4 Benefits Of Business Travel For The Business Traveler

Business Travel is great for business. Can it be good for the traveling employee too?

4 reasons business travel can be great for employees

1. Face-to-face meetings are more effective

2. Experience different cultures

3. Learn new skills

4. Build confidence

Last year, a lot of research came out about the negative effects of business travel. It’s not all that surprising, we have been talking about the negative impact of business travel on traveling employees’ health and well-being for years. But it can get a bit disheartening when you start reading all the stats and quite scary from a business point of view when you consider the real cost on employee productivity and loss. And while we try to provide positive, proactive tips for combating the negative effects, looking back over the last year it’s all been very doom and gloom.

There is one quote that we at Sanctifly constantly find ourselves referring to: Business travel is not bad; it is our travel habits that are bad. Business travel is great for business and necessary. Executives and traveling employees believe that 8% of business would be lost if business travel was ceased. And business travels can benefit greatly from business travel. On average US executives state that the return of business travel is between $10 and $14.99 for every dollar invested.

So that’s a pretty good argument for the businesses point of view, and it seems that businesses do not need to be convinced on the benefits of business travel. Business travel spend has grown year on year and is projected to reach $1.6 trillion in 2020. But are there any benefits for the business traveler? Yes, but only if travel wellness is made a priority. Here are some reasons business travel can be great for you, as a traveling employee.

1. Face to face meetings are more effective

In today’s high-tech world, it may seem like face to face meetings are becoming less and less relevant. As video conferencing and collaboration tools become more powerful and every company communicates online through email or messaging apps such as Slack you may wonder if there is really any need to hop on that plane and meet your customers or prospects in person? The answer is yes, after all business is conducted with people, not machines, and fostering and maintaining relationships is a vital part of the process. According to a report published by the Harvard Business Review a face to face request is 34 times more likely to succeed than an email request and 95% of people say that face to face meetings are essential for established long term business relationships. You can get more deals made and create longer lasting and stronger business relationships when you meet face-to-face.

2. Experience new cultures and different ways of working

Travel is a fantastic tool for broadening your mind and expanding your knowledge. When you travel for business you get the chance to experience new places, new cultures and different ways of working, all of which will help you build a more well-rounded world view. Interacting with and experiencing different cultures will also help to foster creativity, which you can then bring to your job. Research shows that business travel cultivated creativity and productivity, two traits which will help you get noticed at your job.

3. Learn and hone new skills

As much as I am trying to focus in the positives, there is no denying that business travel can be stressful. Things wont always go smoothly and sometimes you will need to think on your feet and take initiative to salvage a situation. While this can take a toll on your stress levels it can also be a great learning opportunity and help you to hone vital soft skills. Being able to handle stressful situations and make on the spot decisions is a valuable skill to any business and will help you stand out among your colleagues. Business travel also affords you great networking opportunities to help broaden your network and progress your career and bring bigger and better deals to your boss.

4. Build confidence

One of the most valuable benefits of travel is that it puts you out of your comfort zone and helps to build your confidence. We are all guilty of getting too comfortable in a situation whether that be in our personal lives or professional lives. The commute to the office becomes automatic, our everyday tasks do not challenge us, and we eat lunch at the same spot with the same people every day. Travel plucks you out of that routine and challenges you to adapt to a whole new environment. Navigating a new city successfully, understanding and acknowledging cultural differences and successfully building a business relationship or closing a deal will give you a huge confidence boost and help you navigate unfamiliar and challenging situations in the future.

There are lots of benefits to business travel, it can be a great perk to your job. However, if you don’t make your health and well-being a priority while on the road the negative effects of business travel will easily outweigh the positive. Make your health a priority with a Sanctifly membership. Get access to thousands of healthy airport activities all over the world so that you can make the most of your travel downtime and stick to your healthy routine while on the road. Freshen up with a shower at an airport lounge ahead of a long flight home or hit the gym at the airport hotel to help de-stress before continuing on your journey. Get access to all the healthy options when you are a member of Sanctifly. No matter how often you travel, we have a membership plan for you. Get in touch today an let’s discuss your healthy travel routine for 2020. Corporate packages are also available. Travel Well this year with a Sanctifly membership and make sure you experience only the positive effects of business travel.

8 Essential Items to Pack for a Long Layover

Want to know how to survive a long layover? Here is what you need to pack.

Quick Summary: The 8 essential things you need to pack to help survive a long layover

1. Portable charger

2. A new book or movie

3. Comfortable clothes

4. Earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones

5. A large scarf

6. Reusable water bottle

7. Snacks

8. Sanctifly

We’ve all been there. Another business trip and another long layover. Nobody enjoys the prospect of being stuck at the airport. Even now, with some airports truly bringing their A-game when it comes to amenities, viewing art installations and sitting in massage chairs can only keep you occupied for so long. The fact is airports get boring and long layovers are something business travelers must endure. But with a little pre planning you can avoid the boredom and turn your layover into something to look forward to. It’s all about changing our mindsets and the way we few airport downtime. By removing the negative connotations and taking the time to plan ahead, we can turn airport layovers into less of a chore and more of a benefit. Because when’s the last time you got 4 hours to yourself to read and relax? That’s exactly what a layover can be and if you keep these 8 items in you carry on you will easily survive your next layover.

8 things you should always pack for a long layover

Portable charger

For business travelers especially, keeping devices charged so that you are contactable is so important. Just because you are stuck at the airport doesn’t mean that email doesn’t need to be sent or that client can wait for an answer. We still need to be productive with our time and making the most of that airport downtime to catch up on work can be a great way to reduce stress. Who wants to face a full inbox when they arrive home after a long business trip? That seat near an outlet is often prime real estate, especially in airports with frequent layovers, and not always easy to get. We always pack a portable charger in our carry on to avoid the outlet search and ensure our devices always have charge.

A new book or movie

Your layover doesn’t have to be all about work, and for those of us staring down a long layover it’s not feasible or healthy to work through it. And let’s face it, you are going to get bored. Entertainment is incredibly important to stave off that inevitable boredom and avoid filling your time with unhealthy activities such as drinking alcohol and eating bad food. We always save a new book or movie we’ve been dying to see for long layovers. Looking forward to something like a good movie always helps us to survive a long layover.

Comfortable clothes

Layovers are going to be uncomfortable, that’s a given. The chairs are hard, the place is noisy and you are probably tired and a little irritable. So why not take control of your comfort wherever you can? Who wants to spend twelve hours sitting around in a suit? Packing comfortable clothes and shoes to fly in or at least to change into during a layover can have a huge impact. If you have to go straight to a meeting after your flight take 5 extra minutes either just before you board or after you land to change. 5 minutes is worth it to be comfortable during a long layover.

Ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones– drown out the noise of the airports

Airports are noisy, chaotic places. There is no escaping the noise of a busy terminal (unless you decide to go to a lounge, but even those can be full and noisy sometimes) and long layovers can be torture if there is no chance to get a little peace and quiet. We always pack ear plugs, or even better, noise cancelling headphones because they have two uses, to help drown out the din of the airport and watch that movie we were saving. Take some time to pop in your ear plugs, close your eyes and do some breathing exercises on your next layover, it’s a go to stress relieving activities on all our business trips.

A large scarf – to use as a pillow or a blanket

An easy addition to your packing list (you don’t even have to pack it! Just throw it around your neck as you are heading out of the door), a large scarf is essential for surviving a long layover. Travel pillow are ok, but not great especially if you are facing down a long layover. They are bulky and hard to pack, harder to clean and we’ve lost more than we can count at airports because we simply forget to pick them up when rushing to the gate. A large scarf can double as a pillow for taking a nap either during your layover or on the plane and as a blanket for when it gets cold. Packing light is a necessity for frequent travel and so anything that can have a double use is a win.

Reusable water bottle

Staying hydrated is so important while traveling and as more and more airports make moves towards sustainability single use plastic water bottles will become harder and harder to find. Plus, who wants to waste money buying countless water bottles when there is a refillable water station available to use for free? Pack a reusable water bottle next time you travel to not only save money and the planet but also encourage yourself to hydrate throughout your trip.

Snacks

We are huge advocates for packing your own snacks before heading to the airport. Being in control of your diet is a great way to maintain a healthy routine even when on the road. Check out this blog post on the top hydrating and filling snacks that are perfect for traveling.

Sanctifly

Ok so we may be a little bit biased here but our number 1 survival tool for any long layover is always Sanctifly. Sanctifly provides you with healthy options in and around airports and as a member, you can access Sanctifly’s exclusive list of partner hotels and lounges. That means you can go for a swim or a workout during your layover without having to book a room! Sitting around waiting for the time to pass until your flight is not a valuable way to spend your time. Rethink the way you view your airport downtime. You can find out more about Sanctifly here.

Add these 8 items to your packing list next time you are facing down a long layover. Frequent travel doesn’t have to be a chore if we take the time and put in the effort to take care of our physical and mental health. As more and more airports and airlines recognize that wellness is important for their customers let’s not forget that we can take personal steps towards healthier travel too.

Quick and easy travel friendly exercise routine. No equipment needed!

Make your airport downtime work for you with this easy to follow, no equipment needed workout routine. Take ten minutes while waiting for your flight to work out and stay healthy.

It doesn’t matter if you are an avid gym user or more casual about fitness, getting up and moving your body requires effort. A huge component in maintaining a consistent fitness habit is routine. We schedule in gym time or a walk or a swim into our week and because it’s on the calendar it is much easier to go do it. Traveling throws that whole system out of sync. When we travel we are plucked from our regular routine and thrown out of our comfort zone. Even for seasoned travelers, a new airport or an unfamiliar flight time is a whole new learning experience. And what happens when we are unfamiliar with our surroundings? All the effort that was used last week to head to the gym for a workout is spent navigating a new airport or trying to stay awake and alert to catch that late-night flight. And, as a result, we often take the easy option when it comes to our airport downtime. We sit by our gate or we go to the bar and we convince ourselves that it’s OK because we are at the airport.

No more excuses!

We deserve better! Air travel and airports still have a long way to go before they wake up to the health and well-being needs of their travelers. Next time you are at the airport, take a look around. How many unhealthy options can you see?

Don’t wait for change. Make changes for yourself.

Airports are slowly making changes with many bigger and busier airports introducing health and fitness options such as yoga rooms and spas post-security. But until it becomes the norm we need to take matters into our own hands. Here is an easy to follow, no equipment needed (and very little space!) workout routine that you can follow to help make the most of your airport downtime. No need for fancy equipment, all you need is ten minutes and your own body weight!

1. 60 secs. Squat, plank and two pushups. Modify the pushup with your knees down.

2. 30 secs. Mountain climbers. Modify to your own pace. Don’t overwork yourself, aim to complete the full work out!

3. 30 secs. Plank shoulder taps. Modify with your knees down for a less intense workout.

4. 30 secs. Alternating lunge twists.

REST. YAY! You’re halfway there! Here is a top tip for working out at airports. Unused gates are often the best source of space post security. If you are willing to walk, head for one that’s far from the shops and restaurants as these tend to be deserted.

5. 60 secs. Squat, sidestep and two pushups. Modify the pushup with your knees down.

6. 30 secs. Plank to side plank twists. Modify with your knees down.

7. 60 secs. Squat jumps. Modify to your pace.

8. 30 secs x2. Forearm side plank pulls, right arm then left arm.

9. 20 secs. Forearm plank hold.

10. 30 secs. Alternating leg cross crunch. Modify by placing your forearms on the ground.

11. 30 secs x2. Single leg lifts, alternating left and right.

12. Seated spinal twists. Finish your workout with a good stretch.

Here’s another top tip for staying healthy while traveling! Get out of the airport! If you have a long layover use the time to get out of the airport and get active in nature. Research the closest running or walking trail or park and spend your time outside rather than stuck in the airport. Just make sure you leave more than enough time to get back to the airport and through security.

Change your travel habits today.

Traveling doesn’t have to mean being sedentary. If we change the way we view airport downtime we can improve our habits for the better and make frequent travel less of a burden on our bodies and minds.

Start improving your travel habits today with Sanctifly, the global provider of wellness options and activities in and around airports. Get exclusive access to airport hotel gyms, pools and spas without booking a room, plus access to hundreds of airport lounges with showers. Get your membership today for as little as $99. Visit https://www.sanctifly.club/membership-types to get your membership today.

The Importance of Small Wins for Start Ups

The Importance of Small Wins for Start Ups

Big news and we are absolutely delighted to share it with you all! Last week we won the prestigious ‘Travel Company Of The Year’ from Think Global Awards. We were in great company (quick shoutout to GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor) and it was such an honour to be recognised on such a global platform alongside such global companies.

But as much as we love receiving awards (and we do!), it got us thinking about the importance of small wins. Three quick thoughts that we would love to share with you all

Why Winning Matters to Startups

In the corporate world you have ladders and titles and promotions and certification and many wonderful ways to recognise you are growing and learning. In the startup world on the other hand, validation can be hard to receive as the journey can be quite lonely and products/services can always be so many times better. Which is why we are so grateful for Think Global Awards who could see our potential and loved what we had to offer.

The last few months we have been very privileged to be shortlisted along the way too:

1. SXSW Start Up Pitch
2. Game of Thornes
3. Mega Event (Lions Den)
4. World Start Up

The Non-Award Wins That Are Crucial to Startups

Awards are lovely milestones for publicly recognised accomplishments. BUT for any founder reading this, you will resonate with the fact that most of what is done goes unnoticed but is absolutely crucial. We remember the day we launched our website. Small win. We remember the day we launched our social media channels. Small wins. We remember dealing with the many bugs in our mobile app. Small wins. We remember writing our first partnership document with a major global brand. Small win. We remember the first person who commented on a blog. Small win. We remember .... For every founder, every thinker, and every dreamer reading this – remember the importance of the everyday small wins because that’s how you make the big wins.

The Reason We Need to Shout About it (and why you should do too!)

This isn't just about us, it's about you too. We wouldn't have achieved this milestone without your support along the way. You see that we are determined to grow and we absolutely are going to build upon this to go to the next level.

This is also a win for the whole team and it's a moment to celebrate and acknowledge each of them too. Successful businesses are a result of successful teams!

We so appreciate the acknowledgement from Think Global Awards and we are excited to honor the award with our service. 

3 Steps to Better Health

3 Steps to Better Health

Picture this, there is the usual congestion into the airport, huge queues through security and even massive queues to the toilets and you as always allow for the normal things that will slow you down. Ultimately your mindset for your trip is not one of relaxation! It is all about overcoming obstacles along the way.

We get it here at Sanctifly, we are all getting extremely busy. This is why we created this app for your convenience whilst dealing with meetings, appointments and families. What we need to do however is watch our health.

How much time do you actually spend minding your health?

One of very well known ambassadors states “Fitness leads to Greatness!” Daniel Ramamoorthy is a massive advocate of a healthy body leads to a healthy mind. Once you can work away the stress and strains of your responsibilities it puts you on a much better footing overall. Watch his experience of our newest location out of Dublin Airport.

Making time for yourself is what we want to make possible for you. You can rely on us to make the transition as smooth and as simple as possible.

Every business involves travel – it is just a necessity! We can provide you either aerobic or gym facilities at your location. We can send you the best runs/jogs close to your location.

We have some amazing swimming facilities and Spa’s to visit as well so we are listening to your needs and building on them!

The Three Steps to Better Health!

We have an app for that…

1. We have an app that you can add simply to your phone and get started. With clear directions and even gives you detail of how long it will take to get to these facilities, you’re not left guessing!

2. You can buy as many passes as you want for the day and time window you need and you’re set to go.

3. Read our “Top Tips” blog posts to take advantage of the local places to go at the airport your grabbing your workout from. Get a massage!

This is your time to get fit and travel simply, Sanctifly is really committed to a better travel experience and we on the team are always looking for ways to bring that right at your fingertips.

Learn more at our website www.sanctifly.club and sign up today.