Copyright Fast Company
When business leaders plan international travel, they tend to focus first on major logistical items. For example, flight itineraries, hotel bookings, and meeting schedules. However, one of the things that often goes unchecked is time-zone recovery and the impact it can have on decision-making. By failing to account for jet lag, sleep disruption, and the lag in cognitive performance that follows long-haul flights, even the sharpest executives may find themselves making sub-optimal choices in meetings, negotiations, or when dealing with unforeseen issues. Below, 16 Fast Company Executive Board members weigh in on additional factors that business travelers should be mindful and the best practices to implement before and during their next trip. 1. IN-PERSON MEETINGS WITH TOP PERFORMERS Many leaders fail to create a plan to utilize this opportunity to connect personally with top performers in the region and take advantage of in-person meetings. Not only does it allow the leader to get to know their top talent, but it also increases engagement, retention, and organizational growth. –Peggy Anderson,Ignite People Now 2. PASSPORT EXPIRATION Check your passport! Earlier in my career, I had to miss a critical client meeting in Europe because my passport had expired—and it was too late to get a replacement. The client was very gracious, but it was an embarrassing setback. –Tim Marklein,Big Valley Marketing Subscribe to the Daily newsletter.Fast Company's trending stories delivered to you every day Privacy Policy | Fast Company Newsletters 3. MULTI-STOP FLIGHT ADVANTAGE If you are traveling on a long-haul flight, make the best use of your flight expense by scheduling multi-stop flights to visit employees, prospects, and clients with at least one Saturday night overstay. Often, it only costs a couple of hundred dollars more to visit two to three more cities. –Dean Calhoun,Affygility Solutions 4. TIME TO REFLECT, ENGAGE, AND UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE Business leaders often overlook the importance of quality over quantity in their travel schedules. Cramping too many meetings into a short trip can lead to burnout and missed opportunities for meaningful engagement. It’s essential to allocate time for reflection, relationship-building, and understanding the local business landscape to ensure productive outcomes –Eric Schurke,Moneypenny 5. REST AND WELLNESS Scheduling too many meetings without proper rest is never a good idea. It’s hard work to travel abroad, and it’s important to take good care of yourself so that you can be your best self when you see your international colleagues. Drink lots of water, eat local honey and yogurt, and get good sleep! –Jo Ann Herold,Georgia State University 6. JET-LAG RECOVERY TIME As I’m often the sole American attending international meetings, I had to learn that functioning as the only jet-lagged person is different from traveling where everyone on your team is adjusting. Using an app like Timeshifter and building in an extra day on the front end to adjust enables me to be far more alert and a better contributor, maximizing the travel investment for our company and clients. –Erin Fuller,MCI 7. TRAVEL DECISIONS VS. TEAM NEEDS Business leaders overlook how their travel decisions send powerful messages to their teams. Going abroad during critical company moments signals misplaced priorities and poor judgment. The impact isn’t just logistical—it’s about people feeling abandoned when they need leadership most. Bad timing communicates that personal convenience matters more than team success. –Kathleen Lucente,Red Fan Communications 8. LOCAL HOLIDAYS AND CULTURAL NORMS Many business leaders overlook the importance of aligning travel schedules with local holidays or cultural events. Overlapping with major holidays can derail meetings, while failing to account for cultural norms can damage relationships. Understanding local calendars will make international trips as productive as possible and will spare you from any professional humiliation. –Evan Nierman,Red Banyan advertisement 9. SPEEDY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION MODES Many of us don’t study the best ways to get around once we’re on the ground. Most developed countries have phenomenal public transportation, which is a fraction of the cost and an expedient way to get around cities. This can cost us time and productivity if we aren’t traveling efficiently and effectively. –Mack McKelvey,SalientMG 10. BUSINESS GOALS AND TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS Leaders often overlook the importance of setting clear objectives for international travel. Just as we use AI to optimize ad campaigns for well-defined goals, we should approach business travel the same way—designing trips around measurable outcomes. Sharing objectives with colleagues not only multiplies opportunities; it ensures the investment of time and resources drives real business value. –Patti Boyle,Dstillery, Inc. 11. PROPER PLANNING FOR THE UNEXPECTED Having emergency contingency plans and travel insurance is always essential. I learned this the hard way in 2022 when my wife and I were vacationing in Bali, Indonesia, with a dear friend and his wife. He died after summiting Mt. Agung. We personally had these measures in place, but they did not. Having plans and insurance in place can help you recover somewhat if the worst happens on business or vacation. –Shawn Galloway,ProAct Safety, Inc. 12. QUALITY OF LAYOVER AND HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS Neglecting travel time, the quality of connections at layovers, and downtime between hotels, like the gap between a 4 p.m. check-in and an 11 a.m. checkout, is one of the most overlooked factors. It sounds minor, but it adds up fast. You can lose an entire workday without realizing it. –Travis Schreiber,erase.com 13. SHORTAGES AMONG SERVICE WORKERS In many popular business destinations, hotels and restaurants are experiencing labor shortages, seasonal staffing gaps, or high turnover. That can affect everything from service speed to availability of amenities. To gain a better understanding of the people and systems supporting you on the ground, it’s important to have more flexibility and realistic expectations around these workforce challenges. –Milos Eric,OysterLink 14. BUFFER TIME TO PAUSE AND REFLECT Leaders often plan back-to-back meetings with no buffer. What’s missed is time for reflection, follow-up, and recovery. Without it, insights are lost in the rush. Scheduling space to process conversations and send immediate updates maximizes ROI and teaches teams that effectiveness isn’t about cramming schedules, but about creating room to act on what you learn. –Volen Vulkov,Enhancv 15. LONG LINES AT CUSTOMS Many leaders plan their trips around flights, meetings, and hotels, but overlook the time wasted navigating long lines at customs. Enrolling in Global Entry streamlines reentry into the U.S. with expedited clearance, letting leaders return focused and efficient. It’s a small investment that pays off in productivity, reducing friction at one of the most stressful parts of international travel. –Goran Paun,ArtVersion 16. SIGHTSEEING DURING OFF-HOURS Taking some time to actually enjoy the city you’re in is beneficial. You may find inspiration outside of the meeting room. –Barry Lowenthal,Inuvo, Inc.
