Business travel can open doors for growth and connection, but for employees on the road, it can also bring fatigue and disruption to their daily routines. Those who manage travel play a critical role in ensuring company trips do not come at the expense of traveler wellness. By building a policy that prioritizes health, balance, and recovery, travel managers can protect their team’s well-being while strengthening their performance.
Below, we explore practical strategies that can be embedded into your program to help support your team’s wellness throughout every step of the journey.
Set Expectations for the Trip
One of the best ways to reduce stress on business trips is through advanced preparation. Ensure travelers are familiar with the company’s travel policy and know what to do if an issue arises. Share any current rules or restrictions so the team knows what to expect, especially when it comes to international trips. As cross-border travel becomes more complex, it is now more important than ever to stay ahead of evolving regulations to safeguard travelers before they leave.
Encourage Physical Health Best Practices
Sticking to a healthy routine while on the road sets even the most seasoned traveler up for success. While travel can disrupt day-to-day habits, a few proactive steps can go a long way toward keeping the body resilient:
- Protect the immune system. From jetlag to crowded conferences, travel can take a toll on our bodies. Remind travelers to increase their rest and vitamin intake (starting even before they travel) to stay less vulnerable to illness.
- Stay hydrated. Dry airplane cabins and hotel rooms can quickly dehydrate travelers. It is helpful to pack moisturizing essentials, increase water consumption, and decrease caffeine and alcohol intake.
- Invest in self-care items. Small comforts such as travel pillows, compression socks, or quality headphones can ease aches and make long journeys more manageable.
- Maintain a fitness routine. Long flights and sedentary work can leave anyone feeling sluggish, so encourage travelers to take advantage of hotel fitness amenities or factor in time for a brisk walk.
While physical wellness is a large part of the equation, supporting emotional wellbeing is just as critical for successful business travel.
Prioritize Mental Health
Many of the physical habits discussed above will also have positive mental health effects, which is important from a duty of care perspective. Successful duty of care programs should support not only the physical safety of travelers, but their emotional well-being as well.
Collaborate with HR to review what company resources are available for your team. Ensure they have down-time built into their schedule, and reinforce that they can say “no” to optional activities like dinners or after hours events to prioritize rest. Providing tools for wellness on the road—such as access to fitness or stress-relief activities—is another way to contribute to happier, healthier travelers.
Traveler wellness is an ongoing conversation. Check in with your team regularly to help identify opportunities for policy updates. This could include improvements such as booking hotels with fitness centers or prioritizing direct flights. Ample wellness reporting can also highlight early signs of burnout before it escalates.
Reduce Friction & Avoid Burnout
Frequent travelers may be more susceptible to friction and burnout on the road, whether it’s from the sheer number of trips or just daily travel hassles. Those who manage travel for their organization can slow traveler burnout in a few key ways:
- Measure the cost of attrition: Partner with HR to quantify the impact of losing seasoned “road warriors.” Even if you don’t control trip frequency, showing their value can spark change.
- Review data: Analyze travel patterns like timing and trip purpose to uncover opportunities to reduce strain. Work with your trusted travel partner to help you make adjustments where needed.
- Influence company culture: Advocate for practices that reduce stress, such as avoiding Monday-morning meetings that force weekend travel and implementing best practices for in-person meetings.
Even small adjustments like offering more flight options, cutting down on weekend travel, or building in recovery time after long-haul trips can make a meaningful difference in your travelers’ well-being going forward.
Wellness: A Shared Responsibility
Building and maintaining a traveler-centric program should be an ongoing priority for organizations of every size. Thankfully, travel managers do not have to be responsible for their team’s wellness on their own. With the right TMC partner by your side, you can create a travel culture where employees feel cared for, supported, and empowered to succeed.
At Direct Travel, we help our clients embed wellness strategies in their travel program through careful policy design, duty of care resources, and 24/7 support when it matters most. If you’re ready to safeguard your travelers and elevate your program, reach out to our team to get started.
