check your bag, keep a carry on with all of your essential items:
Toiletries
A Change Of Clothes
Chargers & Electronics
Business Documents
Identification & Money
Invest In A Good Backpack
This goes right along with the last tip but a high-quality backpack and some professional packing skills can replace a carry-on bag altogether. Improve your travel experience by easily being able to carry everything without having to roll it through crowded streets or escalators.
Find a quality backpack made for business travellers. Make sure it has a padded pocket for laptops or tablets. Extra pockets are also good so you can easily organize your travel necessities.
The only downside is having to carry a heavy bag around instead of being able to set it down and roll it. Pack smart and light, and this will not be an issue.
Have Money And ID Options
It is likely you will be traveling to another country for our conferences so make sure you have your passport and another form of identification just in case. We also recommend making a physical copy of your passport so you can have a form of identification on you without having to carry your passport through the city and risk damaging or losing it. Most hotels have a safe you can lock your passport in once you arrive.
Most of your travel payments will be electronic and made beforehand but you always want to have some cash on you for those few transactions that require it. Some places might not accept a debit/credit card and you will want to avoid searching for an ATM in an unfamiliar city, plus paying transaction fees for withdrawing cash.
Have some of your cash in smaller bills to use for tipping as well.
You will also need to check if the country you are traveling to accepts your home currency or if you will need to exchange it. If you need to exchange it, look up the change fees and reputable exchange locations before arriving.
Storing a backup credit card in a separate bag is also a great idea just in case you lose your purse or wallet. Do not have all of your valuables in one spot. Utilise the safe in your hotel room as mentioned above. Separate credit cards throughout your wallet, purse, carry-on or other travel bags.
Bring Quality Travel Tech & Chargers
Any experienced traveller knows the importance of a good set of headphones. If you do not have some already, invest in a nice pair of noise-canceling headphones to drown out airplane and passenger noise.
Have a backup pair of headphones in case your original pair break or run out of juice. The backup pair does not need to be as nice as your first pair. Save money and packing space by having a small pair of earbuds you can roll-up.
It can be overwhelming trying to keep all of your devices charged and gathering each charger you will need. See if you can charge multiple devices with the same type of charger. If not, look at investing in a charger with multiple device options.
Also, look for a portable charging device to easily keep your devices running while you are on the go.
Traveling internationally, you will most likely need an adapter as well unless your devices are USB chargeable. Make sure you choose the right connection for the country you are visiting. There are adapters for multiple countries as well if your business takes you to several different locations.
Download Apps and Content Ahead Of Time
You do not want to have to rely on a Wi-Fi connection or risk using up your data trying to download content on the go. Download any movies, podcasts or playlists that you will want while traveling before you leave your house.
Also, make sure you have any apps needed to stay connected with your family. This is not only for you, make sure your family members have the app or software set up on their devices as well. Have every family member download the app you are planning to use and do a test call before you set off on your trip.
Stay Organised
Staying organised will help you in every aspect of business traveling. Make sure you have all of your flight, hotel and event information in one location. There are apps to help you manage this and integrate it with your calendar but if you have a physical area to write them down as well, we recommend it. If you lose your phone or the battery dies, you will still have all of this information written down.
Business trips are usually very busy so it can be hard to keep up with expense reports but this is extremely important so you do not end up footing the cost instead of your company.
Dedicate time during or immediately after your business trip to managing your expense reports. Taking photos of your receipts is a smart way to keep track of your expenses.
Read our full blog to get even more travel tips, here.
